Shillong, April 6: Meghalaya successfully hosted the 4th North East Regatta 2026, concluding with a grand closing ceremony at the Water Sports Complex, Umiam, marking a significant milestone in the promotion of sailing and water sports in India.
Organised by the Yachting Association of India (YAI) in association with the Umiam Sailing Club and supported by the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, the regatta witnessed participation of over 100 sailors competing across five days.
The event followed the successful hosting of the 1st Indian Sailing League, which saw 182 participants including 58 international sailors, further boosting Meghalaya’s status in the sport.
The competition featured multiple categories including ILCA 4, Optimist, 420 Mixed, 29ER, and Techno 293. Ankit Singh Sisodiya and Tulsi Patle won gold in ILCA 4 Boys and Girls, Rudresh Singh Patel and Mayank Rajput topped the 29ER Boys category, Malaysian teams and Kedah Sailing Association dominated Optimist and 420 classes, Arjun Marathe and Vritika Sandeep Mhatre secured double gold in Techno 293 and Hriethik Amar Jaiswal won ILCA 6 Youth Open. A total prize pool of over ₹10 lakh was awarded across categories.
The regatta, a YAI ranking event, plays a crucial role in determining national rankings and serves as trials for international competitions such as the Asian Games.
Officials highlighted that competing alongside international sailors provided valuable exposure to Indian athletes under varied conditions.
Lt Gen TSA Narayanan, Vice President of YAI, praised the event, stating that no sailing competition in India has been conducted on such a grand scale, noting its unique feature of offering cash awards.
League Director Alok Kumar Yadav credited the collaborative efforts of the Indian Army, state departments, and local agencies for ensuring smooth logistics and safety throughout the event.
The closing ceremony featured performances by artists from the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Program (CM-MGMP), adding a cultural touch to the event.
Hosting back-to-back major sailing events has strengthened Meghalaya’s reputation as a premier destination for water sports, with Umiam emerging as a key hub for competitive sailing in India.
