Catamaran competition @ Ramanathapuram
The contest in progress off Thondi coast on Tuesday.Catamaran competition, the ancient sport of the fishermen, has all characteristics to attract a huge crowd. Though a section of sports-loving fishermen continue to conduct the spectacular catamaran competitions here and there, it has been slowly facing the danger of near extinction due to modernisation of boats.
The competition conducted on Tuesday by the organisers of `Kadal Sool Mariamman' Temple festival at Thondi has once again proved that the competition could be used for attracting tourists. Unlike other boats such as mechanised, motorised and fibreglass boats, catamarans sail based on wind direction. The boatmen need acumen to sail the catamaran both against and the same direction of the wind. The sail (mat), fixed on the boat, has to be operated based on wind direction.
According to the rules fixed by the organisers, the participants should travel to a distance of 5 km and return to the shore after touching a boat anchored in the sea.In the competition, 23 boats were participated in two groups. They took nearly three hours to cover the distance. The spectators, mostly fishermen and local people, enjoyed the show thoroughly, to see the impressive row of catamarans."It is great to watch the line of catamarans on sea," said S. Ilavenil, sub-inspector, Thondi.
The local fishermen feel that the competition has been losing its sheen after the advent of mechanised boats. "It was the rule of catamaran till a decade ago, as the fishermen had to depend on it for fishing. Now, almost all fishermen have switched over to motorboats. Only a handful of fishermen use catamaran. Hence, the number of competitions and participants have come down to a great extent," said M. Kalidass of Nambuthalai.
The fishermen said that the Fisheries Department should organise catamaran competitions in all parts of the district. Enough publicity should be given to the competitions so that outsiders could participate. If needed, fisheries officials could frame new rules and regulations so as to make the competition lively. It would surely attract tourists.