RAJEN SHAH
Sailor and Outdoor adventures
A Sailors Sailor
by Sevi Singh
A Sailors Sailor
This is the story of one Rajen Shah, a Surti, who at a ripe age of 57 decided he wanted to get into sailing. He went about it with a single track mind. He decided to build himself a boat. Caught hold of a marine Engineer and purchased plans from him for a catamaran. While he was learning sailing he went about building his Cat. He personally built this boat and fully fitted it out himself. It’s a 34’ Cat.
While he was doing this he felt that he needed to properly learn all about sailing, so he went to the UK and plowed through The Competent Crew course, followed by the Day Skipper course and finished with the Masters ticket all from the RYA!
He has been sailing up and down the coast of Gujarat quite regularly. His partners in crime are one Bipinbhai who seems a bit older than Rajenbhai and a slightly younger Anandbhai, who though above 50 is well built and seems in great shape, Superman style. Both of the crew are doctors. Once they got the hang of the boat, off they went off to Lakswadeep in their Cat and came back to talk about it. The crew was these 3 gentlemen and Mrs. Bipinbhai who was the cook on this trip. NO TANDELS!!!!
Now is this creditable or what.
Rajen Shah is a sprightly 62 today and going strong. They were our hosts on our cruise to Nargol Beach near Umargam in Gujarat. They sailed down from Surat to meet with us and we spent one delightful day with them at their Beach house in Nargol.
Rajen Shah and his cronies (the crew) apart from sailing are also bicycling enthusiasts and have cycled like 250km in a single day quite recently.
Many a times I used to fear his obsession of sailing !
I have been a witness to his systematic progress in a Pursuit of achieving his dreams!
His obsession became a passion, dedication & kind of an addiction in order to achieve his goals.
His deep study of charts, routes, and months of detailed planning is sheer hardwork!
Whenever I had my doubts, His confidence made me more confident about him & his adventures!
As a wife I worry, but at the sametime I am proud of his achievements! I am proud of him!
~Mita Shah
Comments on Expedition to Lakshadweep memoirs:
1) Excellent is not enough ! Really good work. Congratulations !
Keep it up . All the best. -Ajit
2) What can I say? Of course no 5 (excellent). ..love. Mona
3) fantastic !!! simply skippersome !!! this needs to be informed to the media. - Janak Nanavati
4) Its an awesome story. It made wonderful reading, specially all the parts on how you learn sailing, about the instruments, and how not to rely purely on technology, I learnt a lot about sailing by reading your journey. Its very well written, and I'm truly impressed by your writing, and the zest and joy you feel comes out very well.
5) Great Job. Waiting to see the book. Make the pics big- fantastic blue colours in the waters!!! love, -sujata
6) Got the chance to look over this. absolutely fascinating. definitely 4 (very good) and I think to audiences that haven't got used to all the incredible stuff you've done maybe 5 (excellent).
I did notice one or two spelling errors but only ones that would not get picked up by spellcheck. I very much hope that I will get a chance to see golden cat soon.- Dan
7) At last I have read through your entire adventure on the seas and I am
riveted! I was engrossed with the small and big challenges faced along
the way, your boat buddies, specially the two sporting lady seafarers
who cooked, kept company and enjoyed the beauty and freedom of the
sailing experience.How different from the urban life we lead in
ignorance of the wind, the skies, the stars and the seas even though
we live in full view of the Arabian Sea? When you said how sparingly
you had to use water I remembered the lines of the song I use to hear
in my teens "Water water everywhere and yet not a drop to drink"...
How did you mange to sail at night when the sea is dark? By GPS alone?
I am impressed by the log of events you have managed to record - it is
written most engagingly, so if I have to give you marks, I would
unhesitatingly give you an A++ for it!!
Way to go, dear Rajen!
Now I would like to hear Mita's exploits and escapades when hubby is away!
All my love and good wishes for more such adventures under the blue skies....
Shilpakaki
