KOCHI: In the 62-year history of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race held at Alappuzha, a mechanised system will be installed at the starting point this year to end recurring complaints that the manual system often results in foul starts.
For reviewing the existing mechanism installed at the starting point, the organisers of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race had approached Descon, the consultancy wing of the Department of Ship Technology, Cusat.
The agency recommended an electric motor and winch mechanism in place of the hand-operated lifting drum being currently used.
K Sivaprasad, head of naval architect at Descom, said that the existing starting mechanism was installed temporarily in the four lanes where the boats line up for the race.
The cross bar of the mechanism, which is held in position by a lever, goes down when the lever is released.
“There were instances of contestants positioning the boats on top of the cross bar during restarts. In such cases the race starts even before the the cross bar is positioned,” Sivaprasad said.
There have been complaints of some teams starting earlier than the others, affecting the result of the race.
Many a time, the organisers find it difficult to control the participants, and the race often starts without using the cross bar. It is suggested that the diameter of the cross be modified suitably.
In order to prevent boats from coming over the starting area, ignoring the instructions given by match officials, another cross bar-pillar type mechanism will be installed behind the starting block.
Alappuzha irrigation executive engineer Thomas Varghese said that the mechanised starting system would be used in this year’s boat race, which is scheduled to be held on August 9.
“It is expected that the mechanised system could be installed by Monday or Tuesday. The trials will also start soon, enabling participants of the boat race to become familiar with the new system. The new system is expected to ease concerns of foul starts and delays during the boat race, ” he added.