The Admiral Manohar Awati Centre for Ocean Sailing (AMACOS)
Vice Admiral Manohar Prahlad Awati, PVSM, VrC (1927–2018) was one of India’s great maritime icons. A Signals and Communications specialist, he commanded several important ships, including INS Mysore, and went on to command the Western Fleet and the Western Naval Command. During the 1971 war, his leadership as Captain of INS Kamorta earned him the Vir Chakra. Tall, striking and unmistakably flamboyant, with his trademark seadog’s beard, Awati possessed a charisma that made him a memorable presence wherever he went.
Yet Admiral Awati’s place in India’s maritime history extends well beyond his distinguished naval career. A passionate sailor and advocate of India’s maritime heritage, he founded the Maritime History Society in 1978. He was also the driving force behind Sagar Parikrama, the Indian Navy’s pioneering circumnavigation initiative, and remained closely involved in its planning and execution. His legacy therefore lies not only in the Navy he served, but also in the maritime history he helped preserve and the culture of ocean sailing he helped build.
7 September 2026 marks the 99th birth anniversary of Admiral Manohar Prahlad Awati and the beginning of his birth centenary year.
Admiral Awati's contribution to Indian sailing went well beyond his own accomplishments at sea. He was a persistent advocate for ocean sailing and believed that the experience of the sea should reach well beyond the Navy. The inauguration of the Admiral Manohar Awati Centre for Ocean Sailing at the Royal Mysore Sailing Club is an interesting manifestation of that idea.
Maritime Musings marks the beginning of the centenary year with this account of the Admiral Manohar Awati Centre for Ocean Sailing at the Royal Mysore Sailing Club.
30 August 2026, KRS Reservoir, Mysuru
Today marked a significant step in India's maritime journey with the inauguration of the Admiral Manohar Awati Centre for Ocean Sailing (AMACOS) at the Royal Mysore Sailing Club (RMSC), situated on the KRS Reservoir, Mysuru, by Chief Guests Commander Abhilash Tomy (the first Indian to circumnavigate under sail non-stop and solo), Dr Kedar Awati (son of the late Adm Awati), and Admiral Karambir Singh (President of the Yachting Association of India and former Chief of Naval Staff).
While the country boasts a growing number of sailing clubs introducing the public at large to watersports and a culture of sailing, yachting remains an elusive activity. Offshore and oceanic sailing in small yachts represents an even smaller minority, with scarcely any of the skills, knowledge, or opportunities available or known to the public.
An evangelist of offshore and ocean sailing, Anurag Kesari, a qualified yachtmaster and Rear Commodore of the RMSC, delivered the welcome address and articulated the vision for AMACOS:
"To put it simply, it is to become the home of ocean sailing in India for leisure sailors. Nearly all of our sailing is limited to dinghies, or at best some coastal sailing. Offshore sailing demands a degree of seamanship, navigational ability, and a range of other skills beyond what is ordinarily familiar or practised. It is to bring greater awareness and appreciation of these, and to enable future ocean passage-makers that we're working to establish the foundations at AMACOS."
The new building stands majestically on a rock, looking out over the boat ramp and towards the vast reservoir. It boasts a kitchen and café area for catering, a beautifully designed indoor-outdoor concept space suitable for presentations, ceremonies, and lectures, a curated museum-like mezzanine area filled with informational posters and artefacts from previous circumnavigations, an audiovisual room, and a spacious rooftop terrace with telescopes serving as a fantastic regatta viewing area. The entire facility is wheelchair accessible, with a wheelchair lift for all levels something the RMSC pays particular attention to, especially as the pioneer of para-inclusive sailing in the subcontinent.
The idea for an ocean sailing centre in Mysuru may be credited to RMSC founder, the late Arvind Sharma. "He was a maverick in no uncertain terms," says Anurag. "Arvind was completely unconstrained in his thoughts and had the drive and obsession to turn his blue-sky thinking into tangible edifices—and that's quite remarkable. We even had the legendary Sir Robin Knox-Johnston visit Mysuru and review the plans for AMACOS back in 2024."
He adds, "Whenever I speak of Royal Mysore SC and our ambitions with AMACOS, there are many who wonder why a centre for ocean sailing is located here, so far inland of all places. They find it a bit odd. But to them, I say that crossing an ocean is a sufficiently rigorous undertaking, that preparation for it may well begin 79 nautical miles inshore. Every serious offshore yachtsman knows that there's a lot to consider, plan for, and learn before even thinking of putting to sea. If the Chief Hydrographer in the Indian Navy can sit at the foothills of the Himalayas and issue us the navigational charts for the oceans, I think we can rest assured of our place here. Besides, the Krishna Raja Sagara offers ample opportunity to develop many of the necessary skills. Of course, there will come a time when we need to set off from the coasts for ocean passage-making, but there's plenty to get done before reaching that point."
The opening ceremony was marked by a formal ribbon-cutting and a tour of the premises, followed by high tea. Post high tea, the chief guests took to the stage for keynotes by Commander Abhilash Tomy, Admiral Karambir Singh, and Prof Kedar Awati. Mr Agni Sharma, son of Arvind Sharma, presented a heartfelt tribute to his father, a man who did just about everything one could dream up. Also present on stage were legends from the sailing world—Lieutenant Commander Dilna K, Lieutenant Commander Roopa A, Lieutenant Commander Swati P, Major AK Singh, Captain Homi Motiwala, and Captain Dilip Donde.
After observing a minute of silence for the late Arvind Sharma, who sailed to his final survey earlier this year, each of the dignitaries recounted their memories of the legendary Admiral Manohar Prahlad Awati, who incidentally also commanded the INS Mysore. Abhilash took one final sight with his sextant as civil twilight was setting in before presenting it to AMACOS for display.
The Indian Navy, and especially the late Admiral Manohar Prahlad Awati, was instrumental in promoting oceanic sailing in the country, convincing navy leadership that a series of circumnavigations under sail was a worthwhile endeavour. To date, the country has produced over 15 circumnavigators, nearly all serving or retired personnel of the nation's armed forces. From the first Sagar Parikrama in 2010, when Captain Dilip Donde became the first Indian to circumnavigate solo aboard the Indian-built INSV Mhadei, to the most recent undertaking of Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K aboard the sister ship INSV Tarini, double-handed around the world in 2025, the Indian Navy has built considerable experience in bluewater cruising over the last couple of decades.
"To their credit, the Navy has done a great job of promoting sailing in recent years and organising these fantastic expeditions. However, it's still largely an undertaking of the uniformed services. We need to build on their rich experience and make ocean sailing a mainstay of civilian leisure yachting too. This culture is best exemplified in France, where ocean sailors are rockstars, and where sponsorship, media deals, maritime adventure literature—all come together seamlessly—and the sport of ocean sailing is celebrated like nowhere else. There are literally dockside pubs you can wander into and meet a Frenchman or Frenchwoman who just soloed across the Atlantic in a boat they refitted themselves. With our coastline in India and our vast talent waiting to be introduced to sailing, you can imagine the possibilities that lie ahead of us," says
Anurag.
After the dignitaries were felicitated by various club members, flag officers, and sailors, the AMACOS proceedings concluded, giving way to the prize distribution for the Eurasian Inclusive Cup, followed by dinner with a music band. The event marked a very special milestone in the history of Indian yachting and will inspire future generations of sailors to take up ocean sailing.
Anurag Kesari
Anurag Kesari is a robotics engineer, aviator, and yachtsman with international experience across India, Europe, and the United States. He's a passionate advocate of offshore sailing and splits his time between Luxembourg and Bengaluru as Rear Commodore of the Royal Mysore Sailing Club. He also takes a keen interest in maritime history and traditional boat building. In Bengaluru, he advises robotics startups and incubators. When he's not working with robots, you'll find him 3D printing, promoting general aviation, writing, planning his next passage, or learning a new skill to further his seamanship.
India has a proud seafaring heritage, yet today ocean sports remain limited, with maritime skills surviving mainly among fishing communities. This timely initiative can help revive leisure sailing and reconnect Indians with their maritime roots. Congratulations and best wishes to Rear Commodore Anurag Kesari and the AMACOS team for their vision and continued success.
Well written. A wonderful initiative.
All the Best AMACOS
Very well written! Wishing AMACOS much success and hope more legends call it home!