Vishnu Saravanan: From the Army Yachting Node to Chasing Asian Games Gold

For Vishnu Saravanan, the sea has always held a certain kind of magic. “I still remember when I first saw the sea. That kind of feeling is something that I look for every time,” he says.

In the latest episode of Reliance Foundation’s Safar Champions Ka, Vishnu Saravanan revisits the journey that took him from his first taste of sailing with his father to becoming one of India’s top sailors, reflecting on his family’s role, the Army Yachting Node that became his second home and the mindset that continues to push him towards bigger dreams.

A sports enthusiast from a young age, Vishnu knew he wanted to take sailing to the biggest stage after following the sporting action at the 2012 Olympics. Today, the ILCA 7 sailor has reached 13th in the world rankings and is setting his sights even higher.
But his journey began much closer to home.

His father, Saravanan, was a sportsperson himself before becoming a coach. After competing in athletics and winning a national medal, he began training young athletes. It was through him that Vishnu was first introduced to sailing. Rather than putting his son straight into windsurfing, Saravanan took him along on his own boat and showed him the sport.

“I took him on my boat and showed him the fun. He enjoyed it a lot,” Saravanan recalls.

Vishnu was hooked. Soon after, his father organised a boat for him at the Army Yachting Node, the facility that would become the foundation of his career.

“I was so excited,” Vishnu remembers. “For me, it is the birthplace of my sailing journey.” He began sailing there in the summer of 2008–09, with his father by his side. “My dad was part of this organization. He has been the backbone of my career.”

Years later, the Army Yachting Node remains his “second home”, where Vishnu spends eight to nine hours training. And despite his achievements, he remains relentlessly demanding of himself.

“For me, I’m the number one doubter,” he admits. “I doubt in my own abilities… because I’m always thinking maybe I can do much better. Maybe I can achieve something that’s not there yet.”

That mindset is matched by the physical and mental demands of his sport. Vishnu describes hanging from a single strap around his ankles while supporting his 86-kilogram body, holding the position for extended periods while simultaneously calculating his position according to the wind, waves and marks.

“There are lots of things that are happening in our brain. So, we cannot be out of focus,” he says.

His sister, Ramya Saravanan, has seen that discipline from close quarters. A sailor herself who represented India at the Asian Games, Ramya says Vishnu has been her mentor since childhood.

“Vishnu is, I think, natural. He got into it so easily,” she says. “Everything is very unique. I’ve never seen someone like that.”

For Vishnu, that combination of independence and focus is what makes sailing special. “In racing, it’s so peaceful because you’re the one who is deciding what to do,” he says.

The journey has not been without doubts, but there has never been room for giving up. “Sometimes I think, yes, why am I doing this? But I never said that I will ever quit because quitting is not an option.”

Now, with a world ranking of 13th and years of national dominance behind him, Vishnu has his eyes firmly set on the next milestones.

“My next target would be Asian Games Gold in 2026 Japan,” he says, “and then of course, being in the top 10 in the Olympics in 2028.”

For someone who first found joy on his father’s boat, the next destination is clear: the top