Captain Homi Dady Motivala was born on 19 June 1958. He did his schooling at the Bombay Scottish High School in Mumbai and passed his Indian School Certificate exam in December 1974.

Homi is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and passed out of the Academy in June 1978. He was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 1st July 1979.

As a young Sub Lieutenant he was posted as the missile and gunnery officer on INS Chapal. There was a major accident on the ship during a missile launch. With little regard for his own life, S Lt Motivala worked to bring he situation under control and save the ship. He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.

Homi was also a very keen sportsman and an active participant in the sport of sailing. Besides winning many National titles, he has represented India in numerous Continental, International and World Championships. He has won 2 bronze and 1 silver medal at Asian Games and in 1993 he won the gold medal at the World Sailing Championship in the Enterprise class.

He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1993 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now renamed as the Maj Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna) in 1984 for his exploits in the sport.

After retiring from active sailing he started coaching in the sport and was appointed as the National Coach for sailing. In 2002 the Indian sailing team under his coaching returned with the best overseas performance at an Asian Games. He was therefore awarded the Dronacharya Award for excellence in coaching.

He is the first Indian to have been awarded all the above 3 National sports awards.

Homi is now retired and runs a small company connected with supplying equipment and services  for boats, yachts and small marine craft.