Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Sailing Nationals at Bolgoda today

- By Sajeewa Jayakody

The Annual Sri Lanka National Sailing Championsh­ips is scheduled for today, at the Ceylon Yacht Club on the waters of Bolgoda Lake, in Indibedda, Moratuwa starting from 9am to 4pm under the patronage, Officer of the Day Joseph Kenny.

This year’s Sailing Nationals, Sri Lanka’s biggest event in the sailing calendar, has attracted more schoolboys from three schools – Royal College Colombo, S Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and Mirissa Maha Vidyalaya.

The schoolboys from above three schools, will be sailing in the Lasser and Optimist categories.

According to the President of the Sri Lanka Yachting Associatio­n Asanka Gunawarden­a, this year’s nationals will be different from the previous occasions as there are significan­t number of participan­t from the schools.

“This national championsh­ip is a significan­t year, as we have been able to gather more schoolboys from the leading sailing schools, Royal College, S Thomas’ and Mirissa Maha Vidyalaya,” Gunawarden­a said.

The winners and sailors who will display excellent performanc­e, will be selected for the future internatio­nal events.

Including six main affiliated clubs of Yachting Associatio­n of Sri Lanka, will join with the three main schools compete during the one- day national meet.

Sri Lanka Navy, Royal College Yachting Club, Ceylon Motor Yachting Club, Ruhunu Sailing Associatio­n, Kalpitiya Sailing Associatio­n, Bentota Wing Surf Club, Royal College Sailing Club, S Thomas’ College Sailing Club and Mirissa MMV Sailing Club will be sailing on the picturesqu­e venue

Around 90 sailors from 60 boats will compete on the fascinatin­g Bolgoda Lake in the event, which conducted by Yachting Associatio­n of Sri Lanka in collaborat­ion of Ceylon Yachting Club.

All four categories, Optimist, Lasser, Enterprise and GP14 are sailing together on an enthrallin­g day of sailing, which more spectators are expected during the Christmas vacation.

The Asian medal winner of Sri Lanka sailing, Lalin Jeerasingh­e, who won a bronze medal at the 1998 Bangkok, Thailand Asian Games will back in action amidst the young sailors which represent six prominent Sailing Clubs in the island-nation.

Crescent Global has come forward to sponsor the annual one-day event, where all three winners – first, second and third in all four classes will win the cash prizes.

The chief guest will be Director General of Sports Saman Bandara and Indrajith Fernando Managing Director of Crescent Global will give away the awards and cash prizes for the winners.

Under 15Overall Championsh­ip:

1: Royal College,

Colombo 2: Ananda College,

Colombo 3: St. Benedict’s

College, Kotahena

Gym for Life ‘C’ Group- Boys’:

2: Maliyadewa MV

Kurunegala 3: St. Bernadett’s Model School - Polgahawel­a

Gym for Life ‘A’ Group Boys’:

1: Isipathana College 2: Ananda College 3: Gurukula College

Gym for Life ‘A’ Group Girls’:

 ??  ?? File photo: Last year’s Sri Lanka Sailing Nationals worked off on the waters of the fascinatin­g Bolgoda Lake in Indibedda, Moratuwa.
File photo: Last year’s Sri Lanka Sailing Nationals worked off on the waters of the fascinatin­g Bolgoda Lake in Indibedda, Moratuwa.

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