Sailing Nationals sees sensational turnout

Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Pool, which commanded all five senior categories are seen here with Head of the Sri Lanka Sailing Pool Captain Abeywickrema, National Sailing Coach Krishan Janaka and Treasurer Navy Sailing Pool Lt. Gomez

Sri Lanka Sailing Nationals 2021 was held on 10 and 11 December at the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club Bolgoda, Moratuwa, becoming only one of two national events to be held in the second year of the pandemic, with a sensational turnout of 116 sailors and their corresponding 94 boats. 

This coveted and most prestigious event in the sailing calendar was organised by the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka, the National Sports body for the sport of sailing in Sri Lanka, registered under the Ministry of Sports. It was facilitated and assisted by the Sri Lanka Navy with the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club. 

National Olympic Committee President Suresh Subramanium and LOLC Group Deputy Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara were the Chief Guests at this significant annual event. 

Under challenging sailing conditions, a lake covered with floating watermoss, minimal wind and the heat of the day, a magnificent fleet of 48 sailing boats on day one, and 39 on day two with seven windsurfers, launched into the elements.  

Due to the lack of wind and extensive surface coverage of salvinia, the sailors were pushed to their limits, starting their first race of the day at 11:30 a.m., sailing all six races (one discard) back-to-back, and returning to the clubhouse with the early evening sunset.  

It was a similar scenario on day two, but luckily the wind picked up around midday to give both spectators and sailors an exciting and improved second day. 

The diverse group of sailors included the Sri Lankan Navy, club sailors and school sailors (predominantly, St. Thomas’ College, Royal College and Ladies’ College) all vying for the same positions.

All sailors were commended for their resilience and effort in completing the course laid by Race Officer and National Sailing Coach Krishan Janaka and supported by Assistant Sailing National Coach Roshil Nishantha.   

From the seven categories, Laser Radial, Laser Standard, GP 14, Enterprise, Windsurfing and junior categories Optimist and Laser 4.7, the Sri Lankan Navy dominated winning all five senior categories.

The two junior events were dominated by St. Thomas’ College. The Laser 4.7 category was an all-Thomian affair with Dhanika Nanayakkara securing Gold, Jehan de Silva Silver and Niveyn Nanayakkara, the Thomian Sailing Vice Captain, taking bronze.

The Optimist category was brilliantly navigated by Royalist Usuf Hazari for his first place Gold, followed by Thomian Optimist Captain Tharen Nanayakkara for Silver and Thomian Optimist Vice Captain Nikhil Nanayakkara for Bronze. 

The Laser Radial category was commanded by the Sri Lankan Navy sailors, J.M.P.L. Jayasuriya and P.N.P.K. Dissanayake, taking Gold and Silver, followed by Bronze going to Thomian Dhanika Nanayakkara in third place, closely followed in fourth place by the Thomian Sailing Captain Jordan Bolling.

In entirety, the 2021 Sailing Nationals was a success. 

Boats belonging to all sailing classes were represented at this event.

The GP 14 Class, Enterprise Class, Laser Radial Class, Laser Standard Class and Windsurfing Class were won by the Sri Lanka Navy. The Laser 4.7 Class (Under-18 event) was won by St. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia, and the Optimist Class (Under-15 event)  was won by Royal College College, Colombo. 

Nanayakkara Brothers – Tharen, Dhanika, Niveyn, and Nikhil – with National Sailing Coach Krishan Janaka and Assistant National Sailing Coach Roshil Nishantha

Competitors trying the waters at the Bolgoda Lake before the event