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