Yet another battle of the Blues on June 30
The Roy-Tho Sailing Regatta will be an interesting battile this year- File pic
The 4th Royal-Thomian Sailing Regatta will take place at Bolgoda Lake by the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club off Moratuwa next weekend. The S. Thomas’ College sailing crew, who have won at all three previous meetings, will hope to continue their winning spree for yet another year while the Royal College crew will definitely look forward to turn tables on their traditional rivals.
The two-day event will take place on June 30 and July 1 and will be contested for the Ranil Dias Memorial Trophy, which was introduced last year and claimed by the Thomians. Last year the Thomians won four out of the five events held while Royal grabbed the Team ‘B’ Optimistic win, succumbing to the marvels of maneuvering by the boys of the school by the sea. The conditions of wind and water were equally tests for the young athletes of both teams but the Thomians were smarter than their traditional foes. Royal had good competitors and fighters, as they challenged the Thomians at every possible opening, but failed to prevail except for one occasion.
With many of sailors from last year turning out this year for both teams, this year can be a bit different from the three previous outings. Though S. Thomas’ won it for three years in a row, this year the duel can be an exciting battle according to event officials.
“S. Thomas’ has won for the past three years, however Royal are a little stronger in the Laser class while the Thomians are stronger in the Optimist class. We can expect a good fight,” an official stated.
Defending title holders, S. Thomas’ is led by Rehan de Silva while the Royal team is captained by Maynka Siriwardene. This year the event is sponsored by an international sailing accessories manufacturing company, who have come forward to support the sailors of both teams.