Sailors dominate Sailing Nationals 2023
Sri Lanka Navy dominated the National Sailing Championship 2023, claiming four out of seven events, in the annual watersport gala held this time, at the Crow Island Sea Front in Mutwal, Colombo. Next to the Sailors’ achievements, Royal Colombo Yacht Club, S. Thomas’ College and Royal College made their presence winning an event each.The GP14, Enterprise, ILCA 6 and Windsurfing Classes were won by Sri Lanka Navy, and the ILCA 7 Class was won by Royal Colombo Yacht Club. S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia won the ILCA 4 Class Under-19 event and Royal College, Colombo won the Optimist Class Under-15 event.
Yusef Hazari of Royal College, who made history last year setting a record as the youngest to win a Sailing Nationals, won gold again in the Optimist class emerging first in five out of six races. Kyasha Samarakkody from Ladies’ College won silver and Minuga Hettigamage from Royal College won bronze.
The gold for the ILCA 4 class was fiercely fought between S. Thomas’ and Ladies’ College, with Tharen Nanayakkara of the Mt. Lavinia school cinching the gold, and Taalya Tranchell from Ladies College coming in second place with silver. Omar Hazari of Royal College won bronze in the ILCA 4 category.
In the ILCA 6 category, J.S. Senevirathna from the Navy won the gold medal, while Jehan de Silva from S. Thomas’s won the silver. W.A.S. Weerathunga from the Navy won the bronze medal. Kethaka Weerasuriya of the Royal Colombo Yacht Club sailed away with the gold in the ILCA 7 class, with Navy’s N.G.M.U. Ghnanawardana and K.G.K.U.S. Bandara winning silver and bronze respectively.
Sri Lanka Navy dominated the GP 14 and Enterprise classes, winning all three medals in both categories. A.M.J.P. Aththanayake and K.S.K. de Silva won gold, with J.H.M.P.I. Jayapathma and P.P.N. Kumara winning silver in the Enterprise category. T.D.S. Perera and L.A.C.M. Gunathilaka won the bronze.
Sailors fought hard among themselves in the GP 14 category, with J.M.P.L. Jayasooriya and A.S.K. de Soyza finally winning gold and W.A.D.R. Kumara and G.P.S. de Silva coming in a close second, winning silver. K.C. de Soyza and G.P.P. Karunarathna settled in for the bronze.
Windsurfers whizzed past with W.A.S. Weerathungha of Navy winning gold, Chaminda Kumara Silva representing the Bentota Water Sport Club winning silver and Priyantha Gunawardana of the Navy taking the bronze. The national coach Krishan Janaka acted as the Principal Race Officer and assistant national coach Roshil Nishantha was the Race Officer as the event.
Chief guest Navy Commander Priyantha Perera commended the standard of sailing displayed at the Nationals and called Sri Lanka’s sailing ‘the future of tourism’. Speaking at the event, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera highlighted the history of Sri Lanka, stating that the country has been sailing nation since ancient times.
“Sri Lankans are no stranger to sailing, and their love for the sea is deeply rooted in their culture, being inhabitants of an island nation. The emergence of a new generation of young sailors who are willing to take on challenges, will benefit Sri Lanka’s tourism industry greatly in the future,” said the Commander.
Director General of Sports Development Department Amal Edirisuriya, Secretary General of National Olympic Committee of
Sri Lanka, Maxwell de Silva, Commander of the Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Suresh de Silva and Chairman Navy Sailing Capt. Dumindu Abeywickrama also graced the occasion.
| Final results | |
| Optimist Class Under-15 1: Yusef Hazari (Royal College) 2: Kyasha Samarakkody (Ladies’ College) 3: Minuga Hettigamage (Royal College) ILCA 4 Class Under-19 1: Tharen Nanayakkara (S. Thomas’ College) 2: Taalya Tranchell (Ladies’ College) 3: Omar Hazari (Royal College) ILCA 6 Class 1: J.S. Senaviratne (SL Navy) 2: Jehan de Silva (S. Thomas’ College) 3: W.A.S. Weeratunge (SL Navy) ILCA 7 Class 1: Kethaka Weerasuriya (Royal Colombo Yacht Club) 2: N.G.M.U. Ghanawardene (SL Navy) 3: K.G.C.U.S. Bandara (SL Navy) GP 14 Class 1: J.M.P.L. Jayasuriya/A.S.K. Soyza (SL Navy) 2: W.A.D.R. Kumara/J.P.S. de Silva (SL Navy) 3: K.C. Soyza/G.P.P. Karunaratne (SL Navy) Enterprise Class 1: A.M.J.P. Attanayake/K.S.K. de Silva 2: J.H.M.P.I. Jayapathma/S.P.P.N. Kumara 3: T.D.S. Perera/L.A.C.M. Gunathilaka Windsurfing Class 1: W.A.S. Weeratunge (SL Navy) 2: Chaminda Kumara Silva (Bentota Windsurf Club) 3: Priyantha Gunawardene (SL Navy) |