The Royal College Sailing Club and S. Thomas’ College Sailing club in collaboration with the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka, is to hold the inaugural Royal-Thomian Optimist Sailing Regatta, at the Bolgoda Lake Ceylon Motor and Yacht Club, Indibedda, Moratuwa Saturday commencing at 9.00 a.m.
Yachting or sailing as a sport in Sri Lanka is fast gaining popularity with schools taking a keen interest in taking up the sport and entering the few competitions held in the country. With the Royal College and S. Thomas’ College coming in as pioneers in the sport at schools circuit after the sport was introduced to both schools in 2013 by the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka the two institutions established sailing clubs and took all necessary actions to make the sport popular among the students.
Yachting which is sport that requires lots of self discipline and skill is a sport similar to Rowing yet it is not as widely popular as the contrary sport. Sailing in Sri Lanka is mainly associated with the Ceylon Motor and Yacht Club which was founded in 1929 and has operated from its current location in Indibedda, Moratuwa since 1936 and continues exactly the way it was always intended to be “a true haven of tranquility” – The CMYC.
When spoken to the Royal College sailing club teacher in Charge Mrs. Inoka Wijeyndra she said “We are very happy to take the initiative to make this sport popular and what better way to do so than to have a Royal Thomian event. In years to come we could only expect the sport to gain popularity and the Royal Thomian regatta to be added as one of the prestigious historic events in the local sporting calendar”.
Since this is the regatta’s inaugural edition, it will take place as an Optimist sailing regatta where only students under the age of 15 years will participate. The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for students younger than 15 years yet, it is recognized as an international class boat by the International Sailing Federation making this event no child’s play but a professionally classified event. Previously Students from both schools took part in the under 16 “Optimist Sailing Event” which was staged as part of the Carlton Sports Festival held at Tissamaharama this year.
The Two crews for tomorrows Regatta are as follows;
As the two crews prepare to on each other on the waters of Bolgoda, the organizers wish to invite the Old Boys from both schools as well as present students and parents come witness the action unraveling at the Bolgoda Lake Ceylon Motor and Yacht Club, Indibedda, Moratuwa from 9. a.m. onwards.
