P and O Nedlloyd Keels regatta on Sunday
 

by Richard Dwight

There has been in recent years much impetus and drive given to sailing as a sport. Evidence of which is seen, in the interest for the sport being kept alive and sustained, by the holding of sailing competitions almost every Sunday, at the Bolgoda Ceylon Motor yacht Club, (CMYC).

Many senior sailors and, the salutary ever increasing number of juniors, make use of these opportunities to enhance their sailing skills, with the future in mind.

This apart, there is in addition, spread over the year sponsored sailing regattas, one amongst which is the P and O Nedlloyd Keels Regatta, which is to be sailed this Sunday, May 15 at the CMYC. The P and O Nedlloyd Keels making their debut as sponsors of sailing last year, achieved much success to draw more than 30 sail boats, affording as well much pleasure through fellowship, that has made it a much looked forward to popular event.

This singular '90 minute' fleet race that commences around 11.00 am in front of the club house on Bolgoda Lake, will perhaps have the same number of boats as last year. The sailors in the fray vying for championship honours will be from the Navy Sailing Club, the Royal Colombo Yacht Club and the CMYC.

The boats in action would be the GP-14, Enterprise, and laser which either will be helmed and crewed or only helmed. The winners last year were Anil and Michelle Gunewardana who sailed in their Sri Lanka built Gp-14 series II sailing dinghy. Last year's event also the rare spectacle of an 1894-model antique Dublin water wag sailed by seasoned campaigner Lalin Jirasingha, crewed by Samantha Elapatha.

The highlight of the Sunday afternoon will be the junior event, sailed in 'Optimistdan dinghies, with 13 boats down to take part. The junior aged 9-15 years of age, have been developing their skills rapidly during the past few years, with experience gained at international events to their credit.