Optimist sails begin to catch the winds today at Trinco

Richard Dwight

The Yachting Association of Sri Lanka (YASL), has done well in the eyes of the “world's sailing Governing Body,” of being an ideal country for International sailing regattas and, one that could foster and promote tourism in the country. The resulting effect was that the YASL made a successful bid to host the sailing world championship for ‘Enterprise’ in 2005 and ‘GP 14’ in 2011.

Notwithstanding this the YASL, has sustained its reputation of Sri Lanka being an International venue – when it currently impressed on the ‘International Optimist Dinghy Association” (IODA) to accept Sri Lanka's bid to host the ‘Asia Optimist Championship’ this week at Trincomalee – where the sailing will take place just north of Trincomalee town opposite the Chaaya Blue Hotel, which is also the official venue for the championship.

The opening ceremony will be held on Monday followed by a practice race. There are about 12 countries and 80 participants, who continue to be arriving in this ten day contest. Since the regatta is confined to the Dinghy or optimist boats all sailors must be below the age of 16 years. The Sri Lanka participants: Dinouk Goonawardene, 14 yrs (British School Colombo), Joshua Jayaratne 13 yrs (Colombo International School), A F Caldera, 12 yrs (BSC), J R De Mel, 12 yrs (LYI), A Jayawardene, 14 yrs (BSC), Akhil Jayawardene, 11 yrs (BSC), Tarik Conrad, 12 yrs (EMS), Marc Wilson, 11 yrs (CIS) and Amila Sampath, 12 yrs (Siddhartha Vidyalaya, Mirissa).

Heartening it is to observe that a young sailor from the Ruhuna Sailing Club in Mirissa has qualified to compete with the best optimistic sailors in the world.

The Sri Lankan youngsters have been in training for the past two weeks in Trincomalee. They have been coached by the national coach, Olympic sailor Lalin Jirasingha and his Assistant Asian Sailor Janaka. The reputed dinghy coach, Alan Williams was also there.

The organizing committee are all volunteers headed by the President of the (YASL) Joseph Kenny and as well from the clubs viz Ceylon Motor Yacht Club, Royal Colombo Yacht Club, Navy Sailing Club, Ruhuna Sailing Club and Board Sailing Club.