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| Friday, 16 April 2004 |
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Successful bid to hold 2005 World Sailing C'ships here by Richard Dwight The Yachting Association of Sri Lanka (YASL) did exceedingly well through the pre - world sailing championships held in Negombo recently. Mainly because this event that was sponsored by SriLankan Airlines and Jetwing Hotels, was in the nature of the test and trial intended to build confidence in the world body governing the sport, that YASL, the local body here was capable of successfully organizing and conducting a broad based Enterprise World Sailing Championship here in Sri Lanka. This preliminary exercise in Negombo was a forerunner - whereby YASL made the right kind of impression to clinch holding the Enterprise world sailing championship in early 2005 in Negombo. This commendable achievement by the YASL, must surely have had the support of the two overseas representatives of the International Enterprise Association, Richard Esteaugh (the current world champion) from the UK and Homi Motiwala, from India, who were flown in courtesy of SriLankan Airlines - with ground arrangements for the event being sponsored by Jetwing Hotels Ltd. There will be a good many world class sailors coming for the world championship next year, with SriLankan Airlines acting as the official carrier for the year 2005 for YASL. At the Negombo preliminary meet in the 'Enterprise' class event where the boats are sailed by 'helm' and 'crew' 18 boats took part that drew sailors from the Navy sailing club, Ceylon Motor Yacht Club and the Royal Colombo Yacht Club. Competitors also included several members of the Sri Lankan Asian Games. The series of two races was won by Sarith Pethiyagoda (Colombo International School) helm, crewed for by Rehan Dias (Royal College Colombo) sailing a British - build two man Enterprise - class boat. Both sailors have represented Sri Lanka on quite a few occasions. In the 'optimist' class event a single race was held for single - handed 'optimist' class boats, a youth class restricted to those under 16. Due to the rough weather conditions only the eight members of the National team were permitted to participate. The winner was Akshan Jirasinha of St. Thomas' Collage Kollupitiya and the first runner up was Oshan Weerasinghe of Royal College Colombo. The second runner up was Devin Goonewardena of Stafford International Colombo. The International Jury overseeing the race, was chaired by former National sailor, Ananda Wimaladharma, assisted by two overseas representatives of the International Enterprise Association Richard Esteaugh and Homi Motiwala. |
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