‘Navy Cup Sailing Regatta - 2024’ concludes in Colombo

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully hosted the ‘Navy Cup Sailing Regatta - 2024’ in the alluring waters off Galle Face on 26th and 27th April 2024. The awards ceremony of the event was held under the patronage of the Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor to the President, Mr Sagala Ratnayaka at the Galle Face beachfront.

The event featured races in Optimist Class, ILCA 4 Class, ILCA 6 Class, ILCA 7 Class, Wind Surfing, Enterprise Class and GP 14 Class and the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka (YASL) assisted the successful conduct of the events. The Sailing Regatta drew 66 sailors (male and female) with 54 sailing boats from sailing clubs and schools across Sri Lanka such as, Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club, Royal College Colombo, S. Thomas' College, Ladies College, Bentota Wind Surfing Club, Ceylon Motor Yacht Club, Future Fibres, Royal Colombo Yacht Club, Ruhunu Sailing as well as North Sail school club from the Northern Province for the first time.

The sailors battled it out in challenging weather conditions, with strong winds and choppy waters testing their skills and determination. In ILCA 6 Class, Kevan De Kostha, Luqmaan Aneeq and Binal Perera from the Royal College Colombo secured the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

In ILCA 4 the gold medal was won by Yusef Hazar from the Royal College Colombo. Its silver and bronze medals were won by Kyasha Samarakkodi and Kyoshi Samarakkodi respectively from the Ladies College.

The gold medal in ILCA 6 was secured by Thaliya from the Ladies College. The event’s silver medal was won by Petty Officer PDDS Rajapaksha from the Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club and the bronze medal was secured by Tharini De Silva from the Ladies College.

Meanwhile in ILCA 7 Class, Leading Infantryman UD Rajapaksha, Leading Seaman JS Senavirathna, and Leading Engineering Mechanic TDS Perera from the Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club respectively secured all three major honours.

The gold and silver medals in Wind Surfing were won by Leading Seaman KPP Gunawardana and Petty Officer WAS Weerathunga respectively from the Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club. Its bronze medal was won by Sheran from the Benthota Wind Surfing Club.

Further, Leading Seaman KSK De Silva and Leading Seaman LAM Gunathilaka (gold), Able Seaman UGD Madushanka and Woman Able Seaman HKKM Nonis (silver) and Woman Leading Seaman MDM Subhasini and Woman Able Seaman WPLT Karunarathna (bronze) from the Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club won all major honours in Enterprise event.

In the same vein, Leading Seaman Aththanayake and Leading Seaman ASK De Soysa (gold) and Leading Infantryman JHMPJ Jayapadma and Leading Seaman SPPN Kumara (silver) from the Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club won first two places in GP 14 event. Its bronze medal was won by Johan and Nandiya from the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club.

In Single Handed Open Championship, the top three slots were once again secured by Petty Officer PDDS Rajapaksha, Petty Officer WAS Weerathunga and Leading Seaman JS Seniavirathna respectively, from the Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club.

In Double Handed Open Championship (Enterprise Class), Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club’s Leading Seaman AMJP Aththanayaka and Leading Seaman ASK De Silva (gold), Leading Infantryman JHMPJ Jayapadma and Leading Seaman SPPN Kumara (silver) and Leading Engineering Mechanic TDS Perera and Leading Seaman DGLP Piyawansha (bronze) won top 03 slots. Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club clinched the Admiral Clancy Fernando Memorial Trophy, emerging as overall champions.

Speaking on the occasion, Commander of the Navy expressed joy over the enthusiastic involvement of both veteran athletes and young athletes, along with school children, in the sailing tournament and congratulated the winners. Adding further, he stated that the Navy is playing a significant role in promoting sailing tournaments, which could lead to achieving victories at the international level in the future. The sailing regatta is held every year as a tribute to late Admiral Clancy Fernando, a former Commander of the Navy who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland. Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera also conveyed his deep appreciation to Mrs. Monica Fernando, the respected spouse of the late Admiral, for generously providing the Admiral Clancy Fernando Challenge Trophy for the occasion.

The beloved wife of late Admiral Clancy Fernando, Mrs Monika Fernando, the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Pradeep Rathnayake, Director Generals, officers from the Sri Lanka Navy Sailing Club, officers, sailors, and family members of the contestants were also present on this occasion.