Smooth sailing for Thomians

S. Thomas' College had it all theirs at the second annual Royal-Thomian sailing competition last month on the waters of the Bolgoda Lake.

The individual event had 25 boats on the water with the Thomians taking the three coveted top spots. They were led by their talented skipper Kethaka Weerasuriya who took the gold while his team-mates Zai Pestonjee and Jordan Bolling had silver and bronze respectively.

The Royalists too were led by their talented skipper Sunaragiri Liyanage and displayed commendable technique and teamwork but were outclassed by the Thomians.

The teame vents too were won by the Thomians ensuring them an overall victory.The team races comprised of two events with an A Team and B Team both of which were won by the Thomians.

The Thomian A Team was made up of Kethaka Weerasuriya (captain) Akil Ismail, Jordan Bolling and Haresh Goonewardena while the B team had Daniel Peramune, Zai Pestonjee, Deshveka Fernando and Jehan De Silva.

The Royal A Team had Sunaragiri Liyanage, (captain) Nisal Walpola, Chirayu Wijekoon and Yuneth Wijenayaka while the B team was represented by Mayuka Siriwardena, Kaif Sally, Sahanya Wevita and Kanila Gunasekera.

After a good start in the first race Royal captain Sunaragiri Liyanage sailed away to win it comfortably. The second, third and fourth races saw Thomian skipper Kethaka Weerasuirya make a fine comeback to finish first in all three and win the overall individual challenge trophy.

In the team races the first was S. Thomas' A versus Royal A with the Thomian team taking position to the right side of the starting line early and pushing the Royalists to the left side.

This had the spectators totally enthralled and as expected they were in for some spectacular team racing.

S. Thomas' succeeded in beating Royal in all three races to win the Team Race Challenge.

The B teams headed off to another fantastic race and S. Thomas' on the last leg approaching the finish line pipped the Royalists at the post to win the Team Race Challenge.

In the individual championships the best of four races discarding one race and the total points of the top five were:

Kethaka Weerasuriya (STC) 3 points, Zai Pestonjee (STC) 7 points, Jordan Bolling (STC) 10 points, Nisal Welpola (Royal) 15 points, Haresh Gunawardena (STC) 17 points.

Team Races -STC A Team winners: Kethaka Weerasuriya (capt ), Akil Ismail, Jordan Bolling and Haresh Goonewardena

STC B Team winners: Daniel Peramune, Zai Pestonjee, Deshveka Fernando and Jehan De Silva.