Nadine de Rosayro, representing the Royal Colombo Yacht Club (RCYC) clinched her third National Championship title at the Sailing Championship organized by the Sri Lanka Yachting Association at the Crow Island navy base in Mattakkuliya, Colombo yesterday.
At 34 years De Rosayro, a previous title-holder in 2007 and 2021, secured the second position in the Laser Radial Open event and claimed the top spot in the Laser Radial women’s event, earning her the National Champion title for the year.
This marks De Rosayro’s third National Championship in her sailing career, representing the Sri Lanka team since 2002.
She did not participate in previous year’s Nationals.
Expressing her gratitude, De Rosayro attributed her success to her coach Lalin Jirasinha, a two-time Olympian for Sri Lanka in 1984 (Los Angeles) and 2000 (Sydney). She described him as an exemplary figure that inspires both his coaching and life.
Currently serving as the coach of the S Thomas’ College sailing team, Nadine returned to compete in the Nationals after a three-year hiatus. She shared her excitement about being back on the water, facing challenging conditions and setting an example for her team.
The two-day Regatta featured 76 boats across eight classes, with each class completing six back-to-back races. Sailors encountered varying wind conditions, from light breezes to heavy gusts, along with large swells and choppy waves, making navigation around the course exceptionally challenging.
The Laser Radial fleet, consisting of 22 boats, was the largest, hosting two events: the Open event for both men and women and for the first time, a women-only Laser Radial event.
Results:
Single handed
Laser Radial (Women)
1st Place: Nadine de Rosayro (RCYC)
2nd Place: Tarini De Silva (LC)
3rd Place: Taalya Tranchell (LC)
Laser Radial (Open)
1st Place: P D Rajapakse (SL Navy)
2nd Place: Nadine de Rosayro (RCYC)
3rd Place: Tharen Nanayakkara (RCYC)
Laser Standard (Open)
1st Place: Kethaka Weerasuriya (Future Fibres)
2nd Place: UD Rajapakse (SL Navy)
3rd Place: PD Rajapakse (SL Navy)
Windsurfing:
1st Place: Priyantha Gunawardena (SL Navy)
2nd Place: W Weerathunga (SL Navy)
Helm and Crew (two athletes)
GP 14:
1st Place: W Weerathunge and G Karunaratne (SL Navy)
2nd Place: A Attanayake and A De Soysa (SL Navy)
3rd Place: KC Zoysa and D Perera (SL Navy)
Enterprise:
1st Place: J Jayapadma and S Kumara (SL Navy)
2nd Place: K de Silva and U Madusanka (SL Navy)
3rd Place: W Kumara and K Kithsiri (SL Navy)
Laser 4.7 (Under 18)
1st Place: Tharen Nanayakkara (RCYC)
2nd Place: Yusuf Hazari (RC)
3rd Place: Nikhil Nanayakkara (RCYC)
Optimist (under 15)
1st Place: Kevaan de Costa (RC)
2nd Place: Minuga Hettigamage (RC)
3rd Place: Haren Wickramathilake (STC)
