Royal College Colombo emerged winners at the eighth annual Royal-Thomian Sailing Regatta held recently at the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club, Bolgoda.

The Royalists reclaimed the Ranil Dias Memorial Trophy after a lapse of five years, and took it home to Reid Avenue. 

Thomian Laser sailors (A and B) won all the trophies on offer for the Laser category. The encounter ended in a 5-5 tie, however Royal College won the Ranil Dias Memorial Trophy in the tie breaker. 

Thomian skipper Shashenka Fernando was awarded the individual prize for the best Laser sailor at the event.

The Royal-Thomian Sailing Regatta has a card of six events, made up of the Laser Radial A and B, Optimist A and B, Optimist individual and the Laser individual.

S. Thomas’ won the first trophy encounter in 2017 and Royal College emerged victorious in 2018.

Royal College was the first school to start its own sailing program in 2013. Joined by S.Thomas’ College two months later, the two schools have risen to challenge the existing community of Club and Navy sailors. Rehan Dias was the first sailor to be recognised by Royal at the 1999 Colours Award Ceremony. The grandson of Maalyn Dias, Rehan and his father Ranil Dias were the very first father-son duo to represent Sri Lanka on international waters.

The sport of sailing or dinghy yacht racing has been dubbed by many as “chess on the water” due to its demanding mental and tactical requirements, coupled with its stamina and endurance requirements. Races in sailing last for as short as 15 minutes to more than two hours.