Sri Lanka Junior National Sailing Team makes waves at IODA Championship

Royalist Yusef Hazari, reigning national champ placed 7th

The Sri Lankan junior national sailing team successfully completed seven days of the IODA Asian and Oceanian championship in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday.Sri Lanka’s reigning national sailing champ, Yusef Hazari of Royal College, clinched seventh place in the Silver fleet, coming in second in the final race.

“It was my first experience at an international sailing event on seas outside Sri Lanka, and it was fantastic,” said Yusef. “I hope to win a podium place next year,” he said.

Despite being the underdogs amongst the 101 participants, the team sailed alongside champions of the seas including Thailand, the US, Belgium, Japan and Singapore. For most of the youngsters aged between 13 and 15, this year’s IODA Asian and Oceanian championship was the first international event, as they missed out on the previous two years’ championship due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and they are determined to win next year.

“Out of all the sporting events we have participated in, this has been the most competitive and exciting one,” said twins Kyoshi and Kyasha Samarakkody. “We’re looking forward to qualify and win at the next one.”

The young Sri Lankans made up for their lack of experience on international waters, with grit and determination. While other teams funded by government bodies including the army and the navy, participate in at least six international events throughout the year, for the self-funded Sri Lankan team, the annual Asian and Oceanian championship is the only international event they participate as a team.

“We have a fantastic team with incredible talent,” said Krishan Janaka, Sri Lanka’s national sailing coach. “The more the children participate in different seas with different sailors, the more experience they will gain. We have world champion material amongst our midst, they just don’t have enough experience,” he said. “With the right exposure, these are world class sailors.”

This year 13 teams with 101 participants raced at the annual IODA Asian and Oceanian championship, which is one of the most prestigious Optimist racing events.

The event began with a gala opening ceremony on December 13, followed by practice races December 14. The individual races kicked off on December 15 where the Sri Lankan team was placed in the Silver Fleet. The young sailors did well throughout the individual races on December 16 with Yusef Hazari placed 9th, followed by Tharen Nanayakkara in 17th place.

Team racing kicked off on day four, with Sri Lanka’s A team consisting of Yusef Hazari, twins Tharen Nanayakkara and Nikhil Nanayakkara, Minuga Hettigamage and Chathuni Marapperuma, pitted against Thailand, that won overall second place. Sri Lanka’s B team made up of Akash De Simon, Vinuk Senaratne, twins Kyoshi Samarakkody and Kyasha Samarakkody and Sohanya de Mel went up against the final winning team Singapore.

The last two days of individual racing on December 18 and 19, saw trials and tribulations by the young Sri Lankan team as they fought alongside experienced sailors. Yusef Hazari sailed in 2nd place with Kyoshi Samarakkody coming in 10th position and Nikhil Nanayakkara following close behind in 11th place on the last day.

At the end of the seven-day event, Yusef Hazari was placed 7th, Kyoshi Samarakkody came in 22nd place, Kyasha Samarakkody in 26th place, Nikhil Nanayakkara in 28th , followed by Tharen Nanayakkara in 30th place. Minuga Hettigamage was placed 35th, Sohanya de Mel came in 42nd, Vinuk Senaratne in 44th place, Akash De Simon following close in 45th place and Chathuni Marapperuma in 47th place.

The sailors raced in low winds of 6 to 9 knots and low tides the first three days. The winds picked up in the last two days of racing to 15 to 19 knots. The last of the 10 races was cancelled due to time constraints.

This year’s 10-member Sri Lanka team is made up of Yusef Hazari and Minuga Hettigamage from Royal College; Twins Tharen Nanayakkara and Nikhil Nanayakkara, Akash de Simon and Vinuk Senaratne from S. Thomas’s College, Mt. Lavinia; twins Kyoshi Samarakkody and Kyasha Samarakkody and Sohanya de Mel from Ladies’ College; and Chathuni Marapperuma from Visakha Vidyalaya.

Thailand’s Chanatip Tongglum was the overall winner of the IODA Asian and Oceanian championship this year, with Ethan Chia and Nicol Lim from Singapore coming in second and third respectively.

“Although we did not obtain a medal, our sailors have done really well and gained a wealth of experience,” said Sarath Kuragama, COO of the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka

This year’s IODA Asian and Oceanian championship participants came from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Belgium, the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Taipei, the UAE and host nation India.IODA holds world championships as well as regional championships each year, and next year’s Asian and Oceanian championship is scheduled to be held in the UAE.