Local sailor wins Laser gold in Australia

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Janisara Romanyk sails to gold at the 2018 Oceania & Australia Laser National Championships in Queensland, Australia. (Photo/Royal Queensland Yacht Swuadron)
Janisara Romanyk sails to gold at the 2018 Oceania & Australia Laser National Championships in Queensland, Australia. (Photo/Royal Queensland Yacht Swuadron)

Janisara Romanyk, a 14 year-old aspiring sailor from Pattaya’s Royal Varuna Yacht Club, won first place in the Female Under-17 Laser Radial class at the recently completed Oceania & Australia Laser National Championships held in Brisbane, Queensland from December 27 – January 4.

A total of 175 Lasers competed across 4.7, Radial and Standard rigs in breezes ranging from 6 knots up to 20 knot gusts.  Although sailing was cancelled on one day due to a lack of breeze, eleven of the scheduled twelve races were completed.

There were some leading Laser sailors from Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia at the event including Tom Burton, a gold medal hopeful for the 2020 Olympics and Manami Doi, the 2017 Laser Radial women’s world champion.

Thailand sent 7 sailors to compete in the championships, including Janisara and her 16 year-old brother Arthit (Miki) who finished 9th in the Male Under-17 category and 21st in the overall Laser Radial rankings.

“It was tough and challenging water conditions but I enjoyed it very much,” said Janisara at the conclusion of the event.  “This was the first time competing in Australia for me as I am only 14.  We had all kinds of wind conditions from 7 to 22 knots and shifting every hour, but we were fortunate to have Thailand’s SEA Games coach Dimitrios Theodorakis here to support us.

Thailand sailing coach Dimitrios Theodorakis (right) gives a briefing to Janisara Romanyk on the final day of the championships.
Thailand sailing coach Dimitrios Theodorakis (right) gives a briefing to Janisara Romanyk on the final day of the championships.

“There are seven of us here from Thailand participating in the championships and I want to congratulate my teammates including my brother Miki and my friend, Farida who came third in the Under-17 class as well,” she concluded.