Judy Howison discovers an enchanting family getaway – right here in Singapore.
Changi Sailing Club has provided, recreation and relaxation for a wealth of Singaporeans and expats of all nationalities since 1936, but this coastal haven is actually still one of Singapore’s best kept secrets. The Club was founded by a group of British soldiers stationed in Singapore before World War II and was then known as The Changi Garrison Yacht Club. Unusual for the time, military rank was shelved in favour of Club rank – giving members a sense of class harmony and cementing the Club’s unique position in Singapore’s history. Fascinating anecdotes and memorabilia from some of the Club’s founding members can be found at www.csc.org.sg, where they recount adventurous tales of battling Sumatra’s (mini-hurricanes) in the 30s, through to winning five gold medals in the SEA Games of 1993.
Today, Changi Sailing Club continues its theme of friendship and its pursuit of sailing excellence. Families and individuals can unwind in a down-to-earth environment, where CEOs and heartlanders team together as crew or share a meal in the Club’s breezy open-air restaurant.
FUN ACTIVITIES
Changi Sailing Club offers children the freedom to explore their surroundings. The wide range of fun activities includes sailing, swimming and life-saving courses, canoeing and diving instruction, fishing, swimming in the pool or sea, water volleyball, birthday parties, a soft sandy beach and banana boat rides every Sunday at 4pm. Adults can also learn to sail, join an experienced crew, charter a boat or socialise at beach barbecues.
PRIZED HISTORY
In 1988 the Club was renamed Changi Sailing Club – with Singapore Sports Council as a Founder Member – and during the 80s and 90s was home to Singapore’s champion sailors such as Siew Shaw Her. Voted Singapore’s Sportsman of the Year in 1988, Siew Shaw Her won six gold medals at the SEA Games, one gold medial in the 1998 Asian Games and represented Singapore in the 1988, 1992 and 1994 Olympics. Meanwhile, Dr Benedict Tan and Tracy Tan also represented Singapore in the 1996 Olympic Games and Tracy, Ben and Collin Ng, Anthony Kiong, Ng Xuan Hui and Wong Yilin, have all won gold at the SEA and Asian Games.
GIVING BACK
Today Changi Sailing Club is home to Singapore’s disabled sailors – Sailability Changi. The Club has nine non-capsizable dinghies, expected to increase to 20 by the end of 2007. Individuals, well-wishers and companies have contributed to the purchase of these very safe boats, which have enabled those with disabilities to experience the thrill of sailing. Anyone can learn to sail in these crafts and the Club encourages able-bodied sailors – both kids and adults – to also join in the fun. “Kids at risk” visit the Club each week to assist Sailability sailors and there’s always a warm welcome for volunteers wishing to help with the sailing sessions and transportation, each Sunday morning.
Changi Sailing Club offers a wide range of sailing options for adults and children – both novice and experienced. Members can charter a keelboat for short cruises in local waters and regular sailing courses are conducted for all age groups in dinghies, catamarans and keelboats – check www.csc.org.sg for full details. Sailing courses are held over three weekends and many graduates immediately go on to race dinghies, cats and keelboats.
The dinghy fleet has a broad mix of boats, including Bytes, Lasers, Optimists, Acess 2.4s and 420s – raced under supervision every Sunday. Catamaran sailing grows from strength-to-strength and this Club has the largest modern cat fleet in South-East Asia, offering a number of options for sailing with one or two crew members. There are 17 Taipans amongst the older Hobies and Nacra crafts, two brand new Twincat 15s and the soon-to-be-launched Viper is sure to offer incredible flexibility. Visit the Club any Sunday before 2pm to chat to the cat sailors or for help with purchasing a suitable catamaran, according to your level of proficiency.
Each year, when the north-easterly blows, keelboats from other parts of Singapore come together at Changi Sailing Club to compete for the Monsoon Challenge Trophy. And from October 20 to 21, Changi Sailing Club is hosting the prestigious Ambassador’s Cup – now in its eighth year. Eminent Ambassadors to Singapore make it an important event in their annual calendars and members of the wider sailing fraternity are encouraged to participate. This action-packed weekend kicks off on the Saturday with the unveiling of an exhibition of oil paintings by Lee Boon Wang – one of Singapore’s most renowned artists. Activities commence with dinghy racing for able-bodied and Sailability sailors throughout the day, banana boat rides, water games, lucky door prizes and more. Chairman of this year’s Ambassador’s Cup is avid sailor J Arturo Montoya, the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru – so guests and members can expect a distinctly Peruvian flavour to the closing celebrations.
ADVENTURES
The Club also offers opportunities to explore waters beyond Singapore. Changi Sailing Club recently organised a Johor River Cruise which took place over a weekend, under the guidance of Club management – which supplied a safety boat to look after all members and their guests. Next on the agenda is a cruise to Pulau Tioman, in October.
Experience Changi Sailing Club for yourself!
Be the Club’s guest this coming weekend and while you’re there, enquire about the reasonably-priced membership. 32 Netheravon Road (close to Changi Village). Tel: 6545 2876 or 9337 4238 (Walter), www.csc.org.sg.
Do you have a Singapore Secret you’d like to share? Send details (700 words) plus images to mjones-white@acpmagazines.com.sg and you could be published in an upcoming issue of The Finder!
Posted on Sep 07
