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CSC 's 1st boat - a Dinghy
The Burling Pram Dinghy, designed by Wing Commander Burling of the R.A.F. and built by Messrs Thornycrofts of Tanjong Rhu. During its first six years, 38 boats were taken over by the Club. In its initial state the mast and boom were of bamboo, the sails of heavy canvas and the lanyards of rope, but at the owners' expense, the mast and boom were replaced by pine, lightweight sails were brought in from Slaters of Australia and the rope lanyards were replaced by stainless turnbuckles. (ex RAF salvage).
CSC's 1st Keelboat
She was a mere twenty-five overall and had she been tied up in the old Singapore River, she would not have shamed either the tongkangs or sampans moored there. She was built at Tanjong Rhu by a couple of Chinese boat builders equipped with nothing more than a bow saw and adze, to the orders of a trio of young Gunners officers headed by one of Malaya's outstanding rugger players of the 1930's, one Don Kenyon. Early in 1937 she arrived at Changi pier, off the point, and there, with a bottle of Tiger, she was named The Paddle and Creek.
Running before a half-spent Sumatra she was brought round to the Club's mooring one Sunday evening and with all sails set she literally charged at the can. Whilst all of us on the verandah held our breath, she made one almighty gybe and by the grace of God and the local Imam, she made it at the first attempt.
She was built entirely of kapur, a timber more suited to making sheds than boats, but it served the purpose of kidding the owners that it was teak. The ten sails, gaff rig and box-like hull resulted in everyone calling her Tongkang. Mark you, she looked like one and sailed like one. When she encountered adverse conditions, it was necessary to adopt the same procedures as a tongkang helmsman...drop sails and anchor, for at times like this, she had little inclination to go forward.
Despite her handicaps she quickly became the Club's favourite, simple because her owners soon lost interest and were only too willing to hand her over to all members to ensure constant maintenance. Greenway, Foxcroft & Boland, owners of C31, assumed overall responsibility and completely shook us when they announced their intention of cruising to the Dutch Islands over the Christmas of 1938. The combination of the Dutch Islands, the Tongkang and the northeastern did not spell well for the Christmas festivities but they were adamant and immediately started arrangements for provisioning, wet and dry. Time for departure was fixed for midnight a few days before Christmas when the last two hours of ebb would enable them to clear the Admiralty boom to take advantage of both wind and tide for their ultimate destination.
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The Burling Pram Dinghy, designed by Wing Commander Burling of the R.A.F. and built by Messrs Thornycrofts of Tanjong Rhu. During its first six years, 38 boats were taken over by the Club. In its initial state the mast and boom were of bamboo, the sails of heavy canvas and the lanyards of rope, but at the owner's expense, the mast and boom were replace by pine, lightweight sails were brought in from Slaters of Australia and the rope lanyards were replaced by stainless turnbuckles. (ex RAF salvage) |
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With Ginger's (the barman) permission, the Committee granted an extension for the send-off. But of course, the evenings at Changi start early and by the time it was right to cast off, two of the crew were already half way to Darwin without even putting a foot on board. By gentle persuasion, plus a final topping up they hoisted sail and pointed in the right direction. Boland, the only sober one, took the helm until they cleared the boom. Then he handed over to Foxcroft with firm instructions to make for a predetermined light. When daylight came they were in Keppel Harbour! Foxcroft's double vision had taken over during the hours of darkness and he had transferred his sighting to an incoming liner's mast light Consequently, they arrived together.
As a result, the first day of the Cruise was spent at the Seamen's Mission in Anson Road and as the annual soccer match was to be played at the Anson Road stadium on the second day between Singapore Chinese and a Combined Services team, they felt it their duty to support to support the services. Maybe the free beer helped delay their passage, but according to all reports they actually left on the third day for the Islands, and according to the same reports, they duly put ashore their planned destination where they were right royally entertained by a local Dutch planter. To ally any doubts, they brought back an ample supply of Dutch cigars and Dutch Drops. For the uninitiated Dutch Drops were a Pre-Tiger Balm remedy for everything from dandruff to love sickness and consequently, their going price was high.
In view of the Tongkang's sailing ability, I had a feeling that the report was a bit too romantic and came to the conclusion that the island concerned was Pulau Brani where the cigars had been purchased at the local NAAFI shop whilst the Dutch Drops had been acquired at the Anson Road Seamen's Mission. But why spoil a good yarn, for even Conrad successfully got away with a few tall stories.
When Greenway's party returned to the U.K, i 1939, I assumed control of the Tongkang, and took over caretaker duties. I spent most of my spare time at the moorings practising my seamanship by replacing shrouds and cable and caulking the decks but I rarely sailed her beyond the point of an easy return. An occasional weekend visit to the Rest House at Johore Bahru or the Kampong at Punggol Point was about my limit. Even in those days it was possible to hook an Ikan Merah or catch a half-starved chicken and have it cooked during the time it took to see off a bottle a Tiger.
In early December 1941, she was still swinging around on the club moorings but when I returned to Changi on 17 February (under escort) she had gone. To where I shall never know. She might have helped in a getaway and finished up in Sumatra, or sunk on the way, she might even have it to Ceylon or she could have been scuppered by our own people. She might even have been taken over by the opposition, but no matter where she ended up she was still the first keelboat to register with the Changi Club.
One or two others had been seen around and they eventually joined us but the Tongkang outranked them all. by Jack Gulston |
