| 1936: |
Idea for a sailing club at Changi - the brainchild of an officer who was stationed with the British military forces in Singapore, Captain Sterling Wilkinson, Royal Signals. |
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Named the Changi Garrison Yacht Club (CGYC), it was located at CSC’s present location and flew an official red and blue pennant. Membership was about 120, mainly British military personnel. |
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Native sail boats (koleks and jongs) were first used. Signalman Goldman - the first to take to the sea with a kolek. |
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A “standardised” dinghy was later introduced: the 14-foot pram dinghy that was named after its designer, Royal Air Force (RAF) Wing Commander Burling. |
| 1937: |
Club gets its first keelboat, The Paddle and Creek. |
| 1938: |
The Pier is constructed. Founder member, Jack Gulston, drafts the Club’s first Handbook. |
| 1930s & 1940s: |
Regular sailing races in the Johore Straits between the CGYC, the RAF Seletar and the Royal Navy (RN)’s Red House. |
| 1941: |
The starting bell for races is made, courtesy of members, Greenway, Boland and an expert mould-maker, Foxcroft. The bell still stands in the Club. |
| 1942: |
15 Feb’ 42 - Singapore falls to the invading Japanese army. |
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17 Feb’ 42 - One of the Club’s Burling pram dinghies, the Goldeneye, is used by three British servicemen to make their escape from Singapore. The dinghy was halted by a Japanese cruiser in the Sunda Straits, 650 miles and 2 weeks later. |
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01 March’42 – The Club’s Commodore, Colonel Heath and a handful of members hold last Club meeting before they go into captivity for the remainder of the War years (1942 – 1945). |
| 1947: |
The Club is revived following the end of World War Two and renamed the RAF Changi Yacht Club. |
| 1965: |
Singapore becomes a Republic. |
| 1971: |
The British military withdraws from Singapore. The Club is handed over to the National Sports Promotion Board (NSPB) and is renamed the NSPB Changi Sailing Club. When NSPB becomes the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) in 1973, the Club is once again renamed – the SSC Changi Sailing Club. |
| 1974: |
SSC decrees that the Club be "self-supporting” without the benefit of government subsidies.
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| 1981: |
The new Clubhouse is completed. |
| 1987: |
The Nanking Plate Regatta is introduced after treasure-hunters and former Club members, Mike Hatcher and Max de Rham, donated three 240-year old China dinner plates that were salvaged from a Dutch vessel, the Geldermalsen, that floundered on a reef close to Singapore in 1751. |
| 1988: |
The Club is renamed Changi Sailing Club. SSC becomes a “Founder Member” under the new Constitution and retains the right to appoint the Commodore who, in turn, appoints the Vice Commodore, the Honorary Treasurer, and the Honorary Secretary.
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| 1980s & 1990s: |
CSC sailors do Singapore proud at regional and international sailing competitions. Siew Shaw Her, who won seven gold medals in South East Asian (SEA) Games’ competitions between 1983 and 1987, is voted the 1988 “Sportsman of the Year”. Dr Benedict Tan who won a gold medal at the 1993 XVII SEA Games, became an Asian champion when he clinched the gold in the Laser Class at the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994. The XVII SEA Games also saw sailing golds going to Anthony Kiong and Collin Ng (Men’s International 420 Class), Ng Xuan Hui and Wong Yilin (Women’s International 420 Class) and Tracey Tan (Women’s Laser Class). |
| 1996: |
The Club celebrates its 60th Anniversary. Extension plans
are completed: a new swimming pool, bar and office. |
| 2001: |
The Club’s tenancy is renewed. |
| 2006: |
The Club’s Constitution is amended with SSC’s blessings. Members can now elect the Club’s Commodore and all Management Committee Members. |
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Nov’06 – The Club celebrates its 70th Anniversary. |
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