The sailing camp in Nongsapura, Batam, Indonesia was a successful overseas trip for our young Optimist sailors for the first time. It took us months of planning and coordinating to ensure that everything is going to be alright. Thinking that it?s a debut event for these sailors and for us too, we want it to be fun, enjoyable and learning new things for the campers. Even before the camp date, sailors went through intense training and drills to get them ready to sail and expect the prevailing Northeast monsoon wind at Indonesia. A total of 13 Optimist sailors took part for the camp with accompanying parents.

We left Singapore on March 15, took the afternoon ferry and reached Riau Yacht Club about 5pm Indonesia time, not wasting time immediately rigged up the sail, checked the boat and settle equipment until sunset. First dinner at the hotel, food was good and quickly went to chalets to get a good night rest, prepare for the next day training.

Day 1, Saturday

Sailors were up early, surprised! Didn?t get a hard time to wake them up. At 9am everyone has rigged up the sail, boats are ready to launch! Amazing! A short welcome speech was given by our CSC General Manager, Mr. Edwin Low, talked about the value of friendships amongst sailors and how fortunate they are to be in the camp, indeed they are! Right after the speech, sailors went to out to test the waters. It was intense sailing in the morning with those choppy waves and heavy winds. Exhausted from morning drill, went back for lunch break and out again for the race.

We did a race together with Indonesian sailors, our sailor was overwhelmed how good, quick and experienced these sailors are. But I must say that our sailors did they very best to keep up with them. In fact, I?ve never seen them hiking out so much during the training. Good job sailors! Another tiring day has ended! Dinner time we went to Wandi?s Rock Restaurant to have a good time together enjoying local food and truly it was.

Day 2, Sunday

I should say, the most exhausting and highlight of the camp. We did a Team Racing! Yes, I thought of putting these sailors to the test of their skills. They have been training for at least a year for some and I think it?s a good time to level up their abilities. It?s not easy to do a team racing, it?s a combination of different level of skills and mentally torturing. Team work is the key to winning, everyone should be aiming for one goal, to gain advantage and make sure to penalized the opponent. In total, we did a whopping 28 races in 5 hours? time! These made me really proud as their coach on how strength they have to fight for their team!

Sailors were allocated and formed into 4 teams, combination of Singapore and Indonesia sailors. Leading the flight was the Silver Team, led by Emily Kemp?s team mates Nadia Chan, Trevor Ng, Edward O?Shea and Fikri. Outstanding results. At the end, Silver and Pink Team made it to the Finals! A breath taking tied points with both have 2 winnings, last race?a deciding, while racing sailors already calculating the results, they knew it?s going to be a tied points. The rule is, whoever gets the 1^st place, team loses. It was intense, but Jerry of Silver team had no choice but to finish first. Right after he crossed the finish line, you could hear the? Silver team sailors rejoicing and declares as champion! I felt that I was watching the Optimist World?s Championship, everyone was on high spirit and enjoyed that moment of joyful event. Kuddos to all the sailors, you put a great show! Such an accomplishment to me and specially for them.

And, that ends the 2 days intense sailing, the next day, we went to Pulau Putri as a reward for their hard work, enjoying the trip and relaxation.

A very successful sailing camp, everyone was happy, enjoyed the sailing, environment, a short get away from busy Singapore. Made me think that this is not going to be our last sailing trip, definitely not! I would like to end this story to thank firstly, sailors?for obeying their coach, cooperating and listening what is asked to do, their parents?the very and ever supportive mummies and daddies who?s always there to support their kids, the trust that they to their coach is undoubtedly well appreciated. To the people of Riau Yacht Club, Mr David Lee, Commodore, Weng Samsi, Budi and so many to mention. The Management of Changi Sailing Club for supporting this event, staff, Ying Ying for such a great Team Manager and others who has been part of this memorable event. Truly this event is not just about sailing, it brought us to be closer to each other, the values of friendship, meeting new people and appreciation of what you have. Sailors, you are lucky to experience this, value your parents!

Thank you all!

Fleet Racing Race Results

1. Jerry
2. Fikri
3. Natasha Kemp
4. Emily Kemp
5. Angyal Chew

Fleet Racing Junior Division

1. Ikuto Mori
2. Trevor Ng
3. Ethan Marc Cornelius

Team Racing

1^st place ? Silver Team /Team Leader ? Emily Kemp

Members: Nadia Chan, Fikri and Edward O?Shea

2^nd place ? Pink Team /Team Leader ? Jerry

Members: Imran Habbard, Ikuto Mori and Trevor Ng

3^rd place ? Purple Team /Team Leader ? Angel Chew

Members: Chery Yong, Simone Ng, Shintya and Muslim

4^th place ? Blue Team /Team Leader ? Natasha Kemp

Members: Angyal Chew, Jayden, Riska and Ethan Tan

From: Jaydn Wilkins

The trip to sailing trip Batam was great, and I would like to share some little stories,

The first one is that as we went out to the channel we were sailing through a rough patch of waves, and someone?s sprit decided to fall off, so I was just like ,..arrr? oh well lets go and get it. So, I sailed over, retrieved it and gave it the chase boat.? The nice people from Raiu sailing club then help put the sprit back into the Opti it came from.

Then the next day we went to do some racing, but the winds were a little stronger, and there was one time where my boat started to fill up with water from the bow. I had to spend 5 minutes bailing it out. Thank goodness my super handsome daddy brought me a new bailer

Later that day the winds were even stronger, and I almost capsized three times, but because of the expert training from my coach, I was able to adjust my weight, lean back and I stayed upright.

After that hanging out with my friends from the sailing club was really cool, and I had an amazing time.

I really want to thank Changi Sailing club and Riau Yacht Club for such an amazing trip.

From: Imran

It was a very good experience to meet the Indonesian sailors: they were very skilled and generous. We all got along very well, even if we had to use a bit of sign language at times! What I enjoyed most about the camp was the team racing: it was the first time I had tried it, and I found it very pleasurable. When you do team racing, there is paradoxically a lot more pressure on you, because if you fall behind, then the whole team suffers. So you really try your best ? for the team.

It was extremely nice of David, the Commodore of the local sailing club, to invite us and lend us their equipment.

The wind conditions in Batam were much stronger and fiercer than in Singapore ? the waves and the current were also much more powerful than what we are used to at CSC. This added to the learning experience.

Thank you to coach Jhing for organising this great trip, and to Ying Ying for helping us out!

From: -Simone Ng

?All of us that went on this trip, we are all so fortunate! ??That is why I treasure this experience. I have met new Indonesian sailors. I have also learnt about new sailing stuff?. Such as team sailing, we had to help our team members, not only ourselves. Overall, it was awesome??and I hope that we have more trips like this in the coming future. ?

From: Cheryl Yong

I think that the sailing camp was fun! Especially if you love to sail. We had gone through individual racing and team racing. I think that team racing was the most fun event of all, as you have to win together, not just by yourself.

I think also that if you like to sail, you should join the next sailing camps it exposes you to different weather of different countries.

From: Nadia Chan

During this camp, I experienced what it was like to work together while racing.? Team racing was the highlight of the trip for me.? It was exhausting, but it was worth it.? I liked how Coach Jhing rewarded us with a day off to relax and swim in the ocean.? Overall, I really enjoyed this amazing experience to go overseas for sailing training.

From: Ikuto

It was my first time to be apart from my parents and go foreign country with my elder sister.??I had been a bit nervous but when I saw Reau yacht club, my anxiety was gone.??I enjoyed that rough wind and current with my friends, Indonesian sailors and coach Jhing.??This brilliant experience made me stronger.

I am looking forward to going back to Batam and catching up with Indonesian sailors.

From: Edward O’Shea

?The Nongsa trip was lots of fun! At the end, though, I was very tired. I enjoyed the team racing because we had to work together.

Thank you Coach Jhing and Ying Ying for organizing this trip?

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