Well, perhaps we spoke too early about the great conditions we expected this weekend. The weather played tricks on us instead, teasing us with its inconsistency throughout the day. As a result, our initial plan to pump out 4 races was cut short to 3. Missing out on a passage race today was unfortunate, but the quick windward-leeward races brought their own thrill on our first day of racing in Bintan.
As we readied to leave the marina, the heat was intense, and there was barely a breeze to be felt. Yet, after we commenced the first race, passing clouds brought a brief sprinkle of drizzle. By the time we reached race 3, a heavy downpour had descended which reduced visibility immensely, obscuring the cylindrical buoys under a blanket of rain. This left our sailors to navigate the waters blind, but they displayed grit in finishing the race in such dramatic conditions.
With 3 races down, we have an official set of provisional results in Lagoi Bay, a privilege we did not have last year. In the PY class, Born in Fire and Silhouette are the main contenders for first overall. The former demonstrated great prowess with a bullet and two second-place finishes, while Silhouette also put on an impressive performance, despite losing out on race 3 after accounting for handicaps. Following Silhouette, Birregurra holds third position just ahead of Summer Breeze. Notably, although race 3 was the toughest of them all, Summer Breeze was still able to cross the finish line and achieved first place on corrected time.
Among the multihull class, there was a fiercely contested fight between Miss Visayan and Soluna. The outcome of each race was unpredictable, for they exchanged positions constantly in each leg. Currently, only 1 point separates the two trimarans, and so it will take until the final race tomorrow to determine our champion. Kublai Khan have not yet made their way into the top 2, but tomorrow presents another opportunity for them to make their mark.
The first day of racing in Lagoi Bay truly offered a distinct experience from the waters of CSC. The expansive open space available was eagerly leveraged by many, enabling boats to sail as far into the distance as they desired. With the refreshing change of scenery, we hope everyone is invigorated for more racing tomorrow. Rest well, and see you again on water!
Co-organised by Bintan Resort Cakrawala and Changi Sailing Club, the Bintan Regatta makes a triumphant return for its second edition, promising an exhilarating weekend of sailing in the open waters of Lagoi Bay. Most of us can recall the setbacks we faced in its inaugural year; with thunderstorms and rough seas, the foul weather called for the races to be rerun at CSC. Nonetheless, this year promises to be bigger and better. With nature’s blessings, sunny skies and north-easterly winds are expected this long weekend, encompassing the excellent sailing conditions that await our participants.
While last year’s event saw 6 participating boats, we are thrilled to welcome 8 boats joining us this regatta: Birregurra, Born in Fire, Inuka, Silhouette, Summer Breeze, Miss Visayan, Soluna and Kublai Khan. We look forward to an exciting and memorable experience of racing and lively festivities for all involved.
Event Highlights
The regatta spans from 29th to 31st March, with Saturday and Sunday featuring three races each. All boats will depart from Bandar Bentan Telani for a mix of windward-leeward and passage races. Chief Race Officer Jhing will oversee the smooth conduct of the races aboard Skybird, the designated race committee boat. After the events of the weekend draw to a close, participants will embark on a scenic sail back to CSC on 1st April.
The opening ceremony takes place tonight to kick off the festivities. Tomorrow morning, skippers will receive race instructions and updates at the skippers’ briefing. As the sun sets on Saturday, the skies will come alive with a spectacular display of fireworks, complemented by fire jugglers and the infectious beats of a DJ for the evening’s entertainment. Finally, the regatta’s finale on Sunday night will be marked by a closing ceremony. Both the opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the Tidal Bar.
Jong Race Festival
Happening concurrently with the Bintan Regatta is the Jong Race Festival at Lagoi Bay. The word ‘Jong’ refers to traditional wooden sailing vessels that were once ubiquitous in the maritime trade networks of Indonesia. Today, the Jong Race Festival is a celebration of the country’s seafaring traditions of the past, where participants gather to build and race mini sailboats using boat-building techniques passed down from generation to generation. If you are not planning on racing, do head down to Lagoi Bay to enjoy the seascape of colourful sailboats steeped in rich tradition. Otherwise, we have the larger version back at CSC, Jong Dee.
Acknowledgements
We express our sincere appreciation to Bintan Resort Cakrawala for co-organising this regatta alongside CSC. Additionally, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Grand Lagoi Hotel Bintan, our official accommodation partner for the event. Their support and hospitality have ensured that our participants enjoy a serene and comfortable stay here.
With the event’s plans laid out, we hope everyone is geared up for all that is to come. Wishing everyone a wonderful time in Indonesia, and best of luck to all participants racing this weekend!
The first Twilight Race of 2024 continued to enjoy the blessings of North-easterly winds, carrying the entire fleet through the full course. We had a healthy attendance of 16 boats participating – consisting of 11 Keelboats, 4 Multihulls and 1 Beach catamaran.
It was a match race of sorts between Jong Dee and Minx – both boats proudly representing the Keelboat IRC Class in the absence of the rest of the fleet. The J35 and X342 share similar lengths, but have key differences in configuration and design. Skippers Paul and Lucas have crossed swords many times on the race course, especially so in the Twilight races. This time the former Rear Commodore of Sailing steered Jong Dee to an early lead before the first mark rounding, setting the pace for the rest of the race before eventually securing a comfortable victory over Minx.
The Keelboat PY Class had a lot more boats on the start line – making it a very bustling affair during the start sequence. New entrant Slingshot’s attempt at starting on starboard tack showed her inexperience, as she quickly got subdued after the start due to her lack of boat speed off the line. Sapphire Star and Waka Tere were quick to establish an early lead on the fleet – the same 2 boats which went on to claim the top 2 spots on corrected time. It was heartbreak for Sapphire Star skipper Simon Connor, whose great sail was just 3 seconds short of 1st place. Waka Tere’s win was well-deserved, with Kurt and Gill looking like they hardly broke a sweat on the course. Rounding up the podium winners is the 40 foot beauty, Birregurra. fresh off her victory at last week’s Sunday Series race, she continues her win streak with a 3rd on corrected time.
4 boats were present on the start line for the Multihull Class, as Bula, Sirius Swift and Enter the Dragon return to Club racing after a short break. Joined by Miss Visayan, the fleet made good time on the course, averaging an hour and 10 minutes for the race. Bula and Miss Visayan resumed their on water rivalry, and the final results saw Michael and team prevail, claiming line honours just a minute ahead of Miss Visayan. Sirius Swift won the battle for 3rd place, successfully swatting off the chasing Dragonfly, Enter the Dragon. In the absence of the beach catamaran fleet, Bubble Trouble had no trouble at all getting on the podium, as Will and crew comfortably completed the course to take home the pennant 1 shot glass.
Congratulations to all winners, thank you everyone for turning up for the first twilight race of the year! Next week we shall take our sailing to Bintan – as we organise the 2nd Bintan Regatta together with Bintan Resorts. Club racing resumes with the Sunday Series I (Race 2) on 7th April.
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Our fortnightly Sunday Series racing resumed on 17 March, thankfully with a continued NE breeze greeting the sailors. A total of 12 boats were present on the start line, an unsurprisingly modest number for the first race of the season. We did however have 2 returning boats: Jong Dee and Born in Fire from the IRC Class. Both boats provided a much needed boost for their class, which is struggling with regular attendance. While an incoming tide helped the fleet at Tekong Buoy, it was not all smooth sailing for some, as an element of difficulty was added when sailors discovered a surprise crab pot in the vicinity of Tekong Buoy.
Jellico was caught on camera just clearing this obstacle on the mark rounding. Despite their near-miss, the team aboard the J24 handled the course well, cruising to a comfortable victory in the IRC Class. Returning veterans Jong Dee and Born in Fire placed 2nd and 3rd respectively – a great result all round. Having missed podium position by a minute, Skipper Lucas on Minx credited the sub-par results to 2 major equipment malfunction – losing valuable time on the course as a result.
In the PY Class, the 14-16 knots of winds were perfect for the unstoppable Birregurra, blitzing through the course in good time. She placed nearly 10 minutes ahead of Waka Tere on corrected time, establishing a really comfortable lead. Rounding up the podium winners would be Remington – whose skipper lamented about the Race Committee’s decision to Race on Course 4 every weekend. Despite their protests, the S&S 42 sailed very well on every leg, and looked completely in her element on water.
Representing the Multihull and Beach Catamaran Classes are Miss Visayan, Addiction and Bubble Trouble. V is for Victory! – Gary and team made light work of the course, and kept the Multihull flag flying high while the rest of the fleet are away. In the beach catamaran class, Addiction sailed to an easy win while having a 3rd sailor onboard. Theodore, who is an occasional feature on the Viper, is also an accomplished Optimist sailor. Together with skipper Jeremy and Daniel, the trio were a purrr-fect combination in the prevailing winds. Bubble Trouble tried their best to cause trouble, but ultimately had to settle for second.
Congratulations to all the winners, see you next week for the Twilight Race.
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Every year since 2021, CSC organises the Lady Helm Race, in conjunction with International Women’s Day celebrations in March. This year is no different, as the best CSC Lady Skippers gather for an afternoon of fun in the sun, determining the best lady skippers in the Keelboat and Multihull Categories for 2024.
International Women’s Day 2024 #inspiringinclusion
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done.
In 2024, the campaign theme Inspire Inclusion emphasizes the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society.
Racing
The latest edition of the Lady Helm Race is represented by 12 very accomplished skippers – most notably the winner of last week’s Commodore’s Cup, PY Class – Lisette Sens returned to compete on RSYC Dua this weekend to contest with a very strong field of 10 lady helms in the Keelboat PY Class. Amongst them include Catamaran and J24 veteran Zaheera Hashim, sailing on Balqis; A “Pink Brigade” on Forever Young consisting of a boat-load of energy and experience; and not forgetting the SMU Sailing alumni on Waka Tere, secret weapons brought to overcome a talented fleet of sailors.
Wind conditions developed from the North-East, but a strong outgoing tide proved challenging for the sailors’ jaunt to Tekong Buoy. Some of the teams succumbed to the notorious Tekong Tango, having to throw in a few more tacks to get to the Mark; while others had their campaign brought to a sudden halt, having risked the shallow depths in the vicinity of Chek Jawa to get grounded. Forever Young and Simba were the 2 victims which lost precious time from the grounding – thankfully managing to dislodge themselves and continue racing with no casualties. Continuing her fine run from the Commodore’s Cup, RSYC Dua completes the race in first place on corrected time, sailing an impressive race and earning her well deserved title as Lady Helm 2024 (Keelboat Class). Waka Tere was a respectable 2nd, with the very experienced Err Zixian at the helm from start to finish. While she is renowned for her skills at the bow, her performance at the helm was certainly impressive as well! She edged out Bound to Please in 3rd place by a mere 13 seconds. The Corbin 29 also registered a very pleasing performance with Pan Mao at the helm – earning their well-deserved place on the podium.
In the Multihull Class, the tradition of having only 2 boats represented in the fleet continues! Defending champions Miss Visayan skippered by Aspiah Huri successfully retained her title as the top lady helm in her class, fending off a strong attempt from Ann at the helm of Dot Dot Dot. Miss V survived the full course and a late surge from Dot Dot Dot, scoring victory across the line in the Multihull Class.
Congratulations to all the winners, we hope you had a very enjoyable and memorable 2024 CSC Lady Helm Race!
In typical end-season fashion, the NE Monsoon waned on Sunday, providing us with less breeze than we had hoped for. Nonetheless, it was enough for the Race Committee to carve out 3 races for all classes, and still make good time for the evening festivities.
Open Dinghy & Optimist Fleet
In addition to the lighter and more volatile conditions, The strong currents posed a further challenge for our less seasoned kids, while the lighter winds favoured our smaller sailors. With the varied wind and weather conditions, the past two days were a great opportunity for our sailors to sharpen their racing skills under the guidance of our coaches.
In the Optimist category, John Raphael Lim (4494), Jade Yeh (798) and Mikail Shahrom (704) make up our three medallists, with just a single point separating Raphael from Jade! Although siblings Gaitan Sullivan (SGP) and Riley Sullivan did not compete yesterday, they have sailed exceptionally well today and would have likely been contenders for the top five otherwise! We hope that all our Opti kids enjoyed racing this weekend and had fun with some friendly competition.
A big congratulations to Caio Sullivan (221931), Tiago Salgado (222437), and Ikuto Mori (221687) for securing the coveted top three places in the Open Division! A notable mention to Misa Lim (223203), the only lady competing in the Open Division who has also clinched a podium finish among the ILCAs.
Keelboats, Multihulls and Beach Catamarans
The big boys and girls faced the same conditions, but were fortunate to get a bit more of the strong stuff further out in the channel. Saturday’s winds did however batter some sailors into submission – as we miss Jonty J and Bubble Trouble on the start line for the PY and Beach Catamaran Class respectively. Reduced to 2 boats, Twisted Creature and Balqis II requested for shorter courses, clearly feeling the physical toll inflicted on Day 1. After battling it out on two pennant 9 and one pennant 4 course, the Nacra 15 emerged as the 2024 Commodore’s Cup champion, just 2 points ahead of close friends and rivals, Twisted Creature. Kellie and Matt however had put in some amazing effort this season, thus resulting in Twisted Creature being rewarded with a 2nd overall in the CSC Sailing Festival Leaderboard Final standings. Despite their absence at the Commodore’s Cup, Addiction skippered by Jeremy Perrier and the other Nacra 15 helmed by Uli Braun had secured 1st and 3rd respectively overall for this Sailing Festival – congratulations to both.
In the Multihull Class, there were some interesting exchanges on water, as the battle for 2nd place heated up between Miss Visayan and Dot Dot Dot. These were 2 very competent boats, and their passion had also translated into a protest proceeding after the race. Despite being dismissed, it was clearly a good learning opportunity for both teams to learn and improve their knowledge of the racing rules! Right at the top, Kublai Khan settled into her groove, completing the remaining 3 races with clean victories, taking the Commodore’s Cup Challenge Trophy as well as the overall 2024 CSC Sailing Festival Challenge Trophy for the Multihulls. Miss Visayan claimed 2nd place, with a consistent showing for all events available – the edge she needed over 3rd placed Bula, who unfortunately had to miss the Commodore’s Cup this year.
Now reduced to 12, the PY Keelboat Fleet had the J24s asserting their dominance in the lighter and more fickle conditions, with RSYC Dua and RSYC Tiga sharing the spoils on Day 2. Dua claimed a bullet in Race 4 and 6, while Tiga took the remaining bullet in Race 5. Together their consistent results held back strong performances from the big boys, scoring first and second overall after 6 races. Southern Light came closest in the fleet’s attempt to unseat the leaders, finishing 3rd and a total of 20 points after 1 discard. This was a great result for the Sharpe’s, marking their return to Club racing after an extended hiatus. Despite their struggles, the never-say-die attitude from Remington reaped rewards – Paul and his lean crew of 2 secured 10th in the Commodore’s Cup, with a shiny first for the 2024 CSC Sailing Festival overall standings! The S&S 42 boasts participation in all 5 events, and a total of 12 points from their best 4 results. Consistency and attendance – this was reflected in the results for 2nd and 3rd placed Waka Tere and RSYC Dua – both teams having completed all 5 events, and performing consistently well throughout the season. We would also like to acknowledge the participation and support from the 6 visiting boats: RSYC Dua, RSYC Tiga, Bound to Please (RSYC), Premier Cru1 (SAFYC), Firstlight (RM) and Rainbow Dream (RM) ! Great stuff – you guys are always welcome to race with us.
It was certainly a day for the J24s, as Jellico switched it up a gear to unseat her larger sister, Adona. 3 bullets from 3 races secured her the Commodore’s Cup Challenge Trophy in the IRC Class, a great result from the defending national J24 champion. The tussle for 3rd was a battle between the Archambault 40 and the X342. Red Rum One had a good day out, and relished the long passage on Race 6, scoring her best result for the regatta. That together with an edge over Minx in Race 4 placed her 2 points ahead of Minx in the final tally. However Minx did not go home empty-handed, and have their spotless attendance to thank. Having raced in all races available for the Sailing Festival, the mighty Minx was rewarded with a well-deserved 3rd overall for the 2024 season. Jellico’s triumph at the Commdore’s Cup translated into a double, as she also secured the silverware for the overall sailing festival standings, placing 2 points ahead of Adona in 2nd.
And with that, the CSC Commodore’s Cup and CSC Sailing Festival 2024 comes to a close! Congratulations to all the winners, thank you to all the sailors who have participated and we look forward to seeing you again!
We’re nearing the end of the CSC NE Monsoon Sailing Festival! Fortunately for us, this season’s wind conditions were favourable, and the predicted NE breeze came through over the month of February. The CSC Commodore’s Cup marks the end of the NE Monsoon sailing season, as we celebrate sailing at CSC with 2 days of intense racing across 6 classes. The 2 new classes added this year are the Open Dinghy and Optimist Class – providing an opportunity to recognize our growing youth and dinghy fleet. A total of 52 boats registered for this event, an incredible turn-out!
The IRC Keelboat fleet were represented by 4 very illustrious boats, most recently the winner of the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup – Red Rum One returns to contest against the reigning Singapore Regatta champion, Adona, J24 one-design champion, Jellico and 2023 Tioman Regatta winners, Minx! 3 rounds of rain did little to dampen the mood on water, as these hotshots grinded their way through 3 races to complete Day 1 of the regatta. Sitting on top at the end of Day 1 is the J29, Adona. She scored 2 bullets and a 2nd to go into Day 2 with a 2-point lead over Jellico. the J24 struggled to keep up with the leaders in the passage to North Angler, a course which Red Rum One thrived in. The results showed, as she claimed 2nd on corrected time. After 3 races, the Archambault 40 and Minx are tied on points, and will be pulling out all the stops for the remaining races.
13 boats lined up for the start of the PY Class – the largest keelboat fleet with seen in awhile! Thankfully, boats played it safe on the starts for all 3 races, ending day 1 with no major incidents on water. We are pleased to have 6 visiting boats racing with us, namely: Firstlight, Premier Cru1, Rainbow Dream, Bound to Please, RSYC Dua and RSYC Tiga. THank you for making the effort to join us for the Commodore’s Cup! Of the 6, many did well, as the 2 RSYC J24s Dua and Tiga had a good day out, ending Day 1 in first and second place. Notable mention also for Premier Cru1 – the Bavaria 44 sailed extremely well for the passage race (race 3), scoring her first bullet and completing the day on a positive note. We also welcome Southern Light back from her long break, the Moody 376 sailed well and is tied for 3rd with Birregurra after 3 races. Another commendable boat that should be recognized would be the father and son duo on Remington. Sailing and completing all 3 races 2-up requires tremendous effort – kudos to the S&S 42!
Contesting in the Multihull Class are Kublai Khan (conquerors of last week’s Tri Champs), Miss Visayan, Dot Dot Dot and Sirius Swift. The fleet seemed quite closely matched, but Miss Visayan capitalized on several unforced errors from Scott and his team to secure 2 bullets from 3 races. Kublai Khan ends the day in 2nd place, just 1 point ahead of Dot Dot Dot. We expect a fierce return from Kublai Khan in the remaining 3 races for this series.
Twisted Creature, Balqis II and Bubble Trouble had their stamina pushed to the limits, as the trio of beach catamarans bemoaned the long courses and strong winds. Of the three, the little one emerged on top, as Zaheera and crew on the Nacra 15 scored 2 bullets and a 3rd to complete day 1 with 5 points. Twisted Creature however claimed that last bullet on the passage to North Angler, putting her within spinnaker pole’s reach of Balqis II going into Day 2. Bubble Trouble had some trouble with their spinnaker, but still managed to complete all 3 races available, even placing 2nd on the last race, ending the day with a grin. But the equipment failure and fatigue proved too much for Will and crew, retiring for Day 2.
The 28 dinghies on water had a fantastic day out – and what a great edition they are to the Commodore’s Cup fleet! After 4 grueling races in the prevailing NE Monsoon, John Raphael Lim completes the day on top of the 17-strong Optimist fleet. Podium finishes in all 4 races gave him the edge over 2nd placed Jade Yeh, whose first place finish in Race 4 keeps her in contention for top spot going into Day 2. Mikael Shahrom completes the best 3 performers from Day 1, with a bright spark in Race 3 to finish the day with 10 points and just 1 point adrift. In the Open Division, it was an evenly contested series with Tiago and Caio sharing the honours after 4 races. the ILCA 4 and 6 sailor both have 4 points after 1 discard, and will be looking to defend their position from a very competent dinghy fleet boasting several accomplished dinghy sailors in the mix.
Good luck to all participants for the remaining races for the series!
