Every month, dinghy sailor enthusiasts gather at the club for an event that has become a staple of the community: the monthly dinghy race. This spirited competition not only highlights skill and strategy but also fosters camaraderie among sailors of all ages and classes of boats. Dinghy racing is all about agility, speed, and precision. The races generally follow a similar format each month.
The race course is set up by the group of sailing parents that volunteers their time on water to help us run the event. Families and friends are there to cheer for their favourite sailors, turning the event into a social gathering. After the races, sailors share stories of their experiences on the water, celebrate victories, and discuss lessons learned—all of which contribute to the learning process and the enjoyment of the sport. The race started with a decent wind coming from Easterly direction, up to Race 2. With the effect of weather system building at Pulau Ubin side, this changed the racing condition. A huge wind shift, turning the upwind mark to reach-to-reach course. With the change of current (incoming) this adds up to a more challenging course to sail with. Young sailors faced multiple changes in the racing scene, a tough decision for our Race Officers. With much perseverance and motivation, this month’s winners proved that with adapting the changes, victory is waiting.
This month’s race is special as we have sailors from Singapore Management University (SMU) joined us for the first time. Eight sailors joined us as part of their learning experience in a smaller boat. It is indeed a great experience for them to race with our club’s best dinghy racers. Ryan Sim, secured the top spot with a strong 2, 2 & 1 scores, Cara Loo came 2nd place with a unlucky Race 3-DNF, still good performance to finish in the podium spot and See Chow Ye, did a great show in Race 1 & 2, unfortunately Race 3 also a DNF but still managed to maintain in the top 3! In the Optimist fleet, George Whittington took the 1st place after few months of attempt, contesting with his best buddies: Rafael Garbourg and Arun Behl which finished 2nd & 3rd respectively in the Bravo squad. In the Alpha squad, Charles Kong remains unbeatable in the 1st place with only 2 points behind him, Leo Kogut in 2nd place and Yen-Yun in 3rd in a tied points with Estelle Yeo.
In the ILCA 4, Misa Laurie Lim emerged the winner against Riley Sullivan, a fresh graduate from Optimist and seasoned sailor Ikuto Mori which the later both tied on 2nd place, however after count back, Riley took the 2nd place and Ikuto ended in 3rd place. For ILCA 6, Maia Laurie Lim dominated the fleet in a clean 2, 1 & 1 results, good enough to secure the 1st place. Caio Sullivan in 2nd place and his mate, Jaydn Wilkins came in 3rd place out of 7 boats in total. And for the Open Division, Maia Lauire Lim topped the fleet with a superb performance in all of 3 races. Gathering a total of 6 points, declared to be the winner for this month. Together with her in the podium: Caio Sullivan in 2nd place and his younger brother, Riley Sullivan in 3rd place.
For younger sailors, the dinghy race is not just about winning but also about learning. Experienced sailors offering guidance on techniques, tactics, and boat handling. This exchange of knowledge helps to develop the next generation of sailors and deepens the love for the sport within the community. At the end of each race, participants gathered for a prize giving ceremony. The monthly dinghy race is much more than a competition; it is a celebration of sailing, skill, and community spirit.
Congratulations to all the winners! For those who didn’t, there’s one more race to go! Let’s go for it!
Thank you to all the sailors, the parents and volunteers, and of course to the coaches that worked hard to guide these young champions. To CSC staff for logistics and possible help!
We’re back! Sunday Series racing resumed on 29 September with renewed enthusiasm, as sailors tackled the tricky conditions that come with this time of the year. The start and first leg up to Tekong Buoy was mostly upbeat and participants enjoyed a fairly uneventful journey to the north. However a building westerly system and passing showers threw some sailors off their game, taking away the consistent breeze and leaving the fleet disjointed.
In the IRC Class, the usual suspects return to contend for the highest honours, as the story of the three competing Js enter its latest chapter. Adona, fresh from their triumphant performance last series, scored her first bullet for this one, but not without a decent challenge from the chasing pair. Jong Dee and Jellico took turns to overtake each other, but failed to gain enough ground on the J29. eventually it was the smallest J that scored first runner-up, leaving the J35 to settle for 3rd.
The largest fleet saw Waka Tere run away with the win! The Nelson picked up where she left off, and even found time to nurture some new crew onboard. She brushed off stiff challenge from Jock and Shardana, both showing moments of brilliance on the course. However the wind hole on the way back from Tekong Buoy cost the rest of the fleet crucial time, essentially securing the victory for team Waka. We also welcome the newest addition to the fleet – a Hanse 458 named Nebulas! Skippered by Jan Verdaasdonk, she joins another well-known Hanse by the name of Birregurra on the course, finish seconds apart from each other. Despite crossing ahead of Nebulas, Birregurra may have had the worse day of the two, having skied her halyard during the race.
Representing the Multihulls and Beach Catamarans were the trio of Miss Visayan, Bula and Addiction. It was great to see Addiction back in action – although we think skipper Jeremy needs to race more often to remember the course he’s supposed to be sailing. The Viper survived a broach and near-capsize after CAAS 2 to complete the race well ahead of the rest, serving us a gentle reminder that beach catamarans are one of the fastest boats at CSC.
The fight between Bula and Miss Visayan resumed – with Bula taking an early advantage after the start due to a premature one by Miss Visayan. Gary and co. made a strong effort to regain ground on the Dash, successfully overtaking Bula on the leg to Squance to claim her first bullet for the series!
Congratulations to all the winners – see you on 5th October for the first race of the Twilight Series III.
https://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_8879-scaled.jpg8001200CSChttps://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/changi_sailing_club_logo_round.pngCSC2024-09-30 15:16:372024-10-06 13:15:32CSC Sunday Series III 2024 (Race 1)
Report by Benjamin Mui, “Sailor with a Golfing Problem”
Now in its third run, the 2024 Changi Coastal Golf Interclub Friendlies took place on a warm and windless Sunday afternoon in the waning days of the southwest monsoon. A brave group of 13 golfers representing Changi Sailing Club swapped their tiller extensions for golf clubs and made the short hop down the coast to Changi Golf Club for the 1.30pm “shotgun” start. After a group photo at the practice green, the golfers made their way to their assigned starting positions around the course. With a short 3-second count-down and a long blast of the ever-familiar airhorn, 55 players spread across the nine tee boxes of Changi Hill teed off their first shots of the day to start the competition.
Despite being away from their natural element, our maritime golfers navigated the jungle course with grace and a good measure of fortitude. Over the next five hours, the timeless Changi hill was abuzz with activity as golf carts snaked across the fairways and the sound of golf shots rang out across the valley. Good shots, bad shots, lost balls, found balls, birdies, pars, boogies (doubles, triples, and unmentionables) were the order of the day.
Picture perfect landing spot, on the lay line for the approach to the flag.
As the sun hung low on the horizon, everyone completed their 18-hole rounds and sped back to the clubhouse for some much-needed refreshments. Changi Golf Club hosted this year’s post-round festivities at their sea-side clubhouse, which presented a different perspective of our familiar Changi waters. Over free-flowing Tiger beers, war stories were exchanged with accounts of treacherous sand bunkers, challenging greens, and a particularly steep cliff behind one hole that caught a few unsuspecting golfers.
An uphill battle to get back onto the green
Everyone was in good spirits and when the sun set, the fairy-lights were switched on and a delicious dinner of briyani and an assortment of curries was served, accompanied by a boisterous band belting out classic crowd favorites into the cloudless night.
Changi Golf Club coming in strong with their post-game hospitality
While the golfers were enjoying their well-deserved dinner, the organizers were hard at work tabulating the scores from the day’s Stableford scoring and by 8.30pm the results were in. Changi Golf Club emerged victorious, as they did in the past two years, but second-placed Changi Beach Club made it very close this year. Our golfing sailors put in a highly commendable showing, and the final count presented a significant improvement from our scores in the past two years. This is due in large part to the strong and enthusiastic turnout from our members this year and hopefully this continues as we press on for better scores in future Friendlies. To mangle a quote from a certain redhaired Australian skipper from the America’s Cup, “I think the question is, imagine if Changi Sailing Club would lift the trophy one day, what an upset that would be.”
Changi Sailing Club well represented at the evening festivities
The night wrapped up with a lucky draw that saw some intrigued golfers winning vouchers for sailing lessons at the club. It would certainly be wonderful if this kickstarts in them a lifelong passion for sailing, just as some of us sailors have been bitten by the golf bug. While giving out the prizes, our Social Secretary Ad Smit enjoined the three Changi clubs (Changi Sailing Club, Changi Golf Club, and Changi Beach Club) to find more ways to come together so that we can make this northeast corner coast of Singapore a lively and vibrant hotspot for sporting and outdoor activities. This sentiment was shared by the management of the other Changi clubs in their closing remarks, and as the party flowed on into the night, excited club members discussed ideas for a Changi Tri-Club Championships as a friendly competition between the three Changi clubs.
L: GM Choy providing much-appreciated moral support R: Our sailing team has a golfing problem
The tricky conditions from Saturday was also present yesterday, as sailors return to contend for top spot in the Sunday Series II. It was a sheet of glass within our moorings, but a glimmer of hope presented itself in the channel between Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin, where a steady breeze was well spotted by officials observing the sailboats in the distance. A total of 11 boats participated in the final race for the Sunday Series II, and all had a fighting chance for a spot on the podium.
In the Multihull Class, Miss Visayan completed the double for this weekend, performing convincingly well for Race 5 to claim the bullet and win Series II. Bula and Kaze completed the race in 2nd and 3rd respectively, with the latter doing just enough to break the tie with absent Dot Dot Dot and completing the podium for Series II.
The largest fleet saw a closer contest for the 3 spots on podium, as we welcome back both Forever Young and Wild Thing to Club Racing (after over a month’s absence!). The racing was delayed when winds dropped at the start – resulting in a quick abandonment and a short wait for more wind to fill in. Come 1430, a light breeze had filled in just enough for the race to start, taking sailors to Tekong Buoy and back. Waka Tere was quick to take the lead, and stayed there for the rest of the course to claim line honours and 2nd on corrected time. She was beaten by a reinvigorated Jock, bouncing back from some mishaps on Saturday to edge across the line a second ahead of Wild Thing and leapfrog to first place on handicap. The fight for 3rd place was a close affair between Birregurra and Forever Young, both trimming their spinnakers with intensity on the final stretch to the finish line. The former eventually took 3rd by 38 seconds on corrected time. In the overall standings, Waka Tere’s performance was sufficient to place her as the best performing yacht for the series with a total of 7 points. Jock’s two 1st place finishes in Races 4 and 5 gave her the edge over Birregurra, claiming 2nd place just 2 points ahead of the Hanse 415. Special mention to Forever Young and Wild Thing – despite both missing out on 2 races, their efforts place them just behind the winners in the overall series .
In the IRC Class, Adona had all but won the series. She was however keen on making it a 5 wins out of 5 races, with Jellico and Jong Dee standing in her way. Despite the J29’s best efforts, the little J24 (Jellico) made light work of the course and successfully foiled her plans, displaying good technical ability and boat speed to complete the series with her first victory. Adona’s line honours performance was sufficient to keep Jong Dee at bay, scoring a 2nd and winning Series II in the IRC Class. Jong Dee’s 3rd place finish for Race 5 cemented her position in 2nd place for the Series, scoring a total of 11 points, just 1 point ahead of Jellico in 3rd.
Congratulations to all the winners, thank you everyone for joining us on this weekend finale! Special thanks to Ad and Rona for sponsoring the delicious Don Papa rum. We now take a break, and will resume racing on 29th September, commencing the final club racing series (Series III) for 2024.
Last week’s glorious conditions did not carry over to this weekend, as sailors were once again reminded of the notoriously fickle conditions we commonly experience this time of the year. Nonetheless, there was enough patchy breeze for all boats to finish a shortened course for the 5th and final race of the Twilight Series II, concluding a successful 2 months of casual racing along the east johor straits.
While yesterday’s sailing conditions were becalmed and racing uneventful, the series results tally painted a more exciting picture for some of the classes. In the Keelboat IRC Class, Adona and Simba go head to head in their battle for top spot. Both boats enter Race 5 needing a win to secure the series title. The former reveled in the light air, proving too quick for the Dehler 39 to overtake. Adona’s win ensured her victory, scoring a total of 5 points after 1 discard, just 1 point ahead of Simba in 2nd place. Jong Dee fared well in Paul’s absence, scoring 3rd in race 5 to complete the series on 11 points and finish the series in 3rd.
It was also a nail-biting series tabulation for the Keelboat PY Class, with all podium contenders present on the start line. Jock started with a huge handicap, having suffered a skied main halyard before the start. Some quick thinking from the crew saw a jury-rigged main sail set up, proving effective to complete the course. it was however not enough to make a dent in Waka Tere’s campaign for top spot! Kurt and Gill optimized their 2-up arrangement and sailed a superb race in the prevailing conditions. She crossed the line a staggering 36 minutes ahead of the next boat, Birregurra. Basil and team struggled with yesterday’s fickle winds, and failed to put enough distance between them and Slingshot – resulting in a 3rd on corrected time. The GK 24 helmed by Alyssa also raced with 2 onboard, and completed the race just under 2 hours. Her 2nd place finish secure her a spot on the podium in the overall series, completing Series II on 10 points. The fight for top spot. Waka Tere’s winning performance in Race 5 broke the series tie between her and Birregurra, as the Hanse 415 only has 1 bullet from Race 4 – surrendering her lead and settling for 2nd overall.
The three trimarans that raced in all races available for the Multihull Class returned to battle on the course, and Miss Visayan cemented her position on top with a victory in Race 5 to complete Series II with an unblemished record. The real fight was between Bula and Sirius Swift, as both boats entered race 5 with just 1 point separating them. The Dash however secured a better start and successfully stayed in the pressure for most of the afternoon, thus effectively staying ahead of the 880. Sirius Swift typically appreciates heavier air, coupled with being unable to navigate successfully across the patchy course, the team had to settle for 3rd. Race 5 results reflects the Series II overall standings, as Bula claims a deserving 2nd and Sirius Swift’s valiant effort awards her with 3rd.
Congratulations to all winners – see you this afternoon for the Sunday Series II finale!
Last week has been an exhilarating journey on the water, filled with competitive spirit, skill refinement, and noteworthy achievements in the regatta circuit. Here’s a detailed look at our action-packed week:
Singapore National Sailing Championship (30 Aug to 3 Sept)
Optimist Youth Squad
After months closure of east coast waters due to the recent oil-spill, the waters are finally open and national ranking regattas are back in action! 14 of our young CSC optimist sailors, including 12 silver fleet (9 brand new) and 2 gold fleet (1 of which was her first time in gold) competed in the 2024 Singapore National Sailing Championships. Our sailors were faced with challenging conditions over the 4 days – very light and shifty winds. Nonetheless they still displayed strong resilience and perseverance throughout.
The sailors had exceeded our expectations despite the conditions not being very ideal. Although it was an exhausting 4 days, it was definitely a great experience and definitely lots to learn from! We hope for the whole team to come back stronger in the next race! Thank you SSF Race management for the awesome effort in delivering a fair race for these sailors despite the tough conditions.
Top 3 CSC sailors (Silver fleet): Charlene Yong (25th), Sage Yeh (27th), Estell Yeo (29th) out of 78 sailors. We would like to acknowledge the performances of Arun Behl (36th), Ethan Lek (49th), Isaac Yeo (51st), George Whittington (54th), Hayley Tan (57th), Chloe Pitsilis (58th), Kai Chen Yi (66th), Raphael Garbourg (67th) and Ptolemy Smith (71st). All did well on their first national ranking regatta. In the Gold fleet division – Mikail Sharom finished 76th. First-time racing, Kai Yen-Yu finished in 79th place out of 82 sailors.
Well done to all sailors! Especially to our first timers! You did awesome! Let’s go CSC!
ILCA Youth Squad
From the 30th Aug to 2nd Sep, our sailors from the ILCA Youth Squad and other members of our club, participated in the Singapore National Sailing Championship 2024 held over at National Sailing Centre and organised by Singapore Sailing Federation. We had 4 filled days of racing. With different wind variations, strong currents, and extremely complex wind shifts and tendencies.
This regatta was a great welcome home for most of our sailors who have been away to hone their skills at various intensive training clinics and regattas worldwide. With wind shifts of 30 to 180 degrees, and wind changes varying from 1-15 knots, the sailors were put to the test. Especially when it came to tactical decisions! Under the watchful eyes of Coach Andre and with the tremendous support of the Parents and Club, we are so very proud of the achievements they had achieved at this event. We would like to congratulate Misa Laurie Lim for winning the 1st place for 12 years old and under category and Balazs Vincze for winning 3rd place overall the ILCA 7 apprentice category.
We would also like to congratulate Maia Laurie Lim and Jaydn Wilkins for successfully completing their first regatta in the ILCA 6. And to the rest of the CSC ILCA Sailors who participated in this event, Caio Sullivan, Rohit Behl, Fion Lian Yingyi, Cameron Hunter, and Ikuto Mori, you have made fantastic improvements and your results have shown we are very proud of your achievements!
We would like to appreciate coaches’ patience, determination and motivating these sailors to become strong and focused during the exhilarating 4 days of racing. To the parents, thank you very much for your support and patience over the exhausting 4 days!
CSC Experiential Sailing (September 4 to 7)
After the tough racing competition at the national level, members of the public had an opportunity to connect with nature and embrace the thrill of the wind and water through our experiential sailing program. Participants learn to handle the sails, steer the boat, and understand the wind—all while enjoying the coastal views and the peaceful sound of the water. Sailing is an adventure that provides both mental and physical stimulation. It’s a great way to break away from the everyday hassle, enjoy time with friends or family, and experience the freedom of the open sea.
As a first-timer, participants were introduced to the basics of sailing by friendly and experienced instructors/sailors and parent volunteers. Participants learn how to steer the boat, adjust the sails, and navigate the water, all while enjoying the thrill of being out on the open sea. We would like to thank the homeschool community for coming down to the club to participate in this great sailing activity. The parents support for volunteering their time to assist us to made this event possible. To everyone that is involved in these 4 days of sailing. We hope to see more people to join us and experience sailing in a fun and learning way! See you next time!
2024 ILCA ASIAN CUP (September 3 to 8)
Winning a sailing competition brings recognition and respect within the sailing community. It’s a testament to the hard work and passion invested in the sport.
We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our ILCA 4 Youth Sailor, Cheng de Villemor Salgado, Tiago on your outstanding achievement in winning the 2024 ILCA ASIAN CUP in Penghu Chinese Taipei. His first gold medal in the international sailing competition! Your victory is a remarkable testament to your skill, dedication, and perseverance. Competing on such a prestigious international stage is no small feat, and your success speaks volumes about your talent and hard work.
It takes an extraordinary level of commitment and expertise to excel in sailing, and you have demonstrated all of these qualities with exceptional grace and precision. The journey to first place is always a challenging one, filled with countless hours of practice, meticulous preparation, and the ability to adapt under pressure. Your triumph is a reflection of not only your individual brilliance but also the collaborative spirit and teamwork that propelled you to the top. Congratulations on this well-deserved success. May this victory be the first of many more to come, and may it continue to fuel your passion for sailing. Wishing you continued success and smooth sailing in all your future endeavours!
This week has been a remarkable chapter in our sailing journey, marked by significant achievements and personal growth. From strong performances in regattas to overcoming challenges and refining our skills, it has been a week of triumphs and teamwork. As we look back on our successes, we are inspired and excited for the future of our sailing adventures.
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https://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-09-at-9.58.23-AM-4-scaled.jpeg9001200CSChttps://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/changi_sailing_club_logo_round.pngCSC2024-09-13 13:54:122024-09-13 13:54:12A Week of Sailing Activities and Regatta Achievements
Sailors were treated to some glorious gusty winds on Saturday, a delightful start to Twilight racing in September. Race 4 of Series II was thus completed quickly with minimal disruptions – with the entire fleet finishing within 2 hours. The breeze however did make things thrilling for the boats sailing short-handed, as we witnessed multiple broaches throughout the course.
In the Multihull Class, Miss Visayan sealed her win for Series II with a successful defense against a sprightly Bula. The Corsair Dash bounced back from a diminished performance during last week’s Sunday Series Race, looking sharp on the course and ultimately keeping the distance between her and Miss Visayan to a mere 30 second difference. Sirius Swift struggled with the heavier weather, but nonetheless finished the course uneventfully, securing her place on the podium in the overall Twilight Series standings. A single point separates Bula and Sirius Swift after 4 races, setting the stage for an exciting finale next week.
A similarly exciting development took place in the IRC Keelboat Class, as Adona secured the win she required to establish her status as top contender in her class, entering next week’s finale tied on the same number of wins with Simba. The Dehler 39 were handicapped by a poor start and also had their hands full with the heavier weather, settling for 4th in Race 4. Despite sailing alone, Skipper Lucas looked in complete control yesterday, managing the gusts and commercial traffic superbly to place 3rd on corrected time. However her absence in previous races means that the X342 is out of contention for the overall series. Jong Dee’s 2nd place finish on corrected time is her best performance to date! The J35 was helmed by Josei Ng, who did a great job in Paul’s absence. She now sits in 3rd overall, just 4 points adrift.
The results from race 4 in the biggest fleet arguably presents the most exciting finale on 14 September, as all places on the podium are not guaranteed – with the top 4 contenders being separated by a mere point after discard. Leader Birregurra assured herself some relief with a victory yesterday, lapping up the wind conditions to net her first bullet for the series. The strong winds left Waka Tere racing without their headsail – a wise choice which kept their boat manageable throughout the course. Her 5th place finish added to her total tally of 12, entering race 5 in 2nd overall. The smaller contenders did well in the heavy breeze to keep them in contention for a spot on the podium, as Slingshot, Jock and Brio survived the conditions to scored 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively on corrected time.
Congratulations to all winners! We look forward to an exciting back to back Saturday Twilight and Sunday Series Finale next week.
https://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_8293-scaled.jpg8001200CSChttps://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/changi_sailing_club_logo_round.pngCSC2024-09-08 10:51:462024-09-08 11:15:11CSC Twilight Series II 2024 (Race 4)
Three CSC boats go to Anambas 2024 After a few short weeks of discussion and associated planning sessions around the bar at CSC, three CSC boats headed off to explore Anambas, Indonesia; part of the Riau Islands group, 180 nm north east of Singapore for a 10 day adventure. Boats were prepped and provisions loaded onboard in the week leading up to departure.
2nd August 2024 – 0700
Singapore – Anambas And so it was with energy and excitement that the skippers & crews from Skybird & Sapphire Star gathered at Changi Ferry Terminal to clear immigration at 0730. The sleek and fast Birregurra crew were blessed with a little pre-departure sleep-in, having set their departure for a couple of hours later in the morning.
The boats set off down the channel with the wind almost on the nose, so it was the usual multiple tacks down the channel to Kees mark and around anchored vessels south of Malaysia before the boats were able to reach open water and set a course NE to Pulau Jemaja.
Onboard Skybird, the music loving crew all settled into the groove with tunes, banter and great sailing while making 4-6 kts SOG. As sunset approached, we put a single reef in the mainsail for safety and comfort for the night. At around 0230 in the morning we spotted a single red light approaching from the stern and were passed by Birregurra at around 0300. The overnight passage required the crew on deck to remain very alert with the significant shipping traffic. It was continuous decision making for many hours through the night while we plotted a course between the vessels crossing from all directions. While the marine traffic kept us busy, the aquatic bioluminescence was fantastic to watch in the waves and wake of the boat, sparkling in the sea like little blue-green jewels.
Sunrise welcomed the boats with an absolutely stellar morning, and also a welcome end to the shipping traffic, coffees were brewed, sunscreen reapplied as we sailed into day 2. It was early afternoon when the skipper spotted the tip of Pulau Jemaja. The next few hours were spent sailing along the coast in beautiful blue water, with all boats spotting numerous sea turtles along the way. (Birregurra turtle count: 8+, Skybird: 5+, Sapphire Star: lost count!)
At approx 1730, Skybird entered the beautiful anchorage at Pulau Ayam (on the east side, between P. Ayam & P. Jemaja) and joined up with Sapphire Star & Birregurra who had both arrived earlier. After a quick swim and refresh, dinner was prepped and a nice cold beer while gazing up at the jam-packed star filled sky all the way down to the horizon. The milky way was clearly visible and all the boat crews enjoyed a stunning lightshow put on by the continuous shooting stars and passing satellites overhead all night.
The night sky view was so amazingly beautiful that it was a difficult decision to look away, close eyes and retire to bed, but the rest was welcomed by all after the long sail.
The anchorage at Ayam, while stunningly beautiful, was a little rolly at night for some of the crew due to tidal flow. It appears that there was a very sheltered anchorage on the western side of P. Ayam, although with only enough space for 1 or 2 small boats, while the eastern side of the island provided more than enough space for a dozen or more yachts.
4th August 2024 – 0800
Ayam – Murbur
The following morning, all 3 boats departed Pulau Ayam for Pulau Telaga. Although the planned anchorage at Telaga proved to be almost all coral and unsuitable to anchor, we swiftly decided to continue on to Pulau Murbur, where Birregurra had spent a night in 2022. It was an absolutely stellar day, with flat water and a perfect breeze, and so was unofficially declared to be a race. Skybird, regularly maintaining 7kts managed to lead the fleet and still avoid the rainshowers the other boats were blessed with as we passed north of Pulau Siantan.
All boats were anchored in the quaint sheltered bay at 1730 and the welcome sound of “Pfshhhh” was heard as the crew cracked open a few cold refreshments while inflating tenders.
Skybird was the first boat to be approached by a local fisherman, offering a fantastic fresh fish. Dinner plans were swiftly rejigged and fish curry was put on the menu. Having a shortage of small notes, the market price was set with a 50,000 rupiah note, after which the fisherman approached Sapphire Star & Birregurra with a smile and sold two more fish for a rewarding day selling fish to hungry CSC sailors.
After a delicious fish curry dinner, the crew of Sapphire Star joined together with the crew of Skybird for a bit of storytelling and recounting of visions of kangaroos bouncing on water, floodlit fishing boats, police cars and other night hallucinations spotted during the overnight passage from Singapore to Anambas.
5th August 2024 – 0800
Clearing into Indonesia – Moon Rock The next morning the boats pulled up anchor at 0830 for a short motor across to Terempa for completion of immigration formalities. Anchored off the jetty, the boats were boarded by a small team of quarantine, customs, health & immigration officials, escorted by an agent. Documents were reviewed, boats inspected, passports reviewed and all the usual questions asked. “How much do you love Indonesia?” “ALOT!”
A strong recommendation to visit the new cafe in town was given to the crews, who obliged with making a visit for coffees.
With immigration completed, yellow Q flags were put away and the boats were now free to explore the delights of the Anambas Islands.
All of the crews were itching to get out to one of the highlights of the Anambas, Pulau Sagu Dampar, colloquially known as Moon Rock. The anchorage between Pulau Samak & P. Sagu Dampar being blessed with deep blue water, stunning white sand, 270 degree protection and a number of reefs and corals with abundant sea life.
So with passports returned to the crews, anchors were up at 1600 for the tricky zigzag through reefs and shallows to the east of Terempa, before raising sails for the 15 nm sail east to Moon Rock. The delay in departing Terempa, meant arriving at the anchorage right on sunset, which was less than ideal, but manageable as a number of the crew had visited the anchorage two years earlier. The entry to the bay being filled with coral bombies, required slow careful navigation and a good set of eyes on the bow looking out for reefs. And at 1900 sharp Birregurra was anchored on a sandy bottom and Skybird comfortably rafted up beside the Hanse mothership. Sundowners and a few sailing stories were exchanged before a good meal shared across the lifelines. After dinner, the revelry really kicked off with everyone happy to be anchored in this stunning paradise.
The olympic spirit was flowing and it didn’t take much for an impromptu diving competition to be organised. The stern of the Hanse became the diving platform and international teams gathered for the competition. The fairest and most impartial judge was selected from the crews, as the highly distinguished teams stretched and limbered up for what would be possibly the first international diving competition to be held under the reflected moonlight off Moon Rock.
Both the German and Australian teams chose to approach their dives with “artistic interpretation” in their appeal to the judge for award of points, although it became clear that the judges were looking for technical execution in the dives. Which meant that the rum inspired/sponsored training sessions chosen by the Aussies & Germans completely (and literally) fell flat, with the ultimate prize going to Team Singapore for a flawless technical diving display and barely a ripple of a splash.
Needless to say, following the exuberant competition it was a slow start the following morning.
6th August 2024 – Sometime after sunrise
After a leisurely breakfast and coffees, explorations of the islands began. Some of the crew heading over to Pulau Samak to take a small tour of the basic island resort and have a chat with the owner/manager of EcoSymbiosys https://ecosymbiosis.com/ Others went snorkelling, swimming, fishing, hiking, reading, sleeping and settling into doing sweet nothing. Many of the crew demonstrated excellence in doing nothing at anchor.
In the late afternoon, a few of the crew climbed to the top of Moon Rock to enjoy the twilight and magnificent views down to the anchorage. Two years ago when we visited here, there was almost no mobile reception, which was a blessing. Now it is possible to get a pretty reliable signal from the boat at anchor, and from the top of Moon Rock it was possible to make a video call.
Just before sunset, we were rejoined by Sapphire Star who had spent an additional night in Terempa, now the fleet were all back together and the crew of Skybird were welcomed onboard Sapphire Star for dinner and a few light refreshments.
With the spectacular location, and the fantastic fun being had by all, a proposal was put forward to stay another night at Moon Rock which was quickly agreed by everyone.
7th August 2024
Lazy Explorations
Most of the day was spent snorkelling, checking out the reefs, beachcombing ashore, minor boat works in the clear water (changing anodes) and generally enjoying being in paradise. Black tipped reef sharks, turtles, sea urchins, numerous reef fish were all spotted.
While most of the crew were resting in the shade of trees, the skippers of Birregurra & Sapphire Star attempted to summit Moon Rock on a never before climbed route, somehow overshooting Moon Rock! The explorers returned looking absolutely shagged but soon regained their composure after being rehydrated/medicated from a couple of icy cold cans.
During the earlier exploration of the island, EcoSymbiosys had offered the possibility of hosting all of the crew for a dinner ashore on the island. So as the sun was setting, we all headed to shore in the dinghies, where a huge trevally had been sourced and was being barbecued over the fire. Gladly, we sat down to a feast together with the hosts onshore. A few of us struggled with getting our legs under the table, and we also learnt alot about “raw food”. While we were served a fully cooked meal, some of the crew took the opportunity to sample the raw food, accidentally picking up a potato skin to taste from the scraps tray, to much confusion and laughter of our hosts. Special instructions were also provided for gentlemen on how to use the bathroom, to ensure that the papaya trees were fertilised & watered. One of the crew took these 3 step instructions literally although was very bemused as to why 2 of the steps could not be omitted and delivery provided directly to the base of the tree… but the papaya trees were watered…. to much laughter.
8th August 2024 – 0800
Departure to Terampa
It was time to start planning our return to Singapore, so at 0900 we pulled up anchors and set sail west back to Terempa for clearing out and immigration formalities. This provided the crew with time to explore the small township of Terempa and the markets. With documents completed, blocks of ice were sourced, along with 2 stroke fuel, fresh vegetables and a few other minor provisions before all the boats headed out to Temburun Waterfall. Where we anchored for the night next to a quiet little village. A delicious kampong chicken curry was prepared on Skybird and the crew all gathered together on Birregurra for a quiet evening drink before retiring for the night.
9th August 2024 – 0830
South to Airabu
With a goal of getting as far south as possible to gain the optimum wind angle for the journey back to Singapore, we set out for Pulau Airabu, 26 nm south of the waterfall. This was an interesting sail, through narrow channels weaving between the islands before reaching open water. On arrival at Pulau Airabu, we all anchored and setup for an early night, but not before taking the dinghy out for an exploration of the reefs which were very shallow and teaming with fish in crystal clear water. Definitely a spot to further explore with more time on another trip.
10th August 2024 – 0300
Departure for Singapore
After an early night of rest, the crews of Sapphire Star & Skybird arose at 0230 to prepare for an early departure to Singapore. The fast Birregurra electing to depart at sunrise and catch up later in the day. Anchors were up and boats underway at 0300, navigating with caution around the small islands and rocks to the east of P. Airabu. By 0530 we were out in open water and headed south west for Singapore. At 0930 we sailed past Pulau Bawah, Skybird skirting around the north side of the Bawah, Sapphire Star passing by the south side to gain a sight of the resort. We rejoined each other to the west of P. Bawah making good speed motorsailing. By lunchtime we were passing to the north of Pulau Repong, where Skybird spotted a huge tree floating in the water upon which a number of birds were roosting. Not something we wanted to bump into.
At 1600 all three boats were sailing within 1-2 miles of each other, when the sky started to darken and the fleet were surrounded by numerous flashes of lightning as a storm built to our south. Boats were closed up and wet weather gear prepared as it looked like we were going to be in for a wet evening. Just prior to nightfall, a single reef was put into the mainsail and we were continuing to make 5-6kts motorsailing to the south west. As darkness approached we were drenched with pelting rain, which continued throughout the entire night. Thankfully there was a lot less shipping traffic on the return journey as we were approx 12 nm further south than on our outbound journey, which meant that the larger container & RORO vessels headed north into the South China Sea were not in our path (or we in theirs)
It was a very dark night, being a waxing crescent moon combined with the huge storm clouds meant visibility was barely a few metres, making for a cold, dark, wet sail steering by compass and the feeling of the boats motion in the waves throughout the storm.
As dawn approached the crew were all soaked through and cold, but as the sea state settled, warm noodles were prepared and the crew were in good spirits, refuelled and beginning to warm up with the sunrise. Cup noodles with an egg never tasted as good as after a cold stormy night!
We continued to motorsail through the day, and at around 1300 we were passing south of Pulau Lima and into familiar waters approaching Singapore. And as we headed up the channel towards CSC, all three boats were in sight of one another. And as we passed Kees mark to starboard, the call was issued to the crew to make a check on the condition of the remaining ice in the esky and the associated status of refreshments.
“Pfshhhh”, “Pfshhhh”, “Pfshhhh” was heard across the deck as the crew were all happy for an icy cold can with Changi Sailing Club almost in sight. Provisioning had been perfect as the final few cans were gladly emptied as we passed by CAAS2 mark. But the important question remained…. Could we still make it to the club in time for CSC happy hour??
At 1635 all boats were tied up on their CSC moorings, and the boatman was ready to pick everyone up for the transfer to immigration at the ferry terminal. Singapore efficiency was on display and in a few short minutes we were cleared in and walking back up the road to CSC. Hot showers were had, and the team regrouped in the bar for a couple of cold Tigers and a good feed.
Everyone happy and a little tired from the 36hr return journey, but full of fantastic stories of adventures, fun, laughter and experiences.
Thanks to all the skippers & crew who made this trip to Anambas such a wonderful experience, discussions on the next trip had already kicked off in the bar before everyone retired for a good night’s rest in their own beds.
Thanks also go to the Howarth’s Cruising Guide and to the prior sailors who dropped waypoints in Navionics that were both indispensable in planning and navigating these reefs & islands safely in the absence of detailed accurate marine charts.
The Southwest Monsoon continue to challenge the fleet, as sailors’ knowledge and skills were put to the test in tricky wind and tidal conditions. There were close encounters at the start for all classes, with misjudgments due to wind holes / sudden shifts / strong tide that increased the heart rate of many.
In the Multihull class, Ding Hao shaked off the rust and entered the fray, pitting their skills against weekly contenders Miss Visayan and Bula. She unfortunately had to play catch up, having experienced a botched start (due to a massive wind hole at CSC 1) to commence their journey to Tekong Buoy with a handicap of many boat lengths behind their rivals. Her woes continued at Squance, as she misjudged the rounding and subsequently made contact with the buoy. Despite the disappointing performance, she managed to overtake a struggling Bula along the way, and maintained her lead to finish in 2nd, behind winners – Miss Visayan!
Not to be outdone, The PY Keelboat class had exciting drama as well, with fierce rivals Birregurra and Waka Tere getting caught by the tide and subsequently registering premature starts. The penalty to return below the line and rejoin the fleet costed both boats valuable time, and possibly played a significant part in their absence from the podium. Featured at the top were Jock, Southern Light and Notus respectively. Jock seemed to be riding on a high, scoring her 2nd bullet in 2 weekends – great effort from the Jockstars! Southern Light had just returned from Raffles Marina, having extended their stay for 1 week after the successfully concluded Western Circuit Regatta. Still looking sharp, the Sharpes held good boat speed on all legs, ensuring the Platu did not extend their lead. Notus looked refreshed, sporting a fresh coat of antifoul and renewed vigour. Despite having to manage a nagging rudder/tiller issue, it was a fantastic result for Tim and his young crew, securing a 3rd on corrected time.
Three Js return to contend for honours in the IRC Class – this time claimed by the indomitable Adona. After emerging victorious from a start line contest with Jong Dee, the J29 proceeded to hold her lead all the way to finish, as Ad and crew displayed cool confidence to shrug off advances from the J35 and J24, eventually completing the race with line honours and a comfortable 7 minute lead on corrected time. Jellico survived a bad spinnaker douse to claim 2nd place ahead of Jong Dee.
Congratulations to all winners – we look forward to having everyone return for Twilight Series II, Race 4, on 7th September. See you then!
https://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_8033-scaled.jpg8001200CSChttps://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/changi_sailing_club_logo_round.pngCSC2024-09-02 15:33:452024-09-02 15:33:45CSC Sunday Series II 2024 (Race 4)
