Introduction Day 2 saw changeable conditions once again. Similar to day 1, the winds only started to pick up a couple hours after the first warning signal. However, this did not deter anyone out on the water, and they all pushed on to achieve greater heights on Day 2.
Hansa 2.3 singles The Hansa’s were back in action on Day 2, with 5 boats in the singles category. Tan Jian Hao would go on to win the class finishing on the podium in every race bar one. His podiums in Races 6, 7, and 10, along with his bullet in Race 9 allowed him to capitalise on his strong performance in Day 1 to finish 1st overall. Kenny Kow finished 2nd overall, who was the only other sailor apart from Tan Jian Hao that managed to finish on the podium in every race bar one. Rounding off the podium, in 3rd, Jia Jun consistently finished within the top 4.
Hansa 2.3 doubles The doubles category had 5 boats out on the water too. Tan Yi Fang, and Chong Wei Ken continued their red-hot form of day 1, amassing a total of 3 bullets on day 2, thus ensuring their victory at the 27th RM Western Circuit Sailing Regatta. In 2nd came Chia Pei Chen and Tang Lassie who finished 2nd in 4 races on day 2. Just one point behind Chia Pei Chen and Tang Lassie on the overall standings, Claudine Chong and Chong Teng Wen’s three podiums, including a bullet in Race 8 saw them finish 3rd overall to finish off the podium places.
SB20 Class The SB20 class started Day 2 strongly once again. With the SB20 class being a one-design class the 7 other boats gave the top 3 a real run for their money. Ultimately, a hotly contested Day 2 ended with TARA winning the overall SB20 class, closely followed by The Dean’s List in 2nd. Sea U Later, would end up finishing 3rd overall to complete the podium places.
J24 class
Shengli, after finishing third on Day 1, went on to win all but one race on Day 2. Thus, they would go on to lift the J24 class trophy, winning the 27th Western Circuit Sailing Regatta’s J24 class. Alongside Shengli on the podium, were the two RSYC boats of RSYC Tiga, and RSYC Satu.
PY Class After finishing third in Day 1, Intrigue would drop out of Day 2, leaving them to finish fourth overall. This left 3 boats in the PY Class to battle it out for the honour of lifting the PY trophy at the end of the day. The start of Race 1 was close between First Light, and Southern Light with a “Starboard” having to be hailed as the two boats crossed between metres of each other. This would continue for the majority of the day as the conditions on Day 2 seemed to suit First Light better than the conditions on Day 1. However, Southern Light would go on to win every race in the PY Class and ultimately lift the much sought after PY trophy. First Light would come 2nd , a much-improved performance from that of theirs on Day 1 to make it a CSC 1, 2 in the PY Class. In 3rd, Rainbow Dream who had to miss the last race of the day due to a medical emergency; Best wishes to the crew of Rainbow Dream and those it may concern.
IRC Class The windward-leward races of Day 2 would see Taranau climb from 2nd on Day 1 to 1st overall for the regatta. Taranau and SMUVE, once again, fought closely throughout the day, swapping places in almost every race. Ultimately, Taranau edged SMUVE, in 2nd , by 2 points. Zanzibar’s podiums in Races 1 and 2 of Day 2 were enough to seal their place on the podium. SMUVE, however, would go on to win the SMU President’s Cup for winning the IRC passage race on Day 1.
Fund-raising Part of the yearly Western Circuit Sailing Regatta is a donation to Sailability Singapore. Once can think of the Regatta as a fundraiser to support Sailability’s mission of giving opportunities to the disabled for them to get out on the water. This year, after charitable donations and an auction, the regatta raised a total of $8,030 for the cause. That caps off another year of great racing at Raffles Marina’s Western Circuit Sailing Regatta.
Introduction The 27th edition of the Western Circuit Sailing Regatta certainly did not disappoint, with close racing and mixed conditions that gave sailors a real test in their hunts for glory. Racing on day 1 started off slow with the wind speed averaging around 5 knots, just enough for some of the bigger boats on the course to start moving. However, as the day progressed, the wind built, and as the final boat to finish the day crossed the line, a gusty 12-knot breeze had built.
Hansa 2.3 This class has to come with an honourable mention to Sailability Singapore (Sailability), and its organisers. Sailability is a programme that gives the disabled an opportunity to get on the water, sail, and in this case, compete. One of Singapore’s finest sailors, and Paralympian Jovin Tan, plays a great role in being the head of Sailability; none of this could happen without him.
Hansa 2.3 Singles Tan Jian Hao would dominate day one with a podium in every single race, with bullets in Races 3, 4, and 5. His great performance would see him finish top of the standings on Day 1. Kenny Kow, a close second, managed to also finish every single race on the podium, with bullets in Races 1 and 2. Ng Jia Jun rounded off the podium, coming in the top 3 in every race bar Race 4.
Hansa 2.3 Doubles Tan Yi Feng and Chong Wei Ken amassed 4 podiums on Day 1, with 2 being bullets, ensuring that they came out on top on Day 1. Coming in second, Etienne and Helena would finish on the podium in 3 races on Day 1, with bullets in races 1 and 3. Jolin, and Ivy would round off the top 3, with 3 podiums on Day 1, with a bullet in Race 2.
SB20 Class Unlike the IRC and PY classes which sailed a passage race on Day 1, the SB20 and J24 classes participated in windward-lewards. It was, oncea gain, a good showing for the SB20 class with 10 boats out on the water. Despite missing the first race, Tara, skippered by Agoston Sipos, managed to come out on top in Day 1 with a total of 5 points. This was closely followed by The Dean’s List, comprising sailors from NUS and NTU who amassed a total of 6 points. In third, Team Relájate, skippered by John Bateman, finished Day 1 on 8 points.
J24 class A total of 5 teams made up the J24 class. Similar to the SB20s, the J24s sailed short windward-leward races on Day 1. A strong 2 knot current affected the start of Race 1 with RSYC Satu, skippered by Kurt Metzger, touching the pin-end of the start line. However, despite this small setback, Kurt and his crew finished day 1 on the top of the podium, with RSYC Tiga in second , and Shengli in third.
PY Class The PY class consisted of 4 boats, with 2 boats from Changi Sailing Club, namely, James Sharpe’s Southern Light and Manav Krishan’s First Light. The strong 2 knot current and fickle 5 knot breeze hampered the starts of all 4 boats in this class. However, it was Southern Light that ultimately came out on top by a whopping 18 minutes over Rainbow Dream in 2nd place. In 3rd place was the line honours winner, Intrigue, skippered by Yves De Leeneer.
IRC Class The IRC Class comprised 6 boats, with all boats bar, SMUVE, being owned by CSC Members. Zanzibar would go on to win line honours but miss out on a place on the podium due to handicap. First Light, skippered by Simon Piff, came third after coming second over the line. A great battle ensued between the two Platus of the fleet, Taranau and SMUVE. SMUVE, however, would come out on top to finish 1st on Day One, Taranau finishing 2nd.
Conclusion That caps off what was a sometimes slow but nonetheless exciting day out on the water, with more close battles following on Sunday.
What a splash! On 30 August, 11 boats and a record 54 volunteers, including NUS Seafarers members and alumni, sailors, and friends, set sail for our biggest Pulau Ketam Cleanup yet. The overwhelming response for the event showed just how powerful community-led action can be when people from different backgrounds come together for the conservation effort.
The day began early at 9am under a lingering drizzle from the previous night’s thunderstorm. The island, alive and buzzing with mosquitoes and bugs, monkeys to hornbills, proved to be difficult terrain as volunteers powered through the uncomfortable situation. Ultimately, gathering a whopping 1620 kg of waste.
Special thanks to our skippers and operational help from Changi Sailing Club who volunteered to bring our participants to Pulau Ketam. Birregurra (Basil), Skybird (Edwin), Calyndrix (Russell), Oojoo (Giam), The Dash (Wolfgang Klemm), Summer Breeze (Jakub), Waka Tere (Kurt & Jill) and Jock (Suzanne).
Seasoned NUS Seafarers and friends also took out CSC’s boats, including JMM (Gerald, Manan, Darren), Notus (Farid & Victoire), and Boreas, sailed by SMU Sailing’s QC & Declan with NUS Sailing’s Hannah.
For many, it was their first time ever sailing, making the cleanup not only impactful but also a perfect platform to experience the magic of sailing – between hoisting trash bags, learning ropes, and soaking up sea breeze, the day combined impact and fun.
This event was supercharged by The Great Ocean Dash (TGOD), a SpongeBob SquarePants Island-wide Ocean Conservation Movement. In celebration of SG60, TGOD is matching every kilogram of trash with sponsor dollars, funding coral planting, biodiversity conservation, and other marine restoration efforts.
By the time we returned to the docks, the piles of trash were high, but spirits were higher. With NUS Seafarers members, alumni, and friends all pitching in alongside seasoned sailors, the Pulau Ketam Cleanup proved that when communities collaborate, we don’t just clean shores, we make waves for a healthier ocean.
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In late August I was lucky enough to compete in the 40thHamilton Island Race Week in North Queensland, Australia. This was the fifth time I have competed in the event which is Australia’s largest offshore sailing regatta.
Hamilton Island is one of the 74 islands in Queensland’s Whitsundays group and at that time of year has perfect weather (18°C-23°C every day) and a challenging mix of winds, tides, currents and sea-swell, plus the ever-present risk of colliding with one of the many whales migrating through the area at the time. This year the first two races lacked wind at the starts but picked up nicely throughout, and some days we had an excellent 12-20 knots all day.
Despite being the 40th anniversary, numbers were down slightly with 145 entrants in total. This year’s classes were IRC (Div 1 & 2 and Super 40), One Design (Cape31), several PHS divisions, and three Multihull divisions. Easily recognisable entries in the IRC were Sydney to Hobart regulars Wild Oats X and (our namesake) Wild Thing 100. Ando Commanche has been there in recent years but unfortunately wasn’t present this year.
I’m privileged to sail on a friend’s Seawind 1160 named St Arnou. Along with the two owners and four other crew (all of them friends from Launceston in Tasmania), we boast an average age of a spritely 71 so are proud to remain competitive each year. This year was more challenging as after an equal third on points last year in a field of 17, and with less entrants this year, we were combined into a tougher and smaller fleet. Regardless, we managed 6th overall out of ten which included a podium 3rd in race 5 so we were quite happy.
Hamilton Island itself is a magnificent destination that I recommend to anyone for a holiday; but for sailors Race Week is enormously enjoyable with great competition, fun on-shore entertainment, and excellent camaraderie. I even recommend a round of golf on lay-day at the course on next door Dent Island. You will likely lose 16 balls on that monster like I do every year, but the location and views are beyond spectacular.
Hope to see you there next year!
John Moore
Wild Thing
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Just one degree north of the equator, Singapore lies in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, also known as “the doldrums”. Thankfully, from December to February, the Northeast Monsoon gives us reliable winds, and in July and August, the Southeast M Monsoon grazes the region, but the rest of the year is hit-and-miss for sailing. You spot some fleeting wind arrows on windy.com, get your sailing buddies and gear together and head out in the morning, only for the wind to die down and the blazing sun scorching your hopes for a day of sailing fun. Sounds familiar?
Sure, yachts have their engines, but those come with noise, grime, smell, and a carbon footprint that deter the next generation of tropical sailors from getting involved. What if we could use the power of that blazing sun to propel us quietly and cleanly when the wind dies down? Imagine solar-sailing whenever you choose, with no fuel costs, noise, or environmental impact!
Bo Bo Cha Cha
The title of my last article in Changi Log, in January 2015 (No. 25, 38-40) asked “Is a Combustion Engine Needed on a Motorised Sailing Yacht?” I described installing solar panels, batteries and an electric outboard motor on my Maxi 77, Bo Bo Cha Cha. To this day, she is Singapore’s only carbon-neutral motorized vessel. After a recent upgrade, Bo Bo Cha Cha has 1260 W of solar panels installed, which on a windless mid-day can get me to a speed of 4 knots without using the batteries at all. With a battery storage capacity of 7.5kWh on board, I can go without sun for more than 7 hours at 1kW and for more than 3.5 hours at 2 kW, the maximal power that my Torqeedo Cruise electric outboard motor can take. On a sunny day, I can go all day even without wind. The catch? The solar panels barely fit over the cockpit, held up by a bespoke stainless-steel construction. Handling and sailing performance is affected, of course, by almost 6 square meters of solar panels on a single-hulled pocket cruiser of 7.7m LOA…not to mention the looks of what some sailing friends call my “helicopter landing pad”.
Optimizing Wind and Solar Hybrid Propulsion
Yes, it is possible and practical to use solar power instead of a combustion engine to get around on a pocket cruiser in our tropical waters. However, with Bo Bo Cha Cha, I’m at the limit of what retrofitting an existing single hull sailing boat can achieve. Bigger and more modern yachts have relatively less space for solar panels, and their performance and esthetics will be even more severely affected. In “Solar-Powered Sailing Yachts in the Tropics” (with Jörg Weigl, Anand Sundaram, Evan Lowell, and Eric Yee, published by UMRAH Press in 2015), we showed that the larger the boat, the more difficult it is to use on-board solar panels to power it. Instead of retrofitting existing boats with solar panels, I’m now exploring new boat designs, optimized to combine wind and solar power.
The Solar Proa
Solar panels work best with direct sunlight; any shadow cast on the panels greatly reduces their efficiency. When we combine vertical sails with solar panels on a boat, we should avoid that the sails cast a shadow on the panels, regardless of our heading and where the sun and wind come from. With fixed masts and solar panels, I can only think of one good solution to this puzzle: Keep the sails on one side of the boat and the solar panels on the other and give bow and stern the same shape. When the sails cast a shadow on the panels in one direction, the boat can switch direction. The bow becomes the stern, the stern becomes the bow, and the shadow disappears.
Fortunately, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel for this. The Pacific proa is an outrigger sailing canoe whose mast is installed on the main hull and whose outrigger is kept on the windward side to minimize the drag created by the outrigger. When the wind or desired direction change, the proa can “shunt”. The crew brings the boat to a stop, and the voyage continues in the opposite direction. As a result, these boats don’t have a bow or stern. The crab claw sail rig of the Pacific proa is optimized for quick shunting maneuvers.
A typical Pacific proa; the outrigger on the windward side, main hull with a crab claw sail
For an optimal wind/solar boat, we simply need to modify the Pacific proa. A solar proa carries solar panels between the main hull and the outrigger and uses shunting to keep the outrigger on the sunny side, avoiding sail shadow on the panels regardless of the direction of the wind.
Building Roti Proa, the World’s First Solar Proa
I was fortunate to guide a team of students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) to build and test a solar proa from December 2024 to May 2025, and here is what we did.
We kept the construction as simple as possible and chose plywood as the building material, reinforced with pine wood and fiberglass, using epoxy glue and coats, and a polyurethane finish. Here are a couple of photos of the construction process.
Main hull (on the left) started; outrigger (on the right): in progress
The hulls completed and painted, outrigger in front; main hull behind
The power management system was the master’s project by my student Loick Le Goff, who tested his setup on the roof of the School of Computing at NUS.
Testing the solar panels on the rooftop of NUS School of Computing
Loick clinched the Best Project award for his work at the STePS student project showcase at the School of Computing, NUS, on April 16, 2025.
Loick’s power management system at the student project showcase STePS on April 16, 2025, School of Computing, NUS
We had our first flotation test at Changi Sailing Club in early May and obtained permission from MPA to conduct endurance and system tests along the floating barrier near Tampines in the last week of May 2025.
MPA-sanctioned testing along the floating barrier near Tampines (blue circle: Changi Sailing Club)
Our endurance tests showed a maximal speed of 6.7 knots with no wind and current, reached at 1.5 kW from the batteries. The solar panels allow the boat to move all day even without using the batteries, at a speed of around 4 knots in the bright mid-day sun. The batteries alone (no sun, no wind) provide a range of 13 Nautical Miles at a cruising speed of 5.4 knots. The picture shows helmsman Abdullah Farid near Changi Sailing Club.
Helmsman Abdullah Farid solar-sailing Roti Proa, with two Optimist rigs from Changi Sailing Club
Energy output from the two solar panels in the late afternoon, enough to reach 3 knots without using the batteries
Roti Proa Data Sheet
LOA: 4.2m, beam: 2.5m
Displacement with solar panels, batteries and motor, without helmsman: 250 kg
Rig: two Optimist masts and sails
Motor: electric outboard (Torqeedo Cruise 2.0) 2 kW
Batteries: two LiFePO4 batteries (Manly) with 24 V and 50Ah each
Solar panels: two 24 V monocrystalline panels (Trina Vertex) 415 W each
Cruising speed at 1 kW (no wind): 5.4 knots
Maximal speed, reached at 1.5 kW (no wind): 6.7 knots
Battery range (no wind, no sun) at 5.4 knots: 13 NM
Acknowledgments
We thank our project sponsors:
Maybank Green Fund (through NUS Office of Student Affairs) for funding all materials and consumables for building the hulls
Rezeca Renewables for contributing the two solar panels
Ascent Movers for transporting the solar panels to Changi Sailing Club
Changi Sailing Club for providing the safety boat and crew, the Optimist rigs and space for boat assembly
What Next?
We hope to double this design and build an 8.4 m solar proa, following the same principles. We think we can achieve a speed of more than 10 knots and a battery range of 20 NM (no wind, no sun). The boat will have two small cabins for voyages of a few days with two or three sailors. With an electric water maker on board, such a solar proa could go a long way without any fuel, even in the doldrums!
Let me know if you want to get involved!
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We’ve returned for another session of sailing with our friends from Rainbow Centre!
Changi Sailing Club has been in collaboration with Rainbow Centre Singapore since 2016 to provide meaningful sailing experiences for students and caregivers, with the support of our Members and their sailboats.
The Rainbow Centre is a social service organisation in Singapore. It operates three special education schools Margaret Drive School, Yishun Park School and a third one at Woodlands, for infants, children and youths with special needs like autism, intellectual disability, developmental delay, and multiple disabilities. Learn more about Rainbow Centre here: https://rainbowcentre.org.sg/
Our last session was in June 2024, where we had some wet weather and enthusiastic participants! In this most recent edition, we had a total of 9 boats supporting the event, hosting a group of 35 students and caregivers. The day was fortunately blessed with clear skies and a light breeze. Despite a minor hiccup at the end of the sailing experience resulting in very hungry participants 🤣, it was a most enjoyable and memorable experience for sailors, students and their caregivers. It was heartwarming to hear of how being on water had a calming and positive effect on some of the students, and also to witness students and caregivers having the opportunity to helm a sailing yacht!
Big thanks to the following skippers and yachts for taking the time off on a saturday morning to provide a meaningful experience for our friends from Rainbow Centre:
En Dian (Kok Wah)
Birregurra (Basil)
Southern Light (James)
Waka Tere (Kurt)
Ikaroa (Christian)
Dot Dot Dot (David)
Firefly (Stefan)
Jock (Luke)
Calyndrix (Russel)
We’d also like to acknowledge and thank Aunty Sharifah and her team of teachers/facilitators for their dedication to special education! We look forward to organising the next one in 2025.
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At the end of October 2024, Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC) in Pattaya hosted an intense four-day ILCA 6 clinic, designed to bring together master-level sailors for focused training.
Participants included ILCA Masters racers Rohit Behl and Cameron Hunter from Changi Sailing Club (CSC), alongside fellow sailors from Constant Wind-SG+SAFYC.
The clinic was led by experienced Thai coach Veerasit Puangnak, known as “Lim,” who represented Thailand in Laser class at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Coach Lim focused on enhancing the sailors’ technique, strategy, and race preparation specifically for ILCA (International Laser Class Association) dinghy racing.
With only 12 participants, the camp provided personalized attention, making it a valuable experience for all involved.
RVYC, a club renowned for fostering international sailing partnerships, has a formal reciprocal relationship with CSC.
This collaboration promotes skill development and encourages cross-club participation in various dinghy events.
The synergy between RVYC and CSC has created a robust platform for racers from both clubs to excel in both optimist and ILCA class racing, the most competitive dinghy categories worldwide.
This clinic reflects RVYC’s commitment to advancing dinghy-racing excellence in Asia-Pacific, providing opportunities for partner clubs, including CSC, to participate in high-caliber training and international competitions.
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Learnings from the ILCA Clinic
Zones in ILCA Dinghy Racing (Upwind Strategy)
Navigating upwind in ILCA dinghy racing involves distinct zones, each with its own focus:
-Zone 1: Right after the start line, the goal is a strong, clean start and optimal positioning in the first few seconds to avoid being blocked by competitors and to get clean wind.
– Zone 2: Known as the “control zone,” where tactics like “tight cover” and “loose cover” are used:
Tight Cover: Sailing close to and directly upwind of a competitor to block their wind.
– Loose Cover: Staying upwind but farther away, controlling competitors while maintaining course and speed.
– Zone 3: final part of the upwind leg focuses on positioning for the next leg. This includes preparing for mark rounding and anticipating wind shifts to approach the lay line efficiently.
Starting Techniques in Waves, Chop, and Swell
– Balance and Boat Trim: Adjust body position continuously to prevent the bow from dipping into waves, which can slow the boat or cause instability.
– Timing the Start: Account for waves that may lift or push the boat, affecting acceleration. Aim to cross the start line at full speed.
Holding Position and Accelerating off the Start Line
– Holding Position: “Park” the boat , with minimal drift by balancing sail trim and steering. Backwind the mainsail to hold position.
– Acceleration Timing: As the countdown nears zero, trim the sail and shift body weight to generate forward momentum for a powerful, on-time start.
“Coffin Corner” – The Port End of the Start Line – High-Risk, High-Reward: Starting here offers advantage but is risky due to crowding and possible penalties. Dubbed “coffin corner,” it requires precise timing and skill.
“Go Early, Go Ugly” – This phrase underscores the importance of securing position and speed over perfect technique, especially on a crowded start line. In challenging conditions, a solid start—albeit imperfect—is often better than waiting for a flawless opportunity and falling behind.
Coach Lim’s Five Essentials for Success
– Constant Sail Trim
– Boat Trim
– Boat Balance
– Daggerboard Settings
– Course Made Good
Coach Lim emphasized using the kicker or vang and the differences in settings between ILCA 7 and ILCA 6, highlighting the nuanced adjustments needed for competitive performance.
Overall, this clinic was a rewarding experience filled with learnings and camaraderie with RVYC’s members. The club’s outstanding food menu and well stocked bar also added to the enjoyment.
We stayed on-site at RVYC in their spacious family rooms and feasted on huge breakfasts each morning before we launched for training.
We’re looking forward to returning to Pattaya in 2025, with imminent plans to perhaps bring CSC’s youth squadron’s ILCA team to benefit from RVYC’s excellent training environment.
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After a long break, CSC is extremely excited to once again host students and caregivers from Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School for a meaningful time sailing in the beautiful Johor Straits. Although the morning was scattered with incessant rain, it was nevertheless a successful outing – providing new experiences and opportunities for the 48 students, families and facilitators.
Rainbow Centre: Empowered, Included, Thriving
The Centre regularly work with partners (such as us!) to create opportunities for persons with disabilities to make the most of their abilities and participate meaningfully in society. Through practical education, meaningful support and effective training programmes, Rainbow Centre strives to increase the quality of life for persons with autism and their families.
Despite the really wet weather, the Captains and crew were unperturbed, bringing the sunshine with them onto their boats. Thankfully amidst the rain the session was also blessed with a pleasant breeze. Big thank you to the following boats and skippers for supporting this meaningful sailing event:
Birregurra / Basil
Majabelle / Soo Chong
Skybird / Edwin
Sapphire Star / Simon
JACKS / Andrew
Nevis / Stuart
Kaatabuggi / Joseph
Firefly / Stefan
Sirius Swift / Eugene
Miss Visayan / Gary
SoLuna / Roy
Phoenix / Freddy
Dot Dot Dot / David
We cannot forget the amazing Aunty Sharifah (teacher in-charge) for successfully organizing this every year, providing precious opportunities for our beneficiaries. On water and on the pontoons, our ever-reliable operations crew must also be appreciated for their hard work in ensuring the smooth conduct of this year’s Joy Sail.
We look forward to our next collaboration. Until then, stay safe and keep sailing!
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Sailing has always been a passion of my husband, Glen, and myself and we’ve always seen the Ocean as our home. We’ve spent over a decade on sailboats such as Windancer – a 40-ft Wauquiez – and raced in numerous regattas on our ex Young 88 racing boat – ‘O’Blueyes’.
It’s this love for sailing that has led us to meet numerous like-minded enthusiasts from all over the world.
We first started sailing at Changi Sailing Club (CSC) and together with two mates, Gary and Aspiah, we ‘hatched’ the idea of a two-week sojourn to the Adriatic Sea and exploring Croatia.
With great enthusiasm, a deposit was made with Pitter Yacht Charter in January 2020 and plans were to set sail in May the same year.
Then Covid hit!
The world came to a standstill. Borders closed, countries went into lockdown and the wind was knocked out of our sails along with the dream of traversing the coast of Croatia. A refund was not an option but the good people at Pitter guaranteed that we would be able to continue with our plans as soon as borders were reopened.
Three years later, they held true to this promise!
Covid restrictions (blah!) became a distant memory, and our plans started to take wing… or should I say set sail! Our new departure date was confirmed for 29th April 2023 and would last two weeks. We were finally set for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
Although the ideal period to visit Croatia is usually mid-May through to early October – with the peak in August – we decided to beat the maddening summer crowds while still enjoying (fingers crossed) the beginning of the summer. Our gamble paid off with only a trickling of tourists making an appearance throughout the trip.
The expected average temperature in May is 15-22 degrees while the sea temperature would be from 15-18 degrees. Cold? (You think?)
Our vessel of choice for this escapade was a Nautitech 40 Catamaran – Rosa – consisting of four cabins and two heads. For an extra 50 Euros, we rented a Spinnaker as we felt “the need, the need for speed”. Apparently not many who chartered boats opt for a Spinnaker hence why the one we were given looked almost unused! We certainly took care of that and used it for most of our voyage!
Our crew was made up of Gary and Aspiah (speed demon sailors out of CSC on their Corsair Trimaran “Miss Visayan”), Dennis and Cheryl (owners of ‘Ohana’ – a 42 ft Hallberg-Rassy). Our good friends, Raya (an amazing sailor) and her German husband Wolfgang (some sailing experience) – from Mallorca – met us in Croatia at the start of our journey and stayed for the first week only. They then left us at the halfway and turning point in Dubrovnik and were replaced for the rest of the journey by Tonya from Canada (who enjoyed herself thoroughly at the helm) and Akiko from Japan (who ended up being the chef on the boat, constantly whipping up amazing meals for everyone). Both ladies being close friends of Gary and Aspiah.
It almost felt like a gathering of the United Nations with a truly international ‘cast’ of three Singaporeans, two Americans, an Aussie, two Germans, a Canadian and a Japanese.
The plan was to set to sail out of ACI Marina Trogir in Croatia (about 28km from Split) on the 29th of April 2023 and back at port two weeks later. We would meander towards Dubrovnik which would be the mid-point of our travels, drop Raya and Wolfy off, pick up Akiko and Tonya and head back the way we came.
Other than this planned route, we decided we would allow the ‘wind gods’ (with the help of maps of course) to take us where they saw fit. All other ‘in between’ plans were agreed upon collectively over sunset drinks. We agreed to seek out calm and protected bays or marinas to anchor at every evening.
Pitter Yacht Charter was a very accommodating, helpful, and easy-going company to deal with. The only restriction they had was that we stayed in Croatian waters! (Darn, there goes our idea of sailing off to Italy and beyond). Little did we know that they actually tracked our movements and knew the exact route we took.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
Day 1
On the day of our day of departure, boarding ‘Rosa’ was set for 2pm. Preparation started off with a spree at the supermarkets to fill our victualing list (alcohol being of top importance… surprise surprise) and food enough for a few days as we intended to top up supplies en route. Victualing isn’t as easy as one might think and it’s never possible to stick to the list… but perhaps that’s part of the fun!
Two items were extremely difficult to find in Croatia – an ESKY and ICE. It seems ice isn’t something Croatians need during the colder months. How do they drink their rum (straight out of a bottle like Capt. Jack Sparrow?) and what about cocktails? Baffling! It took several trips through a dozen supermarkets before we finally got what we needed. Tragedy averted…phew!
The boys had discovered Croatian beer Karlovacko and that became their go-to thirst-quencher while the ladies were a little more experimental and tried a variety of Croatian wines and bubblies. I imagined when the boys got through them, beer shelves looked similar to the empty toilet rolls shelves during the peak of covid!
With everything stored neatly on board and each couple in their chosen cabins, we finally threw off the lines and left the marina at 4.30pm. At the start, it was decided to motor to get a feel for the catamaran and when we were ready, we hoisted our main and self-tacking jib. Sailing at an average of 4-5 knots, everyone looked back and bid the marina goodbye as it got smaller and smaller over the horizon. And so, the adventure began!
“Now … bring me that horizon.” – Capt Jack Sparrow
Drvenik Veli Island is famously referred to as the ‘Blue Lagoon’ – not because of the movie, but because of the way silica (the lagoon’s iconic and most abundant element) reflects visible light when suspended in water. It was 10nm (nautical miles) from our start point and our first destination. It took us two hours to get there, and the sparkling blue hues and glass-like clarity of the surrounding waters was absolutely mesmerising and stunning!
Our first night saw us happily chatting over drinks and a delectable meal cooked up by our German friends – Dennis and Cheryl. This consisted of spargle (white asparagus to the uninitiated) white cream, pan fried ham and a fresh Croatian salad. The waters were tranquil and, although excitement was running high for what was ahead the next day, the gentle rocking of the boat and plenty of tipple made for a good night’s sleep.
It didn’t take long for routine to set in. Everyone had their quirks. Who would be the earliest to rise – Glen (annoyingly) held first place while I came in a close second. Who slept in little longer (ahem… Dennis and Cheryl). Who was insane enough to jump in the icy cold waters to wake up (Cheryl and Glen) and who would go the conventional route and just cradle a strong coffee, gaze at the ocean through sleepy eyes, and let the caffeine kick in.
Everyone took turns making coffee, cooking breakfast, lunch, or dinner, doing the dishes and storing everything away.
Glen was ‘unofficially’ the captain and Gary his first mate. If you’ve ever sailed with Gary, you know that he was constantly pottering around the boat. Tweaking, tightening, fixing, pulling ropes, travellers, blocks etc. It would be fair to say that we left Rosa in better condition than when we got her – even making a list of things to ‘fix’ or ‘change’ when we did the final handover.
Day 2
The next day, anchors were up at 9am and we headed for Vis – famed as one of the ten most unspoiled islands in the Mediterranean. It’s no wonder it was the chosen location for the filming of “Mamma Mia 2”. The beauty of the islands was heightened by the pod of frolicking dolphins off our bow! It was a sunny day with an average 20 degrees C, the wind was steady, so we hoisted the Spinnaker. There is something MAGICAL about gliding through turquoise waters with just the sound of waves below us and colourful billowing sails against the canvas of brilliant blue sky above.
The anchorage at Vis was very relaxing. This called for an evening of Liar’s Dice – a game of chance and deception known to be played by pirates – most notably by the crew of lost souls on Davy Jones’ ship the Flying Dutchman in the movie “The Pirates of the Caribbean”. If you are unfamiliar with this game, you haven’t really lived. It can be played with as many players as you like as long as there are enough dice – and rum – to go around.
Capt Jack Sparrow : Why is the rum gone?
Elizabeth : Because it is a vile drink that turns even the most respectable man into scoundrels.
Capt Jack Sparrow : But why is the rum gone?
Day 3
We made a beeline for Bisevo whose main attraction is the famous Blue Cave, which can only be accessed by rental boats. The best time of the day to explore the cave is at midday when the Sun’s rays pass through an underwater opening illuminating the cave in an eerie and almost unearthly bluish hue. Although we were looking forward to experiencing this phenomenon ourselves, our plans were thwarted by really choppy waters. A unanimous decision was made not to anchor there but our disappointment was soon forgotten as we sighted more dolphins on our way to Korcula Island for the night.
Day 4
After pulling up anchor and starting out, we begin to encounter choppy waters with one to two metre waves and 28knots (kts) winds. The forecast over VHF told us to expect winds of up to 35kts. Again, for the safety of the crew and craft, we decided to wait out the bad weather at another protected bay on the island of Scedro. It was an ideal time to paddle the tender to shore (outboard engine was not working) and explore the area while Gary took off to gather mussels for the evening’s meal!
Once on land, we met a friendly local lady named Eurena, who was busy building a cabin on a piece of land she recently purchased on the island. She helpfully gave us directions to the outlook located on the opposite side of the island and we started our track there.
We found the trail full of Rosemary bushes, prickly leaves, gorgeous wildflowers, and poppies before we came upon a lovely old church sitting atop the hill overlooking the picturesque bay.
When we got back to ‘Rosa’, we sat down to a lunch of Cevapcici sausage – grilled sausages made of a mixture of ground beef and pork seasoned with lots of garlic and paprika – traditional meal eaten in Croatia.
When it was safe enough to set sail again, we pulled anchor around 2pm and navigated over four hours of choppy waters before piloting into another protected bay at Prigradica, in the town of Korcula. As it was still off peak, we had a leisurely and uninterrupted walk by the shore and in town. Dinner that evening was a steaming pot of white wine mussels accompanied by crusty bread. Mother Nature decided to put on an enchanting light show of luminescent phosphorescence off the side of our catamaran which added to the euphoria everyone felt that evening.
One thing we learnt as a group traveling together is to chill out and go with the flow, especially when unforeseen changes come along. As we learnt, these can often lead to bigger adventures and awesome discoveries! Such an occasion happened when our malfunctioning outboard engine saw us having to pull into ACI Marina at Korcula for repairs. We did not plan to stay the night due to the steep cost – EUR 230 a night, but we did. It turned out to be the best decision of the trip.
After securing our boat, a handful of us hopped off to explore this enchanting island. It was gorgeous with a plethora of quaint restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops – some of us thinking it even outshone the town of Dubrovnik. Legend has it that renowned explorer, Marco Polo, was born in Korcula – when it was still a part of the Venetian republic. It is chronicled that he took part in the naval battle of Venice in 1298 where he was captured by Genoese army and imprisoned there. We came upon a tourist history board with a map and on it was written: “The journey of Marco Polo with his father and uncle to China 1271-1295”. The route on the map showed that he visited the Indonesian island of Bintan – a close neighbour of Singapore. Fascinating!
That evening we had dinner in a lovely “konoba” – authentic Croatian restaurant with traditional cuisine – and made sure we only ate local fresh catches of the day and Croatian salads while washing it all down with a delightful local Rose!
Although it is not a main tourist attraction, it is easy to fall in love with Korcula and we highly recommend a day or two exploring this island. In our eyes, it definitely boasted the best food and wine experiences of all the Croatian islands on our itinerary.
Day 5
With the tender issues fixed, we made ready to head to our next destination – Mljet Island, Polace. The sun was warm and bright and temperature for the day read 17 degrees C although it felt more like 20. The great winds meant we could hoist our sails immediately and when boat speed hit 8kts, we decided to reef the main. With winds of 25kts, we were flying through the waves. When we arrived, we decided to dock in front of Calypso Restaurant after a little ‘persuasion’ from waving staff from the restaurant.
It is common for the staff of each restaurant along the waterfront to wave you frantically over to moor in front of their establishment. If you favour them for a meal, you are rewarded with free water and electricity! So, unless you’ve done your homework on each eatery by the waters, and know which one to pick, one has zero expectation of the quality and pricing of that particular eating spot. I guess that is half the fun of discovery. In general, Croatia is relatively expensive when it comes to the food and drinks but who wants to stinge when on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage. So, we paid the price… pun intended!
After our meal, Gary, Aspiah, Raya and Wolfgang rented bikes and explored the island while Glen, Dennis, Cheryl, and I decided to test the waters – which was a perky 15 Degrees C. Brave or Insane? Haven’t quite made up my mind yet, but we could not linger too long for fear of going numb. It was definitely refreshing to say the least.
Day 6
The only way to describe Day 6 was perfect champagne sailing weather! Everything was ideal for sailing, and we flew the Spinnaker for six hours to the island of Lopud in the bay of Sunj. It was by far the most stunning day of our travels, and we stayed for the night in glassy smooth waters and discussed our day’s adventure over tipple and a good feed on board ‘Rosa’.
“Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.”
Van Morrison
Day 7
Today marked the mid-point of our holiday. We were finally heading towards the island of Dubrovnik. This scenic location was the setting for the cult series Game of Thrones and would also be the point where we would have a crew change.
On arrival we sailed back and forth along the coast to capture the gorgeous view of Dubrovnik from the water while loudly playing the theme song from “Game of Thrones” to add to the atmosphere. Corny perhaps, but no one complained! If you haven’t seen Game of Thrones, where the hell have you been?
After soaking in the amazing sights, we docked at Frapa Marina where we bid farewell to Raya and Wolfgang. Once the group was joined by Tonya and Akiko, we set about exploring our surrounds.
Dubrovnik is regarded as the most picturesque city on the Dalmatian coast and is referred to as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. Its rich history, culture, stunning architecture, and picturesque landscapes made for many an exciting discussion over drinks at several quaint cafes and restaurants dotting the island.
The city’s Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town. Most visitors who have watched “Game of Thrones” make it a point to seek out the famous Jesuit church staircase as it was the spot where the scene of Cersei Lannister, walking down the steps naked, was shot.
The beautiful day ended on a high note with a sumptuous dinner and chatter before the crew called it a night.
Day 8
Our arrival at Kobas, a dock in the small coastal town of Ston, the whole crew was teeming with anticipation. The breath-taking beauty that greeted us as we pulled up in front of Niko Restaurant was heightened by its reputation for having some of the freshest oysters and mussels in Croatia!
Larger-than-lift owner, Niko, happily moved from table to table talking to customers and helping them with their orders while his super nice wife, Magda, was our very attentive and gorgeous server. Niko insisted (and we did not resist) that he would prepare a plethora of seafood for our dinner. We were served oysters and mussels freshly pulled out of the net, shucked, or cooked and served to us immediately. It could not have been any fresher if we had harvested them ourselves! We were recommended an excellent array of local wines and drinks to accompany our meal.
At the end of the evening, we were expecting the bill to shock BUT it turned out to be one of the cheaper meals we’ve had in Croatia. Restaurant Niko comes highly recommended by all.
Day 9 & 10
Before we departed today, Niko was kind enough to give us what little ice he had left to top up our Esky. We left promising him that we would let others know about his amazing restaurant by the water.
Tonya helmed most of the way and suffice to say, she deserved the ‘Captain of the Day’ tiara we made out of aluminium foil.
Although the day started with perfect Spinnaker weather and temperatures around 21 degrees C with an average speed of 6kts, VHF updates warned of bad weather approaching with wind speeds of 35-45kts topping at 55kts.
Safety being a priority, we took shelter at Lokva at Mljet and spent the night peacefully while the bad weather passed over.
With the myriad of small islands dotting our route, each offered interesting sights like the uninhabited Island of Saplun. It had a nice bay and we spotted goats grazing there and wondered how they got onto the island which seemed pretty desolate.
Day 11 and 12
Wednesday 10th July, Day 11, we woke to windy and overcast skies. We started off at 8am and sailed at an average of four to five knots. We headed for Hvar – Starigrad Marina – and chose to tie up there for the night so everyone could stretch their legs on shore. It was a relatively easy, chill out day.
The next morning the weather was no better. It poured down buckets! A decision was made to wait out the storm and when it let up to a drizzle, we set sail again and conditions cleared enough for us to fly the Spinnaker. We reached the bay at BRAC at 2:30pm. On arrival we booked a bow and stern mooring buoy for EUR 60 facilitated by a nice gentleman who seemed to appear out of nowhere in his tender to help us and collect the fee.
The bay was gorgeous and waters, pristine! We enjoyed a fantastic sunset and sat on deck on the trampoline and chatted over drinks and dinner.
Day 13
Time flies when you’re having fun and it was the dawn on the last day of our sojourn around Croatia. The gods decided to throw every manner of weather at us today. Almost like a last Hurrah! – sunshine, cloudy skies, chilly winds, big fat raindrops, slight drizzle etc… The temperature evened out to a pleasant 19 – 20 degrees C as we headed back to Trogir Marina. The plan was to sail past Old Town Split for a final au revoir. The sea enroute was quite rough with white caps and with Aspiah on the helm, she took us up to 9kts (a record during this journey).
With all smooth sailing over the two weeks, the biggest drama was to be found at, of all places, the refuelling dock!
The wind was blowing boats against the dock where vessels were expected to do the normal “stern into dock”. There was a 15kts crosswind, and we managed to wrangle our boat in with a little help from the staff. Then we spent the rest of the time protecting our craft from others – many of which were million-dollar vessels – coming in fast and furious from all sides. One monohull went sideways and almost took our bow sprit off. If not for the quick action of Dennis who managed to protect Rosa with a fender and pushed the mono-hull off with his hands thus avoiding a disaster. Mooring lines were snagged. Boats were being pulled in wrong directions. Vessels were in places they were not supposed to be. Screaming staff with colouful language could be heard in every corner… what a shemozzle!
During one of our many conversations, we learned a German word from Dennis – Hafenkeno – which literally translates to “harbour cinema”. One would sit on their boat already anchored, with drinks in hand and watch others struggle to moor or anchor as if watching a movie, commenting and enjoying the scene that unfolded.. At this point, however, we were all actors in the HafenKeno, ensuring that we refuelled safely and without damage.
But all’s well that ends well. We managed to top up our fuel for the rental and discovered we used only half of the 400 Litre fuel we started with. We arrived at Trogir Marina around 3pm and were greeted with a record 27 degrees C – the hottest day in two weeks.
A staff from Pitter yacht charter came on board to settle the paperwork while a diver checked under the boat, as they do with all charters. A conversation overheard nearby – Diver: Where is your anchor? Charterer: Oh! We dropped it.
Sounded like they had more interesting tales to tell!
We finally disembarked Rosa at 6pm and headed to our accommodations in Old Town Split but not before making plans to meet up for dinner and drinks that evening.
One more wonderful surprise lay in wait on this last day! Glen and I spent the afternoon strolling through the farmers market in town when we ran into Choy from CSC and his wife Nicole! Small world indeed! They had spent the last week sailing around Croatia and although we knew they were sailing in vicinity, we did not expect to bump into them. So, the last meet with everyone, including Choy and Nicole, was indeed an evening of great camaraderie… each sharing stories of a voyage we would all soon not forget!
“The sea, once it casts it’s spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever” – Jacques Cousteau
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https://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image9.jpeg519640CSChttps://www.csc.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/changi_sailing_club_logo_round.pngCSC2023-07-04 22:27:272023-07-04 22:51:22Sailing in Croatia 2023
After a 3 year hiatus from cruising / racing in Malaysia, it is with great relish that we resumed these precious activities in 2023 with the first ever CSC@Tioman Regatta. Inspired by the very successful pre-covid annual CSC@Besar Regatta , this event’s main objective was to bring sailors to a scenic destination for a week of casual racing and recreational activities. Scheduled on 17 – 23 June, the racing consists of 2 passage races: A challenging overnighter (CSC – Tioman) and a slightly more leisurely day-race (Round-Island).
CSC-Tioman Passage Race, 17-18 June
A total of 8 boats participated in the CSC-Tioman Passage Race, comprising of 7 Keelboats and 1 Multihull. The CIQP process prior to the start was smooth and uneventful, all thanks to the helpful ICA staff and transport operators ferrying our sailors from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to their boats post-clearance. With this new system, sailors no longer have to clear out of Singapore on water, aiding the logistics for running cross-border passage races.
Up north, Race Committee consisting of Choy and Edwin laid the groundwork in preparation for the fleet’s finishing, setting up the noticeboard, outdoor office (beach bar), finish mark, ferry service and CIQP facilitation. They were not alone, as they received fantastic support from the team at Berjaya Tioman Resort, together with the shipping agency in charge of CIQP and Port clearance.
The weather was unfortunately light and underwhelming at the start – thankfully picking up in the late morning to carry the fleet to Lima Channel within daylight hours. As the hours passed, not all boats managed to survive the crawl up north, as sailors were faced with extremely light to no breeze for many sections of the overnight passage. First to retire was JACKS, followed by Fei Yu, First Light and finally at the break of dawn – Birregurra. This half of the fleet may have been the smartest of the lot, as the remaining 4 teams persevered to race a maximum total of 31hrs, 35mins and 46 secs! This feat was achieved by Minx – and despite being the last boat to complete the passage, the X342 was victorious on handicap correction, having caught up on the final stretch between Tinggi and Tioman with a late but consistent Southwesterly breeze helping to close the gap between her and Silhouette. The Beneteau First 40.7 had no time to be looking back for her rivals, as she had her hands full with an exciting neck and neck photo-finish between her and the sole PY finisher, Invictus! The Mumm 30 emerged ahead in the battle, flying her spinnaker across the line in 31hrs, 8mins and 54 secs. Right at the top with a new passage record was none other than the dashing Bula! Following in the footsteps of the legendary Cicak from the previous editions of CSC@Besar Regatta, skipper Michael was accompanied by family, sailing all 26hrs, 21 mins and 55 secs with his daughter and her friend aboard. We look forward to Bula besting this timing next year!
Round-Island Race, 20 June
Following a much needed rest and recovery on Monday, 6 teams showed up for the start of the Round-Island Race. Determined to attempt the passage despite the dubious conditions, the sailors started on a positive note, embarking on the journey to circumnavigate the island in an anti-clockwise direction in about 6 knots of wind. Winds picked up as they approached Paya Beach, allowing leaders Silhouette to pull away from the fleet. She enjoyed solid breeze further offshore – in stark contrast to the 2 other boats in the IRC fleet, which made slow progress closer to land.
The strong winds were unsustainable, as Silhouette slowed on the approach to the south eastern tip of Tioman. It was then that the Race Committee decided to Shorten the Course in the vicinity of Pulo Jehat, allowing for the slower boats enough time to make their journey back to the anchorage in daylight.
Despite attaining line honours, Silhouette yet again succumbed to a late assault from Minx, taking 2nd place on corrected time. The difference between both boats this time was however much closer – the First 40.7 just over 4 minutes behind the X342 in a 3 hour race. In similar fashion, Invictus struggled to gain further distance on debutants Fei Yu – placing as runner-ups to the Flying Fish by a slim 3 minutes! In yet another amazing achievement, Bula attempted the Round-Island Race solo – completing the shortened version of the passage in a respectable 3hrs and 12 mins.
Recreation and Prize-Giving
In-between the racing, there were pockets of opportunities to participate in activities around the island. Sailors indulged in snorkeling, diving, trekking, archery and ATV tours – just to name a few. In the evenings, sailors met at the outdoor race office for a free-flow of cold beers and selected housepours. That coupled with live music every night kept the morale high for many crew members.
On the last evening, Prize-giving and BBQ Dinner was well-organized by the Team from Berjaya Tioman Resort. Clearly experienced in this field, the temporary outdoor stage, dinner set up and delicious BBQ buffet spread was a smooth and excellent arrangement. That paired with perfect weather and live music by Dansen John (singer-songwriter and musician based in singapore) made for a perfect ending to a terrific week in Tioman.
On this note, we would like to thank the following people / groups of people for supporting the event in various capacities:
GM Simon Tan and Team from Berjaya Tioman Resort. A huge thank you to his very accommodating team which includes Selvam, Naza, Sheila, Wei, Chef Law and so many more. The hospitality and service from all staff was excellent – and that played a huge part in the success of this inaugural event.
Ms Shahidah and Team. As our designated CIQP and Port Clearance officer in Tioman, she had been helpful and responsive throughout the week, going above and beyond for the boaters – documentation and communication was smooth and hassle-free.
Ferry Service Team of Aci, Mubin and Ngah. Thank you for providing ferry service throughout the week and providing us with the safety boat for the round-island race!
May Ling and CSC Admin Team. as CSC’s in-house CIQP and port clearance officer for SG, she was on standby around the clock from pre to post event, ensuring all boats are cleared in and out of Singapore safely and precisely.
Dansen John – for the smooth tunes on our last night in Tioman!
Last but not least, thank you all sailors for supporting this event!
Minx
Silhouette
Bula
Invictus
Fei Yu
JACKS
Birregurra
Firstlight
Exodus
Skybird
We are elated to have concluded this milestone regatta, and look forward to commencing plans to make this an annual tradition – returning for the next edition in 2024.
