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25th Ambassadors’ Cup 31 October 2026

2nd November 2026/in Competitive Racing, Ambassadors Cup, News, Regattas, Sailing, Social/by CSC

25 Years of Bringing The World Together – The 25th Ambassadors’ Cup, Silver Jubilee Edition

25 years of Bringing The World Together!

Changi Sailing Club pulled out all the stops to put on a memorable show for this milestone edition, and the weather certainly played its part, putting on a spectacular display of the varying wind conditions that the Club experiences throughout the year. From gusts exceeding 20 knots to completely becalmed, glassy waters, all 41 participating boats experienced a day of sailing like no other.

This year’s event welcomed 16 Ambassadors and representatives from a total of 24 Embassies. The Embassy of Panama and H.E. Sebastian Breton Perez returned to preside over our Silver Jubilee edition, following the resounding success of last year’s event under his stewardship. Recent geopolitical developments and unforeseen circumstances had affected diplomatic attendance, but despite the smaller turnout, the energy and camaraderie throughout the event remained as strong as ever.

Adding a new dimension to this year’s celebrations was the introduction of the Best Dressed Boat awards. Sailors came dressed in their finest nautical attire, while boats were adorned with colourful decorations to mark the occasion. It was wonderful to see everyone embracing the spirit of the Silver Jubilee!

Of the 41 participating boats, seven were visiting from other marinas and yacht clubs. A big thank you to Millennium II, Majabelle, Firstlight, Intrigue of Stornoway, Pascal Go, Sea Monster and AestheSea for making the journey to sail with us!

On the Race Course

Sailors were certainly given a challenging day on the water. An easterly squall brought fierce winds, with some boats battling gusts exceeding 20 knots for up to 30 minutes, making for a thrilling and rather eventful passage towards North Angler.

Once the winds subsided, a significant outgoing tide added to the returning fleet’s woes, slowing progress to a crawl. While most of the light and nimble multihulls managed to navigate the course successfully, much of the Non-Ambassadors’ and Keelboat Open fleets struggled to complete the race within the allocated time limit.

Ambassadors’ Division

Nine boats managed to complete the race, with Team Colombia initially looking to have the upper hand. H.E. Margarita Manjarrez sailed skilfully aboard Firstlight, an accomplished Beneteau First 50 owned and skippered by Simon Piff. Despite crossing the finish line first, she had not established enough of a lead over the chasing pack to hold on to the top spot.

That honour went to Team Panama, led by H.E. Sebastian Breton Perez aboard Adona. The Dehler 38, recently refurbished and helmed by owner/skipper Ad Smit, handled the heavy breeze impressively, establishing an insurmountable lead over the rest of the fleet to claim victory for Panama at the 25th Ambassadors’ Cup!

Completing the podium as the best of the rest was Bound To Please. The Corby 29 sailed with H.E. Damien Cole of the Embassy of Ireland onboard, with skipper Colin Clark providing the Ambassador with a genuine and thoroughly enjoyable sailing experience.

Non-Ambassadors’ Division

In the Non-Ambassadors’ Division, only two boats managed to finish within the time limit: Skybird and Shardana.

Of the two 34-footers, the Dehler 34 Skybird emerged triumphant, sailing an excellent race to take line honours in her division and even catch up with the Ambassadors’ fleet!

Skipper Edwin was quick to commend the Thai delegation for their hard work on the winches, contributing to excellent boat speed and an overall wonderful experience for the crew.

It was double jubilation for Southeast Asia, with Team Philippines aboard Shardana finishing as the only other boat to complete the race in under three hours.

Of the remaining fleet, Team Mexico aboard the beautiful Remington came closest to the finish line and was also the quickest around North Angler, earning a well-deserved third place.

Keelboat Open Division

In the Keelboat Open Division, it was another two-boat affair at the finish line, with IMP and Notus battling it out for line honours.

In a nail-biting finish, IMP crossed the line just four seconds ahead of Notus, but ultimately relinquished the top spot on corrected time. Wild Thing took third place as the best of the rest, finishing just two minutes after the time limit had expired.

Multihull Division

Among the fast multihulls that completed the race, Yeah Baby was the fastest!

Veteran Scott McCook once again demonstrated why he remains one of Singapore’s finest catamaran sailors, taking his Nacra 17 around the course in an impressive 1 hour, 22 minutes and 49 seconds.

Second place went to Twisted Creature, sailed by Kellie and Matt. The pair survived a scare following a near collision with another boat during the squall, but quickly got back into the groove to maintain their position ahead of Chop Chop.

Skipper Jesse Treharne sailed Chop Chop single-handed in the challenging conditions, so kudos to him for completing the course, albeit just outside the time limit!

A special commendation goes to Aether, skippered by Ron Chua. The father-and-daughter duo aboard this compact TwinCat 15 were taking part in their very first regatta! With the support of Jhing and the Operations Team, Aether successfully made the start, stayed safe through the squall and navigated her way around North Angler – all while having fun along the way!

We hope to see much more of Aether at future events!

Trimaran Division

A trio of Corsairs represented the Trimaran Division at the 25th Ambassadors’ Cup. Of the three, Dot Dot Dot was the quickest, while Miss Visayan took home the honours for Best Dressed Boat!

Back racing after a month of maintenance work, it was great to see skipper David Steel back on the water. An unfortunate incident involving Rainbow Dream on the race course was the only blemish on Miss Visayan’s otherwise colourful outing. We were certainly impressed by the effort put into dressing up the boat!

Completing the trio was Soluna 880, helmed by skipper Roy Phua. As an occasional racer, we’re simply glad to have Roy and his team taking Soluna 880 out for a spin and enjoying a day on the water with us.

Celebrations Ashore

Back on shore, the drinks flowed and the entertainment brought everyone to their feet!

The evening commenced with an eloquent address by our Commodore, Deborah Barker, who acknowledged the significance and prestige of the event, as well as the many individuals and groups who came together to make it happen.

Sailors and guests were then treated to powerful vocals and infectious tunes by the charismatic band 10.seconds, while the evening’s food and drinks were expertly provided by the experienced team from Georges.

In a wonderful affirmation of the event’s continued legacy, H.E. Sebastian Breton Perez also confirmed his return to preside over the Ambassadors’ Cup in 2027!

Our Sponsors and Supporters

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the following sponsors for their generous contributions towards making the 25th Ambassadors’ Cup, Silver Jubilee Edition, a success:

Marine Technology & Construction
Thiam Building Construction
Mr KC Chng
Friends of Simba
The Handy Expat
United Airlines
Georges
The Luxury Network & Diplomatic Council

Your continued support means a great deal to the Club and helps us keep this wonderful tradition alive.

A Big Thank You to Our People

To the Management Team, staff and student volunteers from SMU Sailing Club who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the event – a very big thank you!

From the administration and logistics to race management, on-water operations, event preparation and hospitality, every contribution played an important part in bringing this milestone celebration together.

The success of the 25th Ambassadors’ Cup would simply not have been possible without your dedication, teamwork and commitment.

Until We Meet Again

Just 48 hours after the event, I find myself back at my desk, reflecting on Saturday’s festivities.

There is no doubt that the Ambassadors’ Cup is much more than just a sailing race. It is a reflection of the spirit of Changi Sailing Club, our dedication to the sport and, above all, our commitment to bringing people and communities together.

It is the people who truly embody the spirit of this event. From the sailors and diplomats to our sponsors, volunteers, staff and members, everyone has played a part in keeping this tradition alive for 25 years.

As we celebrate this Silver Jubilee milestone, we are once again proud to say that we have successfully brought the world together.

Here’s to the next chapter, and we’ll see you again in 2027!

Changi Sailing Club
Bringing The World Together.

Results

25th AMBASSADORS’ CUP RESULTS_FINAL

CSC x NUS Seafarers Ketam Clean-Up 24 Oct 2026

25th October 2026/in Go Green, Community, Social/by CSC

Report by Vjan Yeo

How Much Trash Can Pulau Ketam Hold?

When I look around mainland Singapore, I’m often struck by how clean our beaches, roads and parks are. It is rare to come across places where there is so much trash to pick up.

But our Ketam Clean-Up today reminded me of two important things.

1. There is A LOT of trash in our seas.

Pulau Ketam is a mangrove habitat and a natural collection point for trash carried in by the tides. Today, we came across all sorts of household items, including styrofoam boxes, plastic bottles, hangers, rubber soles, helmets and even a handbag!

These items are a sobering reminder of the impact of human activity on our marine environment. Trash discarded into the sea can choke waterways, damage aquatic habitats and threaten the biodiversity that depends on these ecosystems.

Despite the volunteers’ best efforts, our clean-up has made only a small dent in the problem. There are still many areas left to clear, and even if we managed to clean them all, new trash would continue to wash ashore every day.

2. We should never take Singapore’s cleanliness for granted.

Our clean and liveable city did not happen by chance. It is the result of the collective efforts of many people, from the cleaning teams who maintain our public spaces to generations of Singaporeans who have been taught from young not to litter.

We enjoy the benefits of these collective efforts every day. But if we lose that sense of responsibility, we risk slowly turning the clean home we cherish into a dirtier one.

Ketam Clean-Up has never been just about cleaning Pulau Ketam.

The reality is that we may never finish cleaning it. To me, the greater value of this initiative lies in its educational impact — helping us see first-hand the consequences of pollution and the harsh reality faced by our marine ecosystems.

More importantly, it reminds us that there is something we can do. Reducing our reliance on single-use products can help lower demand for their production and disposal, while minimising the amount of waste that ultimately finds its way into our seas.

Every little action counts, and change begins with us.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers and CSC boat owners for their hard work and commitment to this bi-annual clean-up exercise. A special thank-you to Prime Aquaculture Hatchery for supporting us with the logistics of trash disposal.

We may not be able to clean it all in a day, but we can certainly keep trying.

See you at the next Ketam Clean-Up! 🌊🌱

CSC 90th Anniversary Celebrations – 26 September 2026

3rd October 2026/in Community, Competitive Racing, News, Sailing, Social/by CSC

Phew! What an incredible day last Saturday was!

Changi Sailing Club celebrated an incredible milestone as more than 200 members and guests came together to commemorate 90 years of the Club’s existence.

The day went smoothly despite a packed itinerary. In the morning, Adona, En Dian, Oojoo, Sirocco and Skybird hosted beneficiaries from the Good News Family Service Centre for an experiential Joy Sail. The initiative is part of the Club’s ongoing Community Outreach Programme, and we were pleased to be joined by Members of Parliament Valerie Lee and Sharael Taha.

Vice Commodore Justin Lean hosted both MPs during the morning programme, accompanying them through the itinerary and presenting each with a small token of appreciation on behalf of the Club. As Changi Sailing Club falls within Valerie’s constituency, it was particularly fitting to have her visit and lend her support to the initiative, while Sharael’s presence further reflected the Club’s continued engagement with the wider Pasir Ris–Changi community.

A highlight of the day was the inaugural Celebratory SailPast. More than 40 boats, fully decked out in colourful decorations, lined up to salute Commodore Deborah Barker, who was stationed at the Crow’s Nest to inspect the parade. In the Commodore’s own words, “this is the first SailPast I have been a part of in over 40 years of being a member of the Club.”

The afternoon quickly transitioned into racing for all classes, providing an excellent dress rehearsal for the upcoming Ambassadors’ Cup. The Keelboats, Multihulls and Beach Cats were sent on a Pennant 4 course, while the dinghies took part in the shorter Pennant 1 course. This worked well for all involved, giving the predominantly youth dinghy fleet sufficient time to return to shore for the afternoon’s other activities.

Sailors and guests could take part in a heritage walk led by youth sailor Mikail Shahrom, explore the games and activity booths at Changi Hall, and enjoy entertaining magic shows, with lucky draw announcements peppered throughout the afternoon.

Close Racing on the Water

The dinghies provided plenty of excitement at the finish line, with the fleet finishing in quick succession. In the Optimist Class, Sumi, Afiyah and Neel had everyone on the edge of their seats with a split-second finish between the three sailors. Neel eventually edged out Sumi and Afiyah by the narrowest of margins to claim third place, with Chloe taking first and Elouan second.

In the ILCA 6 Class, Misa claimed the top spot, with Jaydn finishing second.

The ILCA 4 Class had the largest dinghy representation, with seven boats on the start line. Reyes, Amandine and Morris took first, second and third respectively. Reyes also secured third place in the Open Division after corrected time, finishing behind the two ILCA 6 sailors, Misa and Jaydn, who took first and second respectively to complete a double for the 90th Anniversary Race.

The “big boys and girls” heading out to Tekong Buoy and back also delivered large fleets and exciting sailing. An impressive 26 boats comprising 4 IRC, 15 PY, 6 Multihulls and 1 Beach Cat took part. We were blessed with a consistent breeze throughout the afternoon, allowing the fleet to complete a longer course.

In the IRC Class, the only boat to fly a spinnaker throughout the course earned a comfortable victory, with Born in Fire slipping into the top spot. The battle between Simba, Bound to Please and Koru saw the two smaller boats deny the Dehler 39 a place on the podium, with Bound to Please taking second and Koru third.

The largest fleet on the water also saw extremely close racing, with only seconds separating first to fourth after handicap correction. SMU Sailing Club’s Notus made her presence felt (quite literally) before the start, making contact with CSC 1. Thankfully, it was only a scuff, and the team promptly followed up with a penalty turn.

Notus bounced back to sail an excellent race, keeping the larger boats at bay to take victory. She was one of only two boats to fly the spinnaker, and it proved to be an excellent decision. Notus finished just 50 seconds ahead of Southern Light, with both boats putting in performances worthy of the podium. Completing the top three was the ever-charismatic Skybird. The Dehler 34 had to play catch-up after a premature start, but successfully clawed her way back through the fleet to finish third, just 12 seconds ahead of Wild Thing.

Wrapping up the results, Kaze put on a confident display of sailing, securing an early lead and holding it throughout to take first place among the six Multihulls. She was followed closely by Bula and Miss Visayan, both familiar rivals in the Club Series.

A Night of Celebration

Back on shore, the Anniversary Dinner was graced by our Guest of Honour, Minister Indranee Rajah, Second Minister for National Development and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. She also heads the Pasir Ris–Punggol Group Representation Constituency, and her presence was an important show of support for Changi Sailing Club and the wider sailing community.

We were also honoured to welcome Commander of the Police Coast Guard SAC Ang Eng Seng, Mr Dean Tan, Deputy Chief of SportSG, Mr Leslie Tan, CEO of Singapore Sailing, Mr Anthony Lim, former Commodore of Changi Sailing Club, as well as representatives from our various stakeholders and several other notable figures from the sailing and sporting community.

Following an uplifting speech by Minister Indranee and a heartfelt address by Commodore Deborah, the evening continued in a celebratory mood with the unveiling of our 90th Anniversary Commemorative Video and Cake Cutting Ceremony.

Prize Giving for the afternoon’s races followed shortly after, before members and guests settled in for an evening of live music and celebrations.

Here’s to the Next 90 Years!

A huge thank you to all our members, guests and friends of Changi Sailing Club for joining us to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Our heartfelt appreciation also goes to all CSC staff, volunteers and Committee members for their hard work and dedication in delivering an unforgettable celebration.

From our founding in 1936 to this milestone 90 years later, Changi Sailing Club has continued to bring people together through sailing, friendship, sport and community.

Here’s to the next 90 years!

Results

Results_2026 90 Anniversary Race

Dinghy Results_2026 90 Anniversary Race

Youth Sailing: Back-to-Back Events

21st September 2026/in Competitive Racing, Monthly Dinghy Race, Sailing, Social/by CSC

Two weekends, one action-packed sailing weekend!

Our Youth Sailing team enjoyed an exciting back-to-back weekend of sailing, with a Night Sailing 2.0 followed by the Monthly Dinghy Race on 19 & 20 September.

The Night Sailing provided our young sailors with a unique opportunity to experience sailing after sunset. Sailors of all ages showed up on Saturday evening to join this year’s night sailing event equipped with lights, decorations and strong will to win the best lit/dressed up boat this year. It was fun to see boats glowing in the dark at CSC, with members cheering the participants and giving all the support. A unique experience truly enjoyed by all the participants. With 15 boats took part in this event, top 3 best lit up boats goes to Elouan in his cool Optimist with eco-friendly bow sprit set up, Erline and Damien on a Pacer-parents of Elouan on a simple with classy lights decoration and Afiya with the entire gang of Optimist sailors on a “Christmas” inspired Pacer boat caught the judges attention of their cuteness and creative creation.

After the night sail, parents on land welcome back the sailors with good BBQ food ready to eat and music playing at the boat park area, good time to catch up for parents and kids. A big thank you to all the coaches, parent-volunteers and sailors for making this event a success! It was a memorable for everyone involved.

Monthly Dinghy Race, after an eventful evening, dinghy race is next! A total of 24 boats (ILCA, Pacer & Optimist) took part this month’s dinghy race. A small but yet competitive racing amongst our youth sailors. The day started with heavy downpour which discouraged the participants doubting that the wind may not come after the showers.

However, this wasn’t a reason for our parent-volunteers on board race committee boat to give a try, it was worth it. Easterly breeze filled in at the race course area and with occasional wind shifts, race carried on. The Race Committee managed to secure 3 races for all classes, a short but better than nothing races. A valuable racing experience under the tight-time and weather conditions.

Congratulations to the Winners

Optimist Alpha: 1st- George Wittington / 2nd – Chloe Pitsilis / 3rd – Arun Behl

Optimist Bravo: 1st – Neel Behl / 2nd – Amelie Pitisilis / 3rd – Sumire Kogut

Optimist Charlie: 1st – Oliver Tumoula / 2nd – Nathaniel Go / 3rd – Anna Zhao

ILCA 4: 1st – Amandine Pitsilis / 2nd – Isaiah Yap / 3rd – Jonathan Kwok

Open Dinghy: 1st – Isaiah Yap / Amandine Pitsilis / 3rd – Jonathan Kwok

The event was successfully completed with enthusiastic participation positive engagement from our sailing community. This combination, provided sailors with an enjoyable and contributed positively to our youth sailing programme. Thank you all for making this event a success!

To the next Night Sailing and MDR on 18th October. See you!

CSC Cruise to Tanjung Piayu 7-10 August 2026

29th August 2026/in Social, Cruising, Sailing/by CSC

A Sailor’s Perspective – by Soo Yan Jia & Jadyn Toh, Skychicks 🐣

Other than a brief morning storm and a few hiccups, all 8 boats and crew safely made it to Nongsa Point Marina for a night of rest (and/or) before departing for Tanjung Piayu the next morning. At the hotel Skybird, we managed to enjoy the modern luxurious inventions of air-conditioning and soft sofa beds which made the night an amazing one.

Our sailors got up bright and early the next morning and wasted no time on their sail, winds were decent and Piayu made for a good upwind leg. For those that opted for some good old sailing, they got to enjoy the Riau islands up close with every tack. With a little motor assistance, the rest made it up with more than enough time to settle in the steady anchorage and enjoy some sunset drinks and drone flying! The crew of Black Baza were kind enough to welcome a few of us newbies onboard with a special drink concocted in their elusive water kettle… We watched the sunset across the horizon as we drank their concoction, exchanging stories of past experiences sailing across different generations of sailors.

As the sun set further and the skies faded from blue to pink, it was finally time to return to shore after a long day at sea for some dinner! After all, no trip to Piayu is complete without some seafood. After feasting on chilli crab and many many gong gongs, we bid farewell to the very-well-lit Love Seafood Restaurant and ferried back to the boats for a good night of rest… or should I say fishing? Aboard Skybird, we opted for a more rustic and traditional way of cleaning ourselves. With minimal current, a life buoy, and a safety line, we managed to rig ourselves up for an evening shower. After playing in the water for quite a bit, the thoughts of the mangrove monster eventually haunted us which led to a quicker rinse off.

Before we knew it, the sun had started to rise and it was time to head back to Nongsa. The morning at Piayu was fresh and serene and it was nice to have the time to enjoy a quiet breakfast whilst taking in the scenery of the nearby island, barely starting their day. Quite a contrast from last night’s lively crowds and karaoke sessions.

The boats set off one by one shortly after. To our delight, the winds were even better than the day before. Our sailors were blessed with a beautiful reaching angle back to Nongsa, and you best believe we made full use of it. We had an amazing time sailing back and it was easily one of many highlights this trip. We arrived in Nongsa in the early afternoon with ample time for some last minute golfing or for others, exploring Batam city and maybe enjoying a well-deserved massage or cup of bubble tea.

And just like that, the long national day weekend came and went, spent very patriotically amongst the islands of Indonesia. Piayu was amazing, but nothing says welcome home quite like a huge cup of sugarcane juice or a cup of kopi at Changi Village hawker. The Piayu trip was an amazing one not just because of the perfect winds, but also of the amazing company we had. While it was our first adventure cruise with CSC, it felt like a close-knitted family trip where we watched out for each other, hung out and had fun, simply for the joy of sailing and ensuring smooth journeys for everybody. Looking forward to our next adventure with CSC! :)

Bintan Regatta 2026 – Day 2 Report

10th April 2026/in Competitive Racing, Bintan Regatta, Cruising, Regattas, Sailing, Social/by CSC

Temperamental gusts mark final day of 4^th Bintan Regatta

Report by Scott Murray, SEA Yachting Magazine

The 4^th Bintan Regatta, an event jointly organized by the Bintan Resort Cakrawala and the Changi Sailing Club, finished yesterday in the sailing area held off of Bandar Bentan Telani/Doulos Phos, The Ship Hotel.

With an AP onshore, Race Officer Manager Leanne “Jhing” Tayong (Changi Sailing Club’s Activities Manager) had to go sailabout to find wind, but when she did, she was able to get in three windward-leewards for both classes.

When it was all sailed and done, Edwin Low’s Skybird captured the Keelboat PY class by one point in a very close finish over Choy Yi Hong’s Slingshot, winning three of the five races it sailed in the class (each boat was able to drop its worst result).

Jakub Kogut’s Summer Breeze was next, finishing third just a point ahead of Peter Jong’s Kesini. Jakub’s only crew member was his fourteen-year-old son, Leo, the youngest participant in the regatta, who showed remarkable poise during the event. Jasmine Teo/Lim Wei Ling’s Spellbound rounded out the class and although they were unable to finish most of the races, they showed true grit and determination as this was their first time racing.

The multihull class saw the same order of finish in every race with David Steel’s Dot Dot Dot taking the top spot, Roy Phua’s Soluna placing second and Giam Hock Koon’s Oojoo placing third though both Soluna and Oojoo were unable to finish race two.

Btw, for those that were curious about the colour and name of the trimaran Dot Dot Dot, skipper David Steel explains, “We wanted to have a non-white boat. We liked the artist from Japan who used dots – Yayoi Kusama. Dot Dot Dot obviously fits with the look, but also is Morse Code for ‘S’ – the first letter of my last name. Lastly, Singapore is sometimes affectionately called the ‘Little Red Dot’, so the look and name go well with our home port.”

Jong Boat Festival

Held in conjunction with the Bintan Sailing Regatta at a nearby beach was the Jong Boat Festival. Yesterday, we detailed some of the history of the Jongs. Small Jongs measure 1-1.29m; medium-sized Jongs 1.29-1.6m; and large Jongs 1.6-1.9m.

A total of 691 Jongs took part on the event, with 45 races being conducted on the first day. Most of the Jong came from Indonesia, predominately Riau, but there were entries from Singapore and Malaysia as well. Small Jongs did not race in this festival only large (Besar) and medium-sized Jongs (Sedang).

The winners in the Besar division were Dewi Lanjar (Buluh Perindu) in first followed by Segantang (Junjung Budaye) in second place and Pusake Riau (Galery Jong Serkat) in third. The winners in the Sedang division were Muncul Kembali (Galery Jong Serkat) in first place, Pecah Seribu (Family Pulau Akar) in second and Berandal (Bulang Gemilang) in third.

The structure of the Perahu Jong consists of:

Kate (stabilizer): functions as a counterweight to prevent the Jong from capsizing. Located on the side of the boat, it is connected to the kate bar that is integrated into the hull of the Jong.
Sauk (wave breaker): positioned at both end of the Jong, its purpose is to break the waves and protect against impact from coral reefs
Large sail: a large-sized sail made of parachute material, located at the rear of the Jong.
Jib (small sail): located at the front of the large sail. This “jeep” can be adjusted according to the wind direction and can be tightened or loosened.

Bintan Regatta 2026 – Day 1 Report

10th April 2026/in Competitive Racing, Bintan Regatta, Cruising, Regattas, Sailing, Social/by CSC

Challenging weather greets sailors on first day of 4^th Bintan Regatta

Report by Scott Murray, SEA Yachting Magazine

The 4^th Bintan Regatta, an event jointly organized by the Bintan Resort Cakrawala and the Changi Sailing Club, got underway today. After the skippers’ briefing held at the Berakit Meeting Room at the Four Points Sheraton, the participating boats motored out to the sailing area held off of Bandar Bentan Telani/Doulos Phos, The Ship Hotel.

Changi Sailing Club Activities Manager Leanne “Jhing” Tayong was the race officer today and did a great job considering the weather conditions. The first warning signal went off at 10:25am and in the first race Leanne ran a two-lap windward-leeward with a combined start for the five boats in the Keelboat PY class and the three boats in the multihull class. Ong Soo Chong’s Majabelle made the trip over from Singapore but had engine trouble and didn’t set out from the Bintan pier this morning. In the second race, Leanne staged separate starts for both classes, hoping for a two-lap race but light winds prevented many of the boats from finishing.

CSC General Manager Choy Yi Hong sailed for a change helming Slingshot. Describing the racing today, Choy said, “Winds were light and shifty with strong currents as well. Summer Breeze did well while sailing 2-up (father & son). There were conflicting weather systems, and a passing storm made things interesting on the course. In the second race, only one boat from each class completed the course, as the winds switched off on the final leg to the finish.”

It was very close in the first race in the keelboat class as Slingshot beat Jakub Kogut’s Summer Breeze by ten seconds on corrected time to win the race. Edwin Low’s Skybird (line honours) was two minutes behind in third place. Peter Jong’s Kesini was 00:01:11 behind Skybird and Jasmine Teo/Lim Wei Ling’s Spellbound six-and-a-half minutes behind Kesini. The second race in this class saw only Skybird complete the course in 00:38:17 on corrected time.

The first race in the multihull class was also very close as David Steel’s Dot Dot Dot earned line honours and beat Roy Phua’s Soluna by just under two minutes on corrected time. Giam Hock Koon’s Oojoo was then just two minutes behind Soluna in third place.

Btw, the first official passage race from CSC to Bintan was staged yesterday and Skybird was triumphant in the keelboat class, making the crossing in a corrected time of 04:04:03 followed by Kesini, just under 20 minutes later – the only two boats to finish in that class. The multihull class saw Steel finish 25 minutes ahead of Oojoo on corrected time – also, the only two boats to finish in that class.

Racing continues tomorrow and let’s hope the weather is more favourable.

Jong Boat Festival

Held in conjunction with the Bintan Sailing Regatta at a nearby beach is the Jong Boat Festival. Jongs have been legendary in the Bintan Regency since ancient times. These miniature sailboats are a traditional pastime for fishermen during the north and south monsoons when they are unable to go to sea due to strong winds and high waves. Originally, Jongs were a tradition of the Chinese community in a ritual called bebuang. They would send food offerings (sesajen) out to sea such as Jong Kong cakes and other foods using replica ships.

The Jongs are made from pulai wood (Alstonia scholaris) a dark-grey wood with yellowish-brown grain. It has a soft texture, making it easy to shape and carve. The Jong reflects local wisdom in utilizing natural resources and maintaining the balance of the surrounding environment. The pastime is not only entertaining but also demonstrates an ability to adapt to nature, especially the sea winds, which are the primary factor in determining the boat’s direction. Today, they remain a symbol of maritime glory and navigational brilliance.

Bintan Regatta 2026 – Pre-Event Report

10th April 2026/in Bintan Regatta, Competitive Racing, Cruising, Regattas, Sailing, Social/by CSC

Fourth Bintan Regatta set to go

Article by Scott Murray, SEA Yachting Magazine

The 4^th Bintan Regatta sets sails this Easter weekend, an event jointly organized by the Bintan Resort Cakrawala and the Changi Sailing Club. The regatta starts off with the Singapore to Bintan passage race on Friday April 3 as sailors will leave the Crow’s Nest at the Changi Sailing Club at 0930am. A dinner at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagoi Bay (Accommodation Partner) that evening welcomes the sailors to Bintan.

Upon arrival at Bandar Bentan Telani Marina (which is conveniently located beside the Ferry Terminal), sailors were greeted by a traditional indonesian martial arts performance “Silat”, followed by a door-stop press conference and awards presentation for the SG-Bintan Passage Race winners in each class. Congratulations to Dot Dot Dot and Skybird for winning in their respective categories.

On the morning of Saturday April 4^th there will be a skipper’s briefing at the Berakit Meeting Room, Four Points by Sheraton, Lagoi Bay. A total of six races (a mix of windward-leeward and passage races) are scheduled for this regatta for all classes with a maximum of four races scheduled per day for all classes. Races in Bintan will be held in the immediate waters off Bandar Bentan Telani and Doulos Phos, The Ship Hotel.

After racing is completed on the second day there will be a Jong Sailing Exhibition with sailors getting an opportunity to experience Lagoi Bay. The prize giving & closing Ceremony will be held at Warung Yeah, a unique Indonesian restaurant in the heart of Lagoi Bay.

There are nine sailing boats entered in total:

Majabelle (Beneteau Oceanis 411)
Spellbound (Beneteau Evasion 36)
Skybird (Dehler 34)
Summer Breeze (Maxi Fenix 28)
Slingshot (GK24 Westerly)
Oojoo (Dragonfly 25 sport)
Soluna 880 (Corsair 880)
Kesini (Beneteau First 40.7)
Dot Dot Dot (Corsair 28)

Jong Race Festival

Happening concurrently with the Bintan Regatta is the Jong Race Festival at Lagoi Bay. Jong are traditional wooden sailing vessels that were once common in the maritime trade networks of Indonesia. Nowadays, the Jong Race Festival is a celebration of the country’s seafaring traditions of the past, where participants gather to build and race mini-sailboats using boat-building techniques passed down from generation to generation. It is a beloved tradition that brings communities together. These races are typically held in coastal areas where the wind conditions are favorable. Participants, ranging from young children to seasoned adults, gather with their handcrafted boats, eager to test their skills.

Good luck and fair winds to all!

A Lap of Langkawi – March 2026

7th April 2026/in Community, Cruising, Sailing, Social/by CSC

Article by Basil Byrnes & Luke Doherty

We sailed Birregurra up to Thailand in late December with Kari and Otso from Jong Dee. After surviving the edge of Typhoon Senyar and sheltering up a river in Klang, I eventually made it to Port Takola near Krabi. Following our annual maintenance, we relaunched in early Feb and I sailed with some Aussie mates from Krabi to Phuket, checked out of Thailand and then down to Langkawi. We spent a few nights at anchorages around Langkawi and decided it was too good not to come back for some more cruising.

Following lengthy discussions in the Ubin bar, Edwin, Luke and Rana all agreed we should take advantage whilst the boat is in Langkawi and go up for 5 days cruising. We all caught the 1:15pm Scoot flight on 23^rd March, landing in Langkawi mid pm. Luke, Rana and Edwin headed to the Billion supermarket in Kuah for provisions and I continued to Royal Langkawi Yacht Club to set up the boat. The hull had been cleaned the day before and the boat is in excellent condition after the annual maintenance. We left the marina just before 6pm, determined to find an anchorage for the first night. We motor sailed and found a great spot before dark between Cenang Beach and Tepor Island, about 8-9NM west of RLYC. It was a great anchorage and there were fireworks and fire shows on the beach for entertainment and Luke cooked Italian sausages and vegies he had brought back all the way from Rome that week.

We set off next morning and the wind continued to build until we had 24kn apparent with a huge heel and hit 9.2kn at full tilt. Luke told me later he was considering a reef, but Edwin and I were like – yeah nah, lets just let the main sheet out a bit more and enjoy it while we can. We rode the wind around the island and anchored off the Datai hotel (SGD1,200/night) on the northwest of Langkawi. This is an excellent anchorage and great for a swim and lunch.

Later in the afternoon, we sailed and motor sailed as the wind subsided, around to the north east and the entrance to the signature Langkawi anchorage – the hold in the wall. Luke managed to navigate through the narrow opening with the boom tent still on and we anchored several hundred metres in, fully protected from all sides. The tourists’ boats depart after 5pm and you’re left with spectacular views and lots of eagles effortlessly riding the thermals. We had the entire anchorage to ourselves for the night and enjoyed a proper Singaporean chicken curry courtesy of Edwin. He has had way too much practice in the office kitchen at CSC over the years!

After a leisurely breakfast, we headed out and sailed through the channel below Pulau Langgun where we saw an eagle take a flying fish skimming across the surface at full speed. We continued to loop around the east and down to the southeast of Langkawi, anchoring in a narrow spot between the main island and Pulau Selat Riang-Riang and Teluk Ujong Buloh. This was another spectacular anchorage. We put out 40M of chain and another yacht came in later and anchored a sensible distance away. After Luke & Rana’s fabulous pasta dinner and red wine, we settled in for the night as the wind gusted up. The boat danced around quite a bit as the wind came in from various openings, but the anchor was well set. The boat behind got a bit anxious at 3am and flashed a light, concerned we were dragging. But Luke and Edwin were confident it was just the chain being extended in the gusts and we were holding well. The skipper was not even concerned enough to get out of bed! The Brazilian boat eventually went back to sleep, and all was fine.

The next morning, as we were departing the anchorage, a few dolphins were spotted nearby. We took the opportunity to explore several other fabulous anchorages for future reference including: Teluk Chawi, Teluk Ayer Tuan and the famous Fjords anchorage, behind Pulau Gubang Darat. We then had a great sail counterclockwise around Pulau Singa Besar and anchored in the calm water at Teluk Ketapang. Edwin tried his hand at trolling a lure for the last few miles, but didn’t manage to catch anything. Which was understandable given the great boat speed we were making.
Once the anchor was down in about 4-5M of water in a nice muddy bottom, Rana swam across to the beach while sundowners & snacks were prepared. During the sail, the skipper had made a pizza dough, and Luke baked another fabulous Birregurra pizza for dinner. Another fine bottle of Penfolds was found in the stores to compliment the pizza nicely.

After a good night’s rest at anchor we arose to a great sunrise, and had another excellent sail, tacking our way clockwise around Singa Besar and then all the way up the channel back to RLYC. We passed the port lateral buoy – Jerkom 1, where the navionics official notes said it was “a red buoy, but with white bird shit”. We guess they did not want us to mistake it for a safe water buoy

A quick wash down for the boat and we departed the marina in plenty of time to get the 3:40pm Scoot flight home. Upon landing, it was straight to CSC for members night, with lots of beers and sharing of pics, reminiscing a great week of sailing.
All in, our discovery circumnavigation of Langkawi clocked just close to 100nm over 5 days, cruising very comfortably on Birregurra.

Langkawi really is an under rated cruising ground. The best season is November to April as after that the rain really starts to build. We had excellent wind in the morning and later in the afternoons. Everything is relatively cheap and the duty free an added bonus. For sure I’ll be back for some more cruising soon.

CSC Easter Sunday Sailing & Egg Hunt 2026

7th April 2026/in Community, Social/by CSC

The Easter Day event held at Changi Sailing Club was a fun-filled and memorable experience for all participants, combining adventure on the water with festive Easter activities on land. A total of 15 sailors took part in the event, where they were introduced to a variety of boats, including three Pacers (with 3–7 sailors per boat), one ILCA, and one Topper.

The day began with hands-on learning as participants were taught how to rig the boats and understand how each one works. The sailors, especially the younger ones, were full of excitement and curiosity as they explored something new. They worked closely together in teams to get the boats ready, showing great teamwork, communication, and enthusiasm even before heading out to sea.

Once on the water, the real adventure began. The sailors launched from CSC and sailed to Loyang area and spent about an hour sailing together. Those on the Pacers took turns helming the boat, ensuring everyone had a chance to steer and experience being in control. The sea was filled with laughter and energy as the kids enjoyed splashing water at one another and playfully chasing other boats. It was not just a learning experience, but also a time of pure fun and bonding on the water.

After the sailing session, the excitement continued with a lively Easter egg hunt. A total of 80 eggs were hidden across four different areas around the club, including Changi Hall, Tekong Hall, the restaurant area, and the boat park. The children eagerly ran around searching high and low, with some choosing to team up and combine their eggs, while others preferred the challenge of collecting them on their own. The competitive spirit and excitement were clearly visible as everyone tried their best to gather as many eggs as possible. The champions of the egg hunt were Luella, Sumi, Afiya, Amelie, and Khalisha.

The fun did not stop there, as the event also featured an egg coloring contest. The children showcased their creativity through colorful and imaginative designs, each bringing their own unique ideas to life. The activity allowed them to express themselves artistically while enjoying the festive spirit of Easter. Khalisha stood out with her creativity and was awarded the champion of the coloring contest.

To wrap up the day, light refreshments were provided by George’s, giving everyone a chance to relax, recharge, and share their experiences with one another. The atmosphere was filled with smiles, laughter, and a strong sense of accomplishment.

Overall, the Easter Day event was a fantastic success. It provided a perfect balance of learning, teamwork, creativity, and fun. The children not only gained new sailing experiences but also created wonderful memories with their friends. Their excitement and happiness throughout the day truly reflected how enjoyable and meaningful the event was for everyone involved.

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