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SMU SAILINGFebuary 2012

With school work piled to the brim, February is perhaps one of the busiest period in SMU but SMU sailors don't call it quits. With numerous activities and trainings lined utill April don't worry about not seeing your fellow sailing friends!

SMU Sailing's AGM

8  Feb  was  an  important  day  marked  down  by  genera4ons  of  SMU  sailors  past  and  present  as  a  day  to  keep  empty.  Yes,  it  was  SMU  Sailing’s  Annual  General  Mee4ng.  Curry  puffs  and  sotong  balls  were  the  catch  of  the  day  as  a  record  turnout  of  sailors  were  kept  sa4sfied  with  the  overflowing  food  and  beverage.  In  the  aIermath  of  Straits  RegaKa,  it  was  perhaps  heartening  that  so  many  freshmen  turned  up,  even  too  enthusias4cally  it  might  be  said!  

During  the  presenta4on,  the  current  exco  members  highlighted  the  goal  for  2012  –  to  improve  the  development  of  sailors  in  the  club  in  match  racing  and  fleet  racing.  Big  plans  are  also  to  be  expected  during  the  course  of  the  year  as  the  new  SB3s  are  finally  ready  to  be  put  to  the  waters.  For  those  who  missed  out  on  the  AGM,  please  feel  free  to  browse  the  slides  aKached.

Christening of the SB3s

Valen4ne’s  Day  has  always  been  a  notorious  busy  day  for  SMU  sailors.  Whether  it  be  rushing  assignments,  baking  and  cooking  in  the  kitchen  or  s4rring  shit,  our  sailors  always  know  how  to  keep  themselves  occupied  on  this  special  day.

This  year,  it  was  decided  that  the  Christening  of  the  newly  acquired  SB3s  of  both  Singapore  Sailing  and  SMU  would  be  done  on  this  momentous  day  and  right  at  the  Bay.  Prior  to  the  event,  much  prepara4on  had  been  completed  by  both  SingSail  and  SMU  Sailing  with  the  sailors  most  notably  running  down  and  providing  some  extra  hands  on  several  days  as  part  of  their  gym  workout.  

The  occasion  was  graced  by  many  dis4nguished  guests  including  SMU  President  Arnold  De  Meyer,  SingSail  President  Dr  Ben  Tan  and  URA  Group  Director  Mdm  Fung  Siew  Leng.  The  apex  of  the  event  was  perhaps  the  uncorking  of  the  champagne  and  christening  of  the  boats  

by  Mdm  Fung  in  front  of  an  enthusias4c  and  applauding  audience  with  the  first  boat  aptly  named  “Mata  Ikan”.

Following  this  event,  sailors  can  probably  expect  a  lot  more  ac4on  on  the  SB3s  and  at  the  Bay  especially  with  the  close  proximity  to  school.  We’ve  already  seen  sailors  going  for  a  sail  on  the  boats  on  a  number  of  occasions  preceding  the  event  so  LOOK  FORWARD  TO  MORE  ACTION  AT  THE  BAY  AND  KEEP  A  SET  OF  SAILING  GEAR  IN  SCHOOL/  WORK!

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Match Racing Training Camp Perth

Break  weeks  in  SMU  are  tradi4onally  spent  doing  all  the  overdue  assignments,  finishing  all  the  project  works  not  done  or  just  bumming  around.  Not  for  eight  of  our  sailors  though!

The  University  Games  Team  of  Chris,  Shaun,  Calvin,  Samuel  and  Alexi  (Mens)  and  Daniella,  Denise,  Andrea,  Zixian  and  Gwen  (Ladies)  travelled  to  a  faraway  land  in  Perth  to  get  some  leveling  up  ahead  of  a  busy  training  schedule  for  the  University  Games  in  France  this  year.  

For  those  who  think  sailing  in  Aussieland  is  all  beer  and  cheers  (well  it  is  partly),  you  couldn’t  be  more  far  away  from  the  truth.  Sailing  on  the  thirty-­‐six  feet  Founda4ons  means  that  the  main  and  jib  are  so  big  that  the  loads  are  just  crazily  out  of  point,  and  we’re  not  even  geing  to  the  spinnaker  yet!

During  our  training  s4nt  there,  we  were  privileged  to  be  coached  by  Skip  Lissiman,  a  match  racing  veteran  and  a  former  America’s  Cup  Winner,  and  Adele,  another  experienced  Australian  match  racing  skipper.  Furthermore,  visits  by  Keith  Swinton,  skipper  of  Team  Black  Swan  on  the  World  Match  Racing  Tour,  and  John  Stanley,  and  interna4onal  umpire  of  America’s  Cup,  also  enabled  the  team  to  learn  more  from  the  different  experiences  of  these  world  class  professionals.  

On  a  lighter  note,  every  trip  has  its  fair  share  of  happenings  and  mistakes.  Mistakes  need  to  be  atoned.  Debts  are  never  forgoKen  even  if  you’re  down  and  drunk!  Umpire  John  Stanley  men4oned  that  the  current  racing  rules  would  be  updated  this  year.  Indeed,  it  

probably  needs  some  addi4ons,  to  define  what  on  earth  “WEIGHTS  DOWN”  is,  in  case  MVP  Yarhmeh  goes  flying  into  a  squat  in  the  middle  of  a  race.  And  on  a  day  when  the  Arrogant  Frog  came  to  court,  one  half  of  the  Saints  connec4on  did  a  Leonard,  alas  all  evidence  was  lost,  or  was  it?  “What  happens  on  Tour  stays  on  Tour.”  (Yarhmeh,  2012).

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This  year’s  Waikiki  was  held  on  26th  February  at  Siloso  Beach.  The  day  began  as  a  glorious  Sunday  morning  and  our  team  of  17  sailors,  seniors  and  juniors  (though  mostly  juniors)  headed  out  to  Sentosa  all  ready  for  war!  

This  year’s  beach  cup  involved  jous4ng  and  tug-­‐of-­‐war.  As  in  previous  years,  our  sailors  walked  away  from  the  Beach  Cup  proud  this  year,  puing  up  a  tough  fight  against  our  Handball,  Track  and  Field,  and  Muay  Thai  compe4tors.

Despite  being  dras4cally  outweighed  (literally)  by  our  compe4tors  in  tug-­‐of-­‐war  due  to  the  lack  of  some  of  our  most  crucial  members,  this  was  the  best  chance  for  our  freshmen  to  showcase  their  dedica4on  to  the  team!  As  the  game  progressed,  we  witnessed  several  epic  moments  (faces,  rather)    

(Note  to  junior  guys  though:  It’s  4me  to  bulk  up  and  put  on  some  weight….)

Of  course,  we  also  had  fun  with  the  fringe  ac4vi4es  such  as  bossaball,  fencing  and  archery.  It  was  all  in  all  a  fun-­‐filled  day  for  us  sailors.  Watch  out  for  us  at  Waikiki  2013!    

Waikiki 2012

Happening soon

USL  Awards:  

13th  Mar  7pm  SMU  T-­‐Junc4on

Theme:  Bollywood

Reef  Rega/a

SMU  Sailing  will  be  teaming  up  with  Barclays  to  race  in  this  event.

Dates:  17  &  18  Mar

12-­‐6pm

Email  PQ  if  you’re  interested  to  sail!