By Declan Cheung (Batch ‘25 Captain), Mark Theseira (Batch ‘25 Vice Captain) and Hayley Fang (Batch 25’ Sailor)

To some, venturing into the middle of the ocean might sound daunting and intimidating, but for a sailor, it’s just another day out at sea. Close your eyes and try to picture a sailboat. If you envision a white boat with a sail, then you’re spot on! It’s crucial to note—something very important to us—that sailing is not the same as canoeing or dragon boating. If you ever find yourself in a debate with a sailor, this is one comparison you definitely want to avoid.

So, how does sailing work? Well, there are three key aspects to the sport: Control, Balance, and Direction.

First, we use a long rope called the mainsheet to control the sail, which catches the wind and propels us forward. We also have a rudder, a long piece of fibreglass at the back of the boat, which helps us steer. Next, to maintain balance, we use a strap that we hook onto our legs to lean out of the boat and balance it—a manoeuvre known as hiking. And finally, we constantly need to determine the best course to maximise our speed and complete the race as swiftly as possible, all while making quick decisions to overtake other sailors. It’s a true multitasking exercise for the sailors!

There are many boat classes or types, but our CCA specialises in the Laser Radial (ILCA 6), a type of single-handed boat. In a regatta (a ranked competition made up of many races), one race typically takes 50 to 90 minutes to complete. There are the much larger double-handed boat classes too, such as the 29er, which our teammate, Hayley Fang, sails and can attest to how fun sailing with a partner is!

As a sport highly dependent on weather conditions, our training is both lengthy and challenging, as we rely on favourable wind conditions to sail. However, strong winds aren’t always a blessing; the stronger the wind, the more we need to ‘hike’ to keep the boat from tipping over. Additionally, sailing upwind while maintaining balance for extended periods—sometimes over 30 minutes—is no easy task. It requires engaging both our core and legs, as we use almost our entire body to stay out of the boat while also pulling the mainsheet with all our strength!

Imagine sitting under the blazing sun, moving at the pace of a snail, and being unable to do much to speed things up. After a “heated” (pun intended) race, there’s nothing better than jumping into the water to cool down!

Lastly, strategic thinking is crucial in making a good sailor. Similar to how Jack Sparrow charts his course through the Seven Seas, we also take into consideration many ever-changing elements such as water current and pressure spots, where wind is stronger, so that we can complete the course as swiftly as possible.

The team: 

We train three times a week: one session of physical training and games, and two on-water sessions. If you’re wondering why we’re not on boats at school, it’s because we can’t train in a pool. Instead, we train at the National Sailing Centre at East Coast Park, usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Training aside, how can you spot a sailor? Apart from our eye-catching CCA jackets featuring a bright gold Sailing logo, you might notice our distinctive tan lines on our wrists and faces, often appearing after a weekend of training under the sun. The most reliable way to identify a sailor, however, is through a vibe check. Independent yet team-oriented, sailors are some of the most chill people you’ll meet. Most importantly, we are a tight-knit group, with just 10 of us from both levels in the school.

Competitions:

There are about 10 competitions each year, but the primary event we aim for is the National School Games, typically held from late April to early May. While sailing is generally an individual sport and each sailor competes alone in most events, the NSGs are different. At this competition, we combine our individual results to compete as a team, with the goal of having the highest overall rankings for our school. Fun fact: RI has been on a winning streak since 2011, and we’ve held the challenge trophy ever since!

In addition to national competitions, many of our sailors frequently represent Singapore in the national team at international events, competing in major regattas such as the Asian Sailing Championships and the European Sailing Championships. For instance, our own 2024 batch Year 5 sailor, Isaac Goh, recently competed in the SEA Games and won a gold medal! However, since many of these competitions occur during the school term, balancing schoolwork with sailing commitment is essential.

What to look out for in 2025?

The National School Games are scheduled for April 2025. Although the sailing centre is a bit far from school, we hope Rafflesians will come down to East Coast Park to watch our races and cheer us on! On race days, sailors are usually well-fed with a variety of delicious food to refuel, including pizza and the crowd favourite—cupcakes! A big shout-out to the parents and our teachers for preparing these too.

In addition, the team organises the Sailing Experience Programme. If you’ve read this far and still think sailing is easy, or if you simply want to experience a day on the water, keep an eye out for this upcoming programme to sign up!

Convinced that sailing is one of the best CCAs to join? If so, we’d love for you to be part of our team! There will be CCA trials to go through before joining. If you have no prior experience, fret not–please approach our teachers to enquire more!

Last but not least, as our team motto goes, ‘开心就好’ (translated as: ‘happy can already’), the most important aspect of sailing… is having fun! So hoist your sails and sheet in your mainsheet—you are in for an exciting ride!