The Sailing started in the afternoon with participants arriving at Raffles Marina to change up and to board the sail boats. With a little quick safety briefing from our very own two skippers, we quickly went onboard and did a quick understanding of the boats, terminologies and roles responsibilities.
Within 15 mintues we were off the ropes and started motoring our way out of the marina. Once we were out, the first 20 mintues was covered up with trainings on wind direction, how the boat works and terminologies. The participants were real quick to pick up the skills, and we did our tack trainings! Tacking is the action done for the boats to go on a “zick-zack” path to cut the wind on a thirty degree angle towards wind to go on a smooth sailing.
When a boat is tacked, not only should the skipper move the wheels for the rudder, but the entire sail will move from one end to another. This means the entire team has to release the ropes on one end and to tighten the other; this comes with coordination and communication. With much practice, the teams started to tack faster and faster. The timing was brilliant and the speed of the boat did not drop too much after every tack. The hardest part was to furl the genoa (front sail) in to bring it over to the other side. Now the rope used to furl is comparatively small with the others, therefore takes more strengths, and sometimes, more people!
Two gentlemen trying to furl the genoa in!
With someone furling the genoa, another few had to pull in the genoa towards the other direction, and with the strong winds, it was almost impossible if it was not for the team’s enthusiasm and efforts put together!
Three gentlemen trying their all to pull the genoa as close to the centre of the deck as possible!
Of course that was not the end of the task, since it is The Sailing Challenge! Teams were tasked to open up the second sail which was at the back called the Mizzen. As we were sailing and getting good at the tacks, teams wanted to move faster, therefore the call was given from the skipper to open up our Mizzen. Now, the sail had to be brought up while still traveling and this required loads of effort, balance and communication. As the sail sheets were pulled higher, wind started to catch the sail and it became heavier and heavier. With enough manpower, the sail eventually went all the way to the top!
Finally all three sail were up; the boat started to pick up phase, and traveled at an average of 6 knots. This was not the end as, there was a new challenge awaiting the team. It was seemed as though; every moment they overcame a challenge a new one popped up. This time round, the daylight was going down and the teams had to move faster to get closer to Sentosa before it became too dark out in the sea. Eventually the teams made it straight out and reached Onedegree15 at 2200 hrs. Everyone still had energy to jump off board and to give each other a hi-5! What was the most exciting part of the programme was asked, and everyone without fail shouted “Sailing!”
Our Sail is up, and ready for the next challenge!
Sign up now and try this new and exciting experience with your own team today!
Get ready to furl Sail is up, and ready for the next challenge!
Sign up now and try this new and exciting experience with your own team today!
Get ready to furl Sail is up, and ready for the next challenge!
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