Buoyant beginnings

At the brink of an extraordinary beginning, an extraordinary adventure; what lies in wait for our Keppel ambassadors onboard Uniquely Singapore as they embark on a journey of a lifetime?

On 27 June, the Keppel team reported at Gosport, Portsmouth, United Kingdom for the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race training.

Joining international crew from all walks of life – diverse careers, age, nationality, languages, with and sans yachting experience, not to mention personalities and idiosyncrasies – our Keppel ambassadors are plunging into an almost month-long training programme onboard the 68-footer Clipper to emerge sea-worthy, competent sailors.

One thing will unite all these adventurers hailing from far and wide – reaching the destination, winning even, for the team and for themselves.

For the Keppel six, the inspiration that drives them: Can Do! for self, family, team and to do Keppel and Singapore proud.

Even before training began, a sense of solidarity has started to form and bond the Keppel team.

From sharing personal aspirations and quirks, bargaining for best equipment prices and tips on choosing the right gear and getting ready – the team has pulled together as one.

Team Keppel is set to go.


ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL

Rallying around the Keppel ambassadors are fellow Keppelites who have been generous with words of encouragement and the supportive pat on the back.

Keppel ambassadors from the Clipper 05-06 Race, Tony Leong and Keith Teo took time out of their busy schedules to share crucial information on training and the race.

Ex-Round-the-Worlder Tan Thong Meng from Marina at Keppel Bay, while undergoing his own training in the UK, made extra efforts to answer questions from the Keppel team via email.

Support from their superiors, colleagues and management have certainly helped our Keppel ambassadors prepare themselves mentally, emotionally and physically for the task ahead.


HOME AWAY FROM HOME

A little girl too, will not forget Hizam, even though he will be missing her fifth birthday.

With the help of his supportive wife, Hizam has been preparing his two little ones for his physical absence.

One innovative idea that Hizam has acted on was to take photographs of himself in various expressions. His wife will use them as cue cards to remind their children of “Happy Dad” or “Angry Dad” when they are good or when they misbehave.

Truly, family support has certainly been an important pillar.

Mothers nagging about the inevitable lack of nutritional food and dangers of poor hygiene onboard the boat; fathers eager to discuss the prospect of night fishing; siblings offering temporary financial support in the form of supplementary credit cards (to be repaid of course!) – are just some of the ways in which families of our Keppel team have shown their care and concern.

All this support and tender loving care will go a long way to keep our team spirit buoyant.


UNIQUELY SINGAPORE TRAVELS!

Since the launch of Uniquely Singapore in London on 13 May 2007, the beautiful red Clipper has been kept busy making pit-stops in various places, admired by crowds everywhere.

She was in Portsmouth, Gosport before setting off for the west coast of Scotland. Along with Glasgow Clipper, she took part in the prestigious Tarbert Regatta there.

The pair then had a quick stop in the Isle of Man in the middle of the Irish Sea, and was later shown off in Dublin whilst the Docklands Maritime Festival was ongoing over the weekend of 1-4 June.

It won’t be long before you can catch Uniquely Singapore at Marina at Keppel Bay in January 2008 when she stops over in Singapore!

Master of the Sea

A former secondary school teacher, 30-year-old Tan Thong Meng joined Singapore’s newest and most exciting marina development project, Marina at Keppel Bay after being a circumnavigator onboard Uniquely Singapore in the Clipper 05-06 Race.

During those ten months, Meng as he is more affably known, demonstrated outstanding seamanship.

A personable, reliable and capable crew member as well as a strategic racing sailor, he was given the important role of the Watch Leader, responsible for the safe and efficient running of the yacht, supporting the then-Skipper, Richard Falk.

Less than a year since the last race has ended, Meng has since spent four months in the UK training and has successfully attained his Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster’s Instructor’s certificates awarded by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).

The RYA certifications are the one of the most credible, world-class yachting qualifications recognised internationally. With the certification, Meng is officially qualified to skipper yachts up to 24m as well as to instruct and train others to sail.

On the challenges he faced, Meng shared, “The exams were very demanding. I was expected to demonstrate both technical knowledge as well as leadership ability. From weather systems, safety procedures, to boat engines – there is a lot of technical knowledge that a skipper has to know at the back of his hand.

“What is more important is the ability to gain the trust and respect of your crew, to have them feel convinced, safe and assured in decisions that you make. You cannot learn this from the books, like learning how to read the different kinds of clouds and impending weather conditions.”

From what we hear of his “quiet competence” from Richard Falk, Meng must have impressed his examiners as he passed with flying colours. Richard commended him for having “demonstrated the same commitment and determination that he exhibited during his ten months as a highly valued crew member on the Uniquely Singapore.”

Meng’s achievement is significant as few experienced sailors have been able to pass either of the assessments; and fewer have been able to achieve both in less than two years.

Keppel Corporation’s Executive Chairman Mr Lim Chee Onn sent a personal congratulatory letter to him, stating, “I am proud to hear of your outstanding achievement in passing
the Yacht aster Instructor assessment with RYA so soon after acquiring the Yacht Master Offshore qualification.

“I understand that you are among the few who have managed to pass this grueling and demanding test. Well done for displaying the Keppel Can Do! spirit in your endeavours!

“We hope you will be able to share your knowledge and passion for sailing and in the process encourage and motivate others as well.”

Currently, Meng is on a work-experience placement as a training mate with Clipper Ventures to train the crew for the Clipper 07-08 Race before returning to Singapore in July/August.