Youth sailors learn from world’s best at Extreme Sailing Series Asia

Contributed by Ronda Ng. Pictures by REDintern Tan Jon Han/Red Sports.

Marina Bay, Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 14 of Singapore's young sailors got a treat as they went out to sea with some of the world's best sailors at the Marina Reservoir on the fourth day of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia. The local sailors spent the morning on board Masirah and the China Team, picking up tips from Olympians, Leigh McMillan, Thierry Barot and Singapore's very own Tan Wearn Haw.

This was the first experience of its kind for the local sailors and they were thrilled to be able to be sailing alongside their more experienced peers. The twenty-four sailors in the Extreme Sailing Series Asia have between them three double Olympic gold medals, twenty-four World Championship titles, nine America's Cup events, eight Round the World navigations and one hundred-and-fourteen National Championship titles.

Griselda Khng, 2006 Optimist female world champion and 2009 ISAF Youth World Championship bronze medallist, said, "This is a totally different boat to what I'm used to and it was so amazing and inspiring to sail with the sailors. The boat is so much faster and more exciting. There is an adrenaline rush especially when the crew is counting on you to steer the boat proper. I hope I'll get an opportunity to race on board the Extreme 40s if and when they return to Singapore"

Mr Low Teo Ping, President of the Singapore Sailing Federation and Vice-President of the International Sailing Federation gave the event the thumbs up. "It is a big treat for the young sailors to sail on the Extreme 40s. The sailors are used to dinghies which are relatively slower though just as precise. I'm sure the sailors will remember today's experience for a long time."

He added, "We look forward to the event being held here in Singapore in the not so distant future. We like it especially that we are able to sail right here in the Marina Reservoir. It really brings sailing right to the city, to its people and there is a good aspect of entertainment with the Extreme 40s and with our sailors being part of the action, it will really give sailing in Singapore a big push."

The Extreme Sailing Series Asia
The inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Asia was launched in October 2009. The 2009/10 Series will visit Hong Kong (November 20-24), Singapore (December 11-15) and Muscat, Oman (February 1-5 2010).

The Boats
Designed by Tornado Sport in 2005, these 40-ft catamarans have taken the sailing world by storm. The boats are extremely light, weighing the same as a Mini Cooper, but hugely overpowered with a sail area the size of a tennis court, meaning they can race at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour and "fly" a hull in just eight knots of wind.