top of the gulf – the photo post

So now we’re back from Thailand and straight into 470 training because our coach, Craig, is in town. Just a couple of photos from TOGR to share. The number of cameras out on water was mind-boggling – I suppose it helps when you can bring them out on the boat in waterproof bags and there’s a cabin (so-called the ‘pit’) to store them!

This is the Platu we chartered, ‘The Weasel’.

Though by the end of the regatta, the stickers were peeling somewhat, to make us ‘The Wesel’:

My awesome Platu crew – Karene, (Me), Jun Jia, Lip Hang, Siobhan, and Winfrid.

Aboard “The Stingray”, sailed by two of our schoolmates and three exchange students from UWA.

And the full team:

3 Platus and a cruiser = a lot of sailors!

gearing up for thailand

I finally remembered to bring the camera out on water today to have some pictures to brighten things up around here.

This weekend we’ve been spending long hours on water, with keelboat training in the morning and regular training in the afternoon.

Although I’m helming, Siobhan has to take the tiller for me when I fiddle about with the engine getting out of the harbour. (Though, obviously, I was fiddling more with the camera at this particular moment.)

Helming on a keelboat rocks. You get to sit and steer and watch everyone else work, like when they take down the sail. Haha.

We leave on Wednesday. Hope the protests in Bangkok die down some!

SMU Sailing rocks my old TK socks.

Today Dawn and I sailed with our Platu team for Top of the Gulf Regatta this late April-May. My first time crewing in a Platu and it wasn’t too bad. I went up to TOGR in 2008 with an all girls team as their helm. This time we have 2 guys and 4 girls. We’re excited..

Dawn: Helm
Bun: Mainsheet/Spin
Lips: Jib/Spin
Karene: Pit/(Saikang)
Junjia: Mast
Winfrid: Bow

We have to admit that we haven’t contributed as much as we would like to, to the SMU Sailing Team since joining SMU because we’re so busy with training and school… but the team is always so supportive and enthusiastic and I love working with them. So this year, we’ve finally made time to sail TOGR with the team. Oh that reminds me of the surprise-welcome-us-home appearance at the airport when we came back from ASC! THANKS GUYS!

We had a “secret adventure” out at sea off Raffles Marina today that I’m proud to say, we conquered with a bit of brain and breeze. It’s so fun to sail KEELboat.

The national Hobie16 guys will also be at TOGR for their Asian Games Selections, so we can keep up with their races live while we’re there.

Link to the TOG website: http://www.topofthegulfregatta.com/

Next Platu training, after exams.
Next 470 training, after OSIM triathlon (NSC closed).