I love boats and I love handling them. I am comfortable handling any boat from 8 feet to 300 feet. Sometimes I think the larger the vessel, the easier it is to handle them. Hence when I has the opportunity to train new boat owners to handle all aspects of their boat, I jump at the opportunity to spend time coaching them and at the same time, enjoy the boat. It has been my desire to have the pleasure of handling every pleasure vessel in Singapore. I just enjoy the activity immensely. I am also glad that many new yachts come with both Bow & Stern Thrusters nowadays, even small 36 footers. It is so much more boat handling friendly and new owners only need a few lessons to build confidence in handling their new toy.
Coming aboard for the first time & meeting the owner
Making boating fun is first priority
Briefing before the Sea Training Sortie
Disconnecting the shore cable as part of the Pre Sailing Checks
Starting the generator & turning on the circuit breakers
The view from the Berth. Learning how to slip of the berth first
I probably started boating in 1969, when I was 9 years old off Changi beach. My uncle Jeffrey was a keen angler and he sometimes brought me fishing on weekends. We would hire a wooden sampan and row to a nearby kelong to tie up. The fish we caught were small Pasir-Pasir on our hand-lines. I remember the water being shinning green. I loved those times. I wasn't afraid of being on the water as I had learnt to swim when I was 5 yrs old. My step father Derrick Coupland made it mandatory that all the children could swim.
Boating to me then was pure freedom. I enjoyed the outdoors immensely; the sun, sea and surf appealed to my adventurous spirit. Hence it was no surprise that I owned my own wooden sampan when I was 15. It was a 18 footer with a flat transom to mount an outboard motor. As I couldn't afford an outboard yet, I just used the oars to propel the vessel. From that humble beginning, I gradually advanced to ski boats, cuddy cabins and eventually to cabin cruisers. Not surprising, my early years led me to sign up with the Singapore Navy when it was time to serve National Service in 1978. In all I was a regular serviceman for 15yrs and a Reservists for another 17yrs.
I guess I will always be a boater as long as I live. I saw this American video about what boating means to most people, which I can relate to well. Enjoy it:
If you can't afford the real thing, it's probably fair compromise to buy the miniature model, especially if its skillfully crafted. I came across these models on the Captain's Models website recently. They look incredibly real.
It seems I have no appetite for beer when I'm ashore. Strange but its probably only unique to me. I don't feel the urge nor the desire to open a bottle even after a nice dinner. The moment I set sail and the lines are cast off, that first bottle of beer; usually Hoegarden, tastes heavenly. A glass of red wine is like sweet nectar. The hotter the weather at sea, the more beer I drink.
The moment I arrive back in the Marina, my appetite for a beer diminishes and I stick with Chlorophyll or just water. Cheers... (I just wanted to pen this down & read it again 10 years from now)
Tony Fleming, used to work at Grand Banks building these classics before venturing on his own to build his own brand of Fleming Yachts. The result is a well built Motor Yacht for the well informed seafarer. In my books, it's simply perfect. All 55 feet of her is so well thought of, its amazing that she has a 2,000 nautical mile range without sacrificing all the comforts of home. I love the Pilot House with the Portuguese bridge, its so very practical and friendly when navigating a congested channel at night. Everything about a Fleming is practical and incredibly beautiful.
This video depicts Tony Fleming's venture to Alaska. Simply breathtaking.
The Final Frontier may be space, but that vast vestige is out of reach of the common man. Not so with the Last Frontier, the Seas; best discovered by boat. The Oceans and Seas are often described as Inner Space. It may be that we know more about our Galaxy than we know about the innumerable secrets of Inner Space. The obvious reason is we cannot see through it and probably will never be able to for a long time to come. Until technology is about to penetrate the darkness of the deep oceans, there will be many more secrets to be uncovered before we even begin to unravel the mysteries of the Oceans within planet earth.
I checked the 2 bubu today, We usually dive down to a depth of about 12m where the bubu is placed. Today, we caught 3 groupers, golden trevallis and lots of good eating reef fish.
This 3kg Tiger Grouper ate all the small fish in the Bubu. The weight gain was obvious.
Even with the obvious pollution, the reefs in Singapore continue to survive
Too small for the cooking pot... caught & released
