The Tide has turned - A Boater's lament

I am writing this with a heavy heart and a bit of salt in my eyes. I've been boating in Singapore waters since 1970, age 10. By 15, I owned my own little boat, a sampan with a 4hp Evinrude outboard. I would go wherever the waves brought me. Back then the sea felt open and free. Today it feels fenced up. I no longer enjoy boating here. It has been 50 years of enjoyable boating. The last 10 years, I felt the walls closing in with more and more prohibitions and restrictions. Perhaps necessary with a grwoing city state, but altogether sad to see the passing of the last freedoms that can be enjoyed in Singapore. Leaving Port Singapore used to be simple. Now you need to flag your vessel. My SZ registration isn't enough. The afloat CIQ at Sister's Island and Chanbi Buoy are gone.You must book CIQ at designated marinas. The cost has gone up, $300-$400 in agent fees per boat just to depart from Singapore. The sea used to be where we go far from the madding crowd. Now it's a maze of permits, high berthing fees and no-go zones. The last frontier is no more. The time has come to seek new waters. You can't fight the tide.