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In
sailing there always is the factor of luck. Any sailor
will tell you that. I feel I have been a very lucky sailor
indeed. I have been fortunate enough to have been an active
sailing member of the Yangon Sailing Club for over twelve
years. My luck started when I met some one back in 1989
who told me about the club. I was in Myanmar to start
building the first Yacht for my company. Paul Broadbent,
a sailing member had invited me to go sailing. I decided
to go and check out the club before hand. What I found
was a small, but well established Sailing Club. It was
an in beautiful and peaceful setting and the Club House
and Bar had one of those boat club atmospheres that made
me feel right at home. The basic layout of the Club was
not that |
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is now, however, the veranda area and club house were
smaller and there was no closed off office space or sunset
viewing veranda. The boats were moored against the grass
banks fronting the starting tower and observation post.
There were only about six or seven Sharpies at the time
and about five Raters that were sailable. I became a temporary
member for the day paying only 50 kyat and took an old
Sharpie for a sail around the Lake. From that moment I
fell in love with the Lake and the Club. I was hooked. |
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A
lot of the members and sailors now were not around in
those days so they don't know the difference. Let me explain.
There were not much FE funds or materials in those days
so the boats were in rough shape. There was a hard core
of enthusiastic sailors. Races were Saturdays Raters and
Sundays Sharpies with fleet races the same as now. But
there were no optimists or 420s or 470s or lasers. Crews
had to be fit because races were not only about sailing
around the bouys but also keeping the boat afloat. Crews
had to man the sheets, hike out, and constantly bail.
It was hard work but great fun. I was also lucky at this
time. Although I had much sailing experience |
| before coming to
the club I had done virtually no racing. I learned everything
I know from some of the best sailors at the club.In the
early days I sailed with Horace and Sandaw. I fine tuned
with the gold medallist Tun Tun Kyaw and his brother Aung
Aung Kyaw. I also got good pointers from Naing Moe. In
these early days I raced Sharpies and crewed for Raters.
I learned a lot and was one of the top contenders for
best Sharpy B Sailor. And there was some good competition
in those days. I am sure it is my learning experiences
from those days that accounts for my ability to still
compete strongly amongst the young sailors today. |
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In 1991-92
there were a number of oil companies which started working
in Myanmar. There was a new infusion of members from these
companies. Derek Shields, who had experience as a boat
builder and as blue water sailing, became Captain of Boats.
Using the ability of these new companies to get imported
materials into Myanmar and some funds from new membership
as well as donation of equipment and material such as
glue, marine ply, proper paints and fastenings, new boats
were built and the old boats were put into shape. I was
building three yachts for export at the time and I was
able to help supply sikaflex, and silicon bronze fastenings
from the |
import right. There
was a new energy injected in the club. After the departure
of many of these oil companies and the loss of most of
the expert members there still was this momentum and the
Club kept growing. Thanks to Michael Moe Myint as Commodore
and his dynamic Committee members there was a surge of
energy to dramatically improve the club. The porch was
expanded, the Club House was expanded, and even the island
was expanded by reclamation of some of the beach front.
The boats were maintained, new boats were purchased or
do0nated including Lasers, 470s 420s, Fireballs and Optimist.
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Optimists Class sailing clinic was introduced. Families
were encouraged to join bringing an infusion of young
sailors. Michael brought in professional coaches and teams
started to be sent to international Sailing Events. As
a result of all this energy and drive and the continued
support and planning of Michael, we saw the Myanmar National
Sailing team take 3 Gold and 1 bronze and the SEA games
in Kuala Lumpur. Right now, as I write this article, the
National Team is preparing for the Busan Asian Games.
I have done some study of the history of the club. In
the late 1950s and early 60s there was a strong international
showing by Myanmar in Melbourne, Australia and again in
the Olympic Games in Rome culminating with the SEAP Games
being held in Yangon with Sailing including races in Raters
and Sharpies. Thus again, 50 years later the Club has
reached a pinnacle, providing the Nation with Sailors
who have done so well in international competitions. For
me, as the longest standing active expert member, I look
at all this activity with a kind of affection mixed with
admiration and pride. I must admit, sometimes I miss some
of the old times. I have seen two generations of sailors
grow and leave. I am one of the only sailors from the
old group of Rater racers. Sometimes I have to smile when
I race and see the young sailors I am against. I can remember
most of them when they literally were running around my
knees. But now they are strong and tough and competitive
as well as very experienced and skilled. It is also a
matter of luck, as well as maintaining a good boat, good
crew and twelve years experience that I can race with
these young sailors and still be competitive. But for
me really, I feel most lucky when I can come down to the
club; take a boat out myself; come back to the club house
and with a drink in hand watch another sunset. That is
when I can sit back and contemplate the luck of the sailor. |
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