Going are the sails... Chapter 5 (the end)

This is the last of the 5 chapters which adam has promised on his experience at the east coast sailing center which was due to be closed on the 30th April 2005 after two decades of operation as one of Singapore's prime sailing center. After several different approaches of highlighting the windsurfers' concerns about the venue, I've recieved good news that the license for their operation as a sailing center is extended for another four months. What will happen thereafter? Its up to YOU as readers to make a case for it.

enjoy!
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On the morning of April 13, 2006, the Strait Times
reporter Marcel came down to write a story about the
closing down of this beloved centre which had been a
sanctuary for many Singaporeans and expatriates,
boasting once a membership of 1400. The wind was
blowing hard from the southwest and the sea was choppy
with whitecaps that day. I asked Marcel to come down
because I feel this part of east coast is dear to many
hearts and cannot be bulldozed without a cry. That
morning, at 930am, I brought him out to sea on my
laser sailboat “Anne”. He came unprepared but was
sporting enough to risk drenching his formal attire.
The sea was rough and he eventually had to interview
people in wet pants. By Divine Providence, the
relevant people were at the beach that day. People
like Robert Teng, the oldest lifeguard, and Jason Lim,
who build East Coast Sailing centre from a wasteland
with 3 other windsurfing enthusiasts in 1980. The
current management came down as well and the article
was published the following day on page 28 of Straits
Times Home section. The article generated interest and
a moving letter from young windsurfers Kristen and
Fiona was presented in ST interactive Forum website 4
days later. Many lament over the closing down of a
place so deep in sentimental value for the windsurfing
and sailing community. The older sailors and
windsurfers started their sea sports here. There is a
wonderful story in the sands of this beach; of how a
small group of windsurfers turn it to the “Bali of
Singapore” in the early 1990s and brought people from
all walks of life together for the love of the sport
and the romance of the sea.

Ann first knew her husband and learned windsurfing
from him at East Coast Sailing centre. Her husband was
a famous national windsurfer who won many
competitions. When her husband died, Ann threw his
ashes at the sea around KETA buoy. KETA is now known
to many windsurfers as “Kelly’s Eternal Training
Area”. Ann could not overcome her grief because she
loved her husband dearly. She gave up windsurfing
altogether and tried hard to live her lonely life but
it was difficult. Robert took Ann out to sea in his
rescue boat to help her overcome her grief but it was
too overwhelming and every time, for the past years,
she cried whenever she was near eastcoast waters. She
lives on for her two sons and helped out in a church
support group for widows. Somehow the hand of God
brought me to the same church as Ann and we bummed to
each other many times at Tampines to Orchard Road. On
the last BBQ night of the sailing centre on 22nd April
2006, I met her again. That night she showed nostalgic
pictures from Betty’s album, of herself, her husband
Kelly and her son, Kelly Junior, in 1983. I felt
compelled to ask her to come with me on my sailboat
the next day. I don’t know why I asked her to come but
on that Sunday afternoon, she came and was surprised
to find that my boat was named “Anne”. We went out as
far as Bedok buoy towards KETA buoy. She asked me
whether I got over the girl whom I broke off a 15
months relationship with. She knew the girl as she
attended the same church. I told her I had never felt
so relieved and liberated. Since Jan 2005, when I
started spending my weekends with “Anne”,
the sea filled my shrivelled heart and taught me to
love again. Ann shared with me her story. We came
back to the beach in the late afternoon. She walked
across to the lookout shelter and borrowed a
windsurfing board from Robert. On 23rd April at about
5pm, Ann started windsurfing again...


-adam
the story is true, no kidding