My 3 Children all had to do their “National Service” at National Sailing Centre. Like some parent, when they were young, they were “Blur Sotongs” on Optimist boat. Sometimes, crying and shouting, “I do not want to sail, why you force me to sail!!!! …..”
Today, all three of them are competent Sailors. My Eldest, who is working already at her corporate job, still continues sailing with SB20 boat, with other likeminded adults at RM and CSC. She even went to China recently to take part in Sailing Competition with the NUS team.
Now, I have only my #3, who sails with the National Squad Team. Does she enjoy being in National Squad? How she got into National Squad? This will be another story.
The main point I want to share with all is, Sailing is a good sport. It encourages our children to deal with the elements of weather, disappointments and dismay. Sometimes, they will come in last in races. They will injure themselves. They will feel they are not good in Sailing. As parents, we should be there to support them. We do not sail competitively ourselves, so, we should not give comments like why you sail until like that? Why you cannot be like sailor XYZ and win medals?
After they grow up to become adults, the one thing I want to gain from all this, they remember that we as their parents spent a lot of them with them at NSC, when they were sailing. We are their biggest fan. Their #1 fan.
Signing off
A Happy Father. Raymond Seah.
