Row, sail or canoe in the Marina Reservoir

All at sea
Row, sail or canoe in the Marina Reservoir right in the heart of town
Rachel Chan Straits Times 5 Oct 12;

The skyscrapers seem so close you could touch them. And yet here you are, in a sailboat traversing the waters flowing around the big city. Afterwards, you can sink a few drinks on a pontoon and watch the sun set. It may seem the backdrop to somewhere like Miami, but it is right here in Singapore.

Yes, even right by the concrete jungle, you can go paddling in a dragonboat, or go kayaking, rowing and sailing, courtesy of the Marina Reservoir, a body of water that encompasses Kallang Basin and Marina Bay, lapping closely to downtown Singapore.

Its main function is as a freshwater reservoir, harvesting stormwater and water from five rivers that run into it to augment Singapore's water supply.

However, a happy spin-off is that it is a great spot for water sports fans, who are lapping up the chance to make a splash near the city. On weekends between 8am and noon, there can be more than 400 dragonboat paddlers in the triangle of water between Sheares Bridge, Nicoll Highway and the Tanjong Rhu suspension footbridge, says the secretary-general of the Singapore Dragon Boat Association, Mr Raizal Abdol Jalil.

Throw in up to 70 kayakers from the Singapore Canoe Federation, a handful of rowboats from the d'Barrage Rowing Club and a sailboat or two from the Singapore Sailing Federation, and the result is a lively mix that could match busy road traffic.

However, you would not see swimmers and water skiiers as only sports that do not involve bodily contact with the water are allowed on the reservoir. This is due to safety reasons because Marina Reservoir receives water from highly urbanised catchment areas, says a spokesman for the Public Utilities Board, the national water agency. Still, from the Kallang Water Sports Centre in the Kallang Basin and the Marina Barrage to the Marina Bay area, there is bound to be at least one way you can get out on the water. Even confirmed landlubbers can venture out, by hopping aboard boats that have the skipper and crew laid on.

Experiential sailing, which means that you do not need to know how to skipper a boat to try it, is the newest offering in the reservoir. The Singapore Sailing Federation, which runs the National Sailing Centre in East Coast Parkway, and carmaker Audi launched sailing for city folk in February with eight 20ft keelboats for advance bookings, complete with a skipper. The boats are docked in front of Marina Bay City Gallery, a stone's throw from integrated resort Marina Bay Sands.

Keelboats are designed not to capsize, so you can board without getting wet. More adventurous sailors can try one of the federation's 10 capsizable dinghies berthed at the Marina Barrage. The federation has received between 30 and 40 bookings a month for its Marina locations since February.

Experiential sailing is particularly popular among corporate organisations which charter the boats for events, says Mr Jason Lim, the federation's general manager and secretary-general. Most recently, it launched a three-part TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) series beginning last Friday. Participants meet at the pontoon near Marina Bay City Gallery and set off for a fun race in the bay area.

Mr Lim says: "People used to say that they don't want to go sailing because the facilities are ulu (Malay for far-flung). Now, we have brought sailing right into the heart of the city, so there is no excuse not to try it." Handing out cans of beer to TGIF participants, he adds: "The idea is to get people to come for a sail when they knock off early on Friday, then sit back and relax with a couple of beers right here on the waterfront."

Mr Stanley Chan, 35, a first officer with Singapore Airlines and a former national sailor, was among the revellers when Life!Weekend visited.

Mr Chan, who registered for the sailing series with nine pilot colleagues, says: "Sailing in the city is conducive for beginners. Conditions are mild and the water is calm. It can be challenging for competitors, however, because the wind could be coming from anywhere, but the scenic landscape more than makes up for it."

Interest in water sports is on the rise, say five water sports associations Life!Weekend spoke to.

"When PUB opened up the reservoirs for recreational use, it brought about a big change. There is easily a 300 to 400 per cent increase in membership," says Mr Joseph Ang, general manager of the Singapore Canoe Federation.

The PUB opened up designated areas of reservoirs to water sports activities in February 2005. There has also been an increase in the number of dragonboat teams affiliated with the Singapore Dragon Boat Association, from 90 teams five years ago to 110 teams currently.

PA Water-Venture head Saini Hassan noted that dragonboating is becoming increasingly popular among community groups. He says: "Dragonboating used to be seen as a competitive sport for the very fit. But now people join it for fitness reasons and for team bonding. The People's Association created races to cater to different age groups, such as teens and senior citizens, so more people compete with others at their level."

The sight of the gleaming cityscape is an obvious perk for other sports enthusiasts too. Student Vythiswari Murali, 15, was at a kayaking course with 14 schoolmates from her co-curricular group at Yuhua Secondary School when Life!Weekend was at the Kallang beach last Saturday. "I've seen the Singapore Flyer from the road and never from the water. It's even more beautiful," she says.

SAILING

What: For those not keen on getting wet, going sailing on a keelboat, which is very stable, in Marina Bay is ideal. Women can even wear a dress, but no heels please. Only flat, rubber- soled shoes are allowed on board. Do not fret if you do not know your abeam from your astern as a skipper is provided. If a dunking does not bother you, try a pacer, which is capsizable, at Marina Barrage.

Where: Keelboats set sail from the jetty in front of the Marina Bay City Gallery, near ThePromontory@Marina Bay, while pacers depart from the Marina Barrage, 260 Marina Way

When: 7am to 7pm daily

Prices: For a 20ft keelboat at Marina Bay which takes up to five adults, $363.80 (off-peak hours - weekdays before 5pm) and $417.30 (peak hours - weekdays after 5pm and weekends) for 21/2 hours. For a 13.5ft pacer at Marina Barrage for up to four adults, $53.50 a person or $98.10 for one adult and one child, for two hours. Prices include a skipper.

For who: Those seven years old and above and can swim at least 50m with the aid of a personal flotation device

Info: Call 6444-4555 or go to www.marinabaysailing.sg; e-mail zixian@singaporesailing.org.sg to book a keelboat or ask to be put on a mailing list about corporate events by the Singapore Sailing Federation; e-mail zhenfang@singaporesailing.org.sg for booking of pacers

ROWING

What: Rowing was one of the sports featured in the Youth Olympic Games 2010 and the Marina Barrage was the location for the 1,000m racing course.

Although 22 Singaporean rowers took part, rowing is considered a niche sport compared to kayaking and is more popular among Britons and Europeans.

To get started, enrol in this Basic Learn To Row course.

Where: d'Barrage Rowing Club, Marina Barrage, 260 Marina Way

When: Saturday mornings

Prices: Basic course is $160 for four sessions; Advanced Learn To Row is $240 for four sessions. Hire fees are $40 for a single boat, $60 for a double boat and $80 for a four-man boat. Each session lasts two hours.

For who: Those who can swim 50m unaided

Info: Call Mr Budiman Osman of d'Barrage Rowing Club on 8383-4118 to register for classes. E-mail barrage@rowing.org.sg and go to www.rowing.org.sg

DRAGONBOATING

What: You need to have a group of 10 to get started in this team sport or you could join an existing one. The Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA) offers recreational and competitive dragonboating. PA Water-Venture (Kallang) is one of four locations islandwide run by the People's Association (PA) which offers dragonboat hire, an orientation programme and certification courses.

Where: Singapore Dragon Boat Association, Kallang Water Sports Centre, No. 10 Stadium Lane; PA Water-Venture (Kallang), 4876 Beach Road

When: Singapore Dragon Boat Association - Learn-to-paddle courses are available on an ad-hoc basis; contact the association for details. Technical or competitive courses are usually run quarterly. Basic courses have finished for the year. The new training calendar starts in January. It will be up on the association's website about the end of the year.

PA Water-Venture (Kallang) - There will be an orientation programme involving a 10km expedition around the reservoir on Nov 24, 10am to 1pm.

Prices: Singapore Dragon Boat Association - Rental of a standard 20-seat dragonboat is $220, a 10-seater costs $180; for two hours. A trainer and a steersman are included.

PA Water-Venture (Kallang) - Renting a 20-seat dragonboat costs $100; a 10-seater is $60. A steersman costs $60. Sign up for an orientation programme for $12 (students) or $15 (adults). The Reservoir Discovery Series @ Kallang orientation course costs $30.

For who: Those 12 years old and above and can swim 50m with the aid of a flotation device

Info: Call 6440-9763 (SDBA) and 6296-6683 (PA Water-Venture (Kallang).

Go to www.sdba.org.sg and www.water-venture.org.sg

KAYAKING

What: Kayaking differs from canoeing in that a double-bladed paddle is used instead of a single-bladed one, which requires more effort.

You need to have passed at least a 1 Star Personal Skill Award to paddle without a coach.

Sign up for a course with PA Water-Venture (Kallang) or the Singapore Canoe Federation (SCF). After you have certification, go to PA Water- Venture (Kallang) for walk-in rentals as the federation does not entertain walk-ins.

Where: Singapore Canoe Federation, Kallang Water Sports Centre, No. 10 Stadium Lane; PA Water-Venture (Kallang), 4876 Beach Road

When: The Kayaking 1 Star Personal Skill Award is a two-day course. Upcoming dates: Tomorrow and Sunday, 8am to 2pm (SCF). PA Water-Venture tomorrow and Sunday, Oct 13 & 14, 20 & 21, Nov 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 10am to 5pm

Prices: SCF - 1 Star Personal Skill Award Course at $80 (adults); $60 (students enrolled in Ministry of Education institutions); $70 (NSF). The same course at PA Water-Venture costs $50 (students) and $80 (adults). Rent a kayak for $15 for two hours or $30 for the whole day.

For who: Those 12 years old and above and can swim 50m with the aid of a flotation device

Info: Call 6296-6683, PA Water-Venture (Kallang). Call Mr Goh Eng Soon on 9690-1619 or e-mail him at gohes@scf.org.sg (SCF). Go to www.scf.org.sg and www.water-venture.org.sg