2:43 AM
I took part in the GSK Sailing Regatta 2009 last wkend. it was so so fun!! =)
there were 13 boats all together, 8 sailors per boat. The regatta was a GSK UK-wide thing.. whereby all the GSK UK sites could take part.. Tonbridge sent out 3 boats! but i weren't on a Tonbridge boat coz we had too many sailing enthusiasts to fit nicely into 3 boats. so i was put on a GSK Ware boat instead..
it turned out to be much better than i expected though. ALL my team mates had at least 3 years of sailing experience! haha. I was the only novice. and 4 of the guys were skippers (i.e. they were qualified to sail their own boats). how impressive is that =)
all the sunsail boats at the dock..
it was a 2-day race event, and we had to sleep overnite on the boat itself. here's my own lil cabin! it's supposed to sleep 2, but as we had 5 guys and 3 gals on board, i was given my own room and the guys had to squeeze. =P
after a full english breakfast cooked on board ( i was the chef coz everybody were busy doin other more impt things!), we set off to the start line..
unrolling the main sail on the way out..
and before the race started, i got to helm! (navigate according to the wind direction..) it felt sooo good! and no, i didn't crash the boat.
i was positioned on the starboard side.. meaning i had to do all the tacking (for the change of boat direction) which involved alot of rope pulling and wingeing! hard work reli, but so much fun =)
the guys putting up the spinacle, in preparation for the change of direction of sail..
during one of the calmer stretches of the race course.. i had the luxury to turn around and snap a picture of the (reli encouraging) and spectacular view behind...
look at all the other boats lagging behind!!
ahhh.. satisfaction =)
overtaking a Tonbridge boat (Phil's boat!)
our skipper - Steve, concentrating hard at the helm..
and finally..after a 2hr intensive race & lots of chaos later.. a victory pose by our skipper! we finished 3rd in 2 races and 4th in the other race! =)
it earned us a 4th position overall, out of 13 boats.. missed the medal and trophy by 2 points =(
on Sat nite, we had a 3 course dinner (included in the cost) and disco at the Royal Yatch Club. ALl the guys had to be in suits else they won't be allowed entry, tt's why everyone's dressed so smartly!
here's the team =)
and finally..a group picture before we embark on the long journey back home to feast & snooze..
didn't take many pictures as I was too busy tacking and holding on to the rails to avoid being blown off for most part of the race..
so glad I went for it! certainly a reli great and worthwhile sailing experience. maybe GSK Jurong should send a team over next yr to compete too =)
~gone in a moment.. 
