I've answered so many questions during countless of interviews, while writing my resume or being filmed: "why did you join Sailing", or "what have you learnt from Sailing", or even "what is your greatest takeaway being a member of the Sailing team". Whenever I'm posed with such a question, my answer will always be short, sweet and direct, perhaps even politically correct. They were merely 'scratching the surface' and to be honest, I've never really pondered over what I've learnt from SMU Sailing.

It's been almost two years since I made the decision to give up my weekends for full days out at sea, almost two years since I've seen myself with an even skin tone (look at those tan lines), almost two years since I've put more than 100% into the academic aspect of my life. For Sailing, I've given up so much but no doubt, I've also received a lot in return.

Teamwork

For every regatta we compete in, we compete with a different crew most of the time. And this has taught me that we have to consistently accommodate each others' habits. Every strength and weakness of each crew member on board can be used to such an advantage, if only we work well together. Through Sailing, I've realised that the whole 'give-and-take' process is an important as being a skilled individual.

Tenacity and Commitment

I've given up so much to be where I am now, two years later. But I wouldn't be able to do all these without tenacity and sheer commitment to the team. 

Tenacity: never giving up when your hoist looks like the raising of the flag during assembly or when your spin goes loopy during your drops. Tenacity is when you insist on practising again, again and again, until you get it to near perfect. 

Commitment: to postpone plans again and again with the same old, "sorry but I can't do weekends because I'll be out sailing", or to look on as your friends enjoy brunches at quaint cafes while you prepare to head to Tuas. I've realised how strong a push and a pull commitment can be. Once you're committed to a cause, don't stop.

Solving Problems

If you ask around, my friends wouldn't even be close to describing me as smart... As a bow, I've gotta keep a constant lookout for any potential problems that might happen. So many things could go wrong and these things could easily cause the boat to lose three places during a race. So, actively locate potential screw-ups and solve them before they actually happen. And solving them doesn't mean just solving them. There should be a smartest remedy available, one that doesn't jeopardise any lives, or the position of our boat.

This is pretty similar to Crisis Management (a module I took this semester) on so many counts: identifying risks and quashing them before they break out into crises. 

Competition

I relish in a good, fair competition but not of those between friends. The awkwardness when you receive good news but cannot celebrate your heart out because your friend got less desirable results. Or when you're happy for your friend but still have to plaster on a smile in a scenario less favourable. I've never liked the notion of vying with friends for the same positions. But Sailing has taught me that whatever happens on the boat and in the sea, stays there. Ultimately, when you get back on shore, all the ill feelings should well dissipate.

Learning Doesn't Stop

There's no such thing as "The Best". Everyone is constantly learning. We are placed in new conditions especially when we go for regattas overseas, conditions unlike the calm waters outside of Raffles Marina, conditions we aren't used to. So we adapt. And through this adaptation we learn and adjust and tune our settings.

I felt that my learning curve was at its steepest when I was a freshman with so many seniors around to teach me new things. As I entered sophomore year, I was expected to know, more than just learn. But there'll always be something new to learn, even if this learning curve becomes gentler with time.

Give Back

Because we're now expected to have the basic knowledge of Sailing at our fingertips, we've gotta pass this on to incoming batches. I think this keeps Sailing alive, because then it doesn't die out the minute we graduate. Through this I've also learnt not to be selfish, that passing on what we know will be for the greater good (touché), even if it means that our position will be 'compromised'.

Everything I've learnt from Sailing the past couple of years can relate to our usual grind of life and that's the beauty of it. I joined this sport to feel a sense of togetherness with my teammates, and what I've received is exactly that and much more.

So if you ask me if I miss my weekends, my reply would be: Yes I do. I miss weekend brunches and I miss staying out till the wee hours without worrying if I can wake up for training the next morning. I miss spending time with my family and I miss sleeping in on Sunday mornings.

But I'll miss trainings if I no longer have to go.

(Transworld Invitational 2015, Pattaya, Thailand)