Singapore Open RS -One Asian Windsurfing Championship

by Icarus Sailing on 14 Feb 2015 Singapore has proven itself as a world class sailing venue – and has hosted some of the world’s major sailing events. The list of sailing events held in Singapore continues to grow. Windsurfing, offshore racing, match racing, national championships, schools championships, multihull sailing - and much, much more – are all on this year’s calendar. The first major event of 2015 was the SIM 34th Singapore Open RS:One Asian Windsurfing Championship 2015 - an annual event with a long-standing 34 year heritage.

Singapore’s top windsurfing event brought together the best talent from Singapore, and surrounding Asian nations, for four days of racing, and played a crucial role in the development of windsurfing in the region

Whilst out and out racing and podium success was the name of the game for many – it was not the priority for others. Joining the racing in a more festival style, were students from the Singapore Institute of Management – or SIM. As title sponsor, SIM is the biggest supporter of the Championships, and recognizes sailing’s role as a unique learning experience. The Institute actively encourages students to get together outside of school, pit their skills against one another and have fun.

Out on the race track, all eyes were tuned into the RS:One Class this year, as the event also marked the Asian Championships. Competition was tough with athletes from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore in contention for the 12 race series. The Hong Kong team fielded the largest team line-up – and were on a mission for glory. Hong Kong dominated in the BIC Techno class in 2014- taking all three spots on the podium in the boys fleet, and a silver in the girls.

The team arrived in Singapore trained, confident and ready and waiting to transfer their 2014 success to the RS:One class. Hong Kong’s Cheng Kwok Fai ruled the course from day 1, with back to back wins. By the final day he was uncatchable, claiming the crown as RS:One Men’s Asian Champion 2015. Medals for team mates too. Lee Chun Ting secured bronze, and in the Women’s RS:One fleet, a silver and bronze for Ngai Wai Yan and Ma Kwan Ching - rewarding Hong Kong with four medals. China was the other big winner - with two podium finishes. Zhang Zhichao secured silver in the men’s division and Li Xiaoyan lifted the RS:One Women’s Asian Champion crown.

As well as the RS:One, competition was equally strong and competitive in all six of the other classes competing. In the RS:X Class, Indonesia’s Oka Sulaksana was back at the front of the action after many years of absence from elite level racing. After 4 Olympic Games' appearances in windsurfing, he has since worked as a national team coach. 2015 marked Sulaksana’s return to the competitive windsurfing world and impressively he finished fourth, just losing bronze on the last day. A great surprise for the athletes who had the opportunity to compete against him.

On the race course closer to shore, novice windsurfers competing in the sixth SIM Windsurfing Championship, soaking up the fun as they tried to improve their skills in a more corinthian level competition. Winning still counts, but equally important is the opportunity to experience the pure joy of windsurfing alongside your fellow students.

Competition in the Formula and Raceboard fleets switched gears, as competitors put on an impressive performance on the race course. Singapore’s Joshua Choo claimed victory in the Formula class, counting four wins from five races. Fellow Singaporean, Joe Chua, took gold in the Raceboard class, with five wins from six races.

The RSX Women and Youth raced in one fleet with separate prizes awarded. Finishing first overall in the under 19 years youth category was Japan’s Kensei Ikeda, from a tidy 12 race scoreboard of 7 wins. Thailand’s Siripon Kaenduangngam took glory as the winner of the RSX Women fleet. Up against each other in the Techno Youth 293 fleet are boys and girls aged 17 and under. China dominated in both divisions, with Dong Zhaoguan winning the boys and Chen Yujie the girls. The youngest sailors were in the Techno 293 Junior fleet - for boys and girls under 15 years. Aung Thein Oo of Myanmar sealed the boys win and Japan’s Yui Tamura took the girls title.

Watching the racing action was none other than, Neil Pryde, windsurfing legend and one of the world’s biggest players in the sport.

Everyone soaked up Singapore’s famous hospitality during the prize giving ceremony at Singapore’s National Sailing Center. All the winners were honoured and enjoyed their successes to massive applause from the crowd. The rendezvous will be resumed once again next year!'