Going with the Wind in Malaysia - and not just if you're rich

by Tan Ee Loo,the Star/Sail-World Cruising on 5 Jan 2009 Malaysians are taking up sailing as never before, and, as Malaysia's facilities improve, so will the enthusiasm of all sailors for sailing the peaceful shores of that beautiful country. One person who is doing a lot to promote sailing in Malaysia is Antony Sobey.

'I can go sailing from here to Pulau Angsa every day of the week but no two days will ever be the same. The weather is different and the tides are different as well,” says Sobey, 'and it's not a rich man's sport.'

Pulau Angsa is a rocky island, in the Malacca Straits, an easy day sail away from Kuala Salangor or South Port Klang in Malaysia.

Sobey, a qualified Royal Yachting Association (RYA) instructor, has been running training courses at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club Sailing Academy in Port Klang, Selangor, for the past three years.

“A common misconception by Malaysians is that sailing is a sport for the rich. However, I feel that is slowly changing because we do get people from all walks of life.

'As long as you can stand, walk and climb on the boat (you can sail). It’s not considered a rich man’s sport in England. You can get a dinghy for much less than a small motorbike,' he adds.

Growing up in Poole, England, Sobey, 70, started sailing at the age of seven.

'As a child growing up in Poole, which has one of the largest natural harbours in the world, I used to go sailing with my friends all the time. It’s like a treasure island, we go sailing and exploring,' he recalls.

Sobey served at the Royal Air Force for more than 20 years before opting for early retirement in his late 40s. The ex-squadron leader says he likes to take part in competitions.

'Racing is fun. It teaches you how to sail more efficiently. It’s easy to get in the boat and make it go in the right direction, but it’s not so easy to make the boat go as fast as it can.

'There is nothing that gives you encouragement like success. When you win a race or two, you feel good about yourself. You feel you have done something.'

Contrary to popular belief, Sobey says, sailing is not a totally relaxing sport.

'“A lot of people seem to think sailing is totally relaxing but it’s not. If the weather changes, you have to be ready for it.

'If you are doing ocean racing, you’ll need strong, fit young men who can move very fast and apply a lot of power.'

Good preparation is vital, he says.

'You take advantage of the wind, tides and weather but you also have to respect them.

'My job involves teaching people how to sail. From the novice to those who are proficient, I brief them on safety before I start.

'The secret of safe sailing is good preparation. When I have a new group of students, I’d tell them sailing is fun, but it also has its hazards. So we must be prepared. I mainly stress all the safety precautions. Most people seem to think that falling off the boat is the worst thing that could happen. What they don’t know is the most dangerous thing that could happen is a fire. Should the boat catch fire, most of the damage would be caused by the gas on board.

'I teach people how to operate the radio and make a distress call on the VHF radio, or send safety flares. I will show them the different parts of the boat and take them to the cockpit to see the instruments, like the radar, chartplotters and wind speed instruments.

'Next, I will show them how to walk up and down the boat and not to fall into the water. Finally, I will explain the safety precautions for the cooker and show them where the fire extinguishers are before we set out to sea.

'To qualify, you need to go through all the RYA courses, which are internationally recognised. After that, you go for the instructor courses. However, there aren’t any instructor courses here in Malaysia, so you may have to go to Australia or the United Kingdom for that.'