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SINGAPORE : A new waterfront playground Marina at Keppel Bay has officially opened.
It is part of Singapore's bid to be a leading sailing and yachting destination in Asia.
At its launch on Saturday morning, the Marina welcomed the Uniquely Singapore Clipper, which sailed into the berthing area together with other boats taking part in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race.
Sailing into Singapore waters at about noon, the Uniquely Singapore Clipper, along with the other nine boats taking part in the race, was given a warm welcome.
Further down the waterway, a welcoming party - including Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong - was on hand to greet the international participants.
There are plans to make this waterfront development a world class one.
Teo Soon Hoe, Senior Executive Director and Group Finance Director, Keppel Corp, said: "This is not about competition, it's about having more destination points. As you know boaters come from different places but if we can provide them with different destination, that will add to the whole interest of the people in the yachting and boating sports. The idea is to try and link up with the marinas around the region. If we succeed in doing that, this will become a hub."
Keppel Corporation added that it also plans to start a Sailing Academy to train those interested in the sport.
It's already struck up a partnership with the Nongsa Point Marina in Batam where the training will be held.
That was where the 10 clippers were berthed for a few days before making their way to Singapore.
The teams had just finished Race 5, with the Uniquely Singapore Clipper finishing 7th.
That placed the boat 9th in the overall position.
Mark Preedy, Skipper, Uniquely Singapore Clipper, said: "We've got a few boats ahead of us and only by a few points. It's a case of covering then and trying to just make the biggest gains on those guys. Really at the moment...we are mostly focussed on the boats and see what their point was and go for them really and hopefully get above them and then we can start looking at the top of the leaderboard really."
Last year the team ended the whole race in the fifth spot.
So far, crew members are enjoying the experience, despite challenges like seasickness.
Diana Chan, Crew Member, Uniquely Singapore Clipper, said: "They always say the first day you think, you feel like dying and the second day you wonder why you are not dead yet and by the third day you just don't care anymore."
Elmy Rizal, Crew Member, Uniquely Singapore Clipper, said: "For me, when I get seasick, I just let it go and that's what the skipper told us, if you feel seasick just let it go and it's gonna get over around a few days "
The crew has been together since they left Fremantle, Australia and they will be sailing all the way to Qingdao China, where a new set of crew will be joining the clipper for the next leg of the race.
The clippers will leave Singapore for Qingdao on the 27th of this month.
To find out how the Singapore team tackled earlier legs of the race, click on to this website. - CNA/ch
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