A dark cloud lifted - 30 January 2010
There have been plenty of eager visitors having guided tours of the fleet of Clipper yachts and inevitably, the local boat has attracted special attention.
Yesterday, Uniquely Singapore hosted a very special group and the pontoon echoed to the sound of excited children who, along with their parents and carers, were welcomed on board by skipper, Jim Dobie.
Their visit was organised by Club Rainbow (Singapore) a local charity formed in 1992 which is committed to helping children and young people suffering from a range of chronic and potentially life-threatening illnesses.
The charity currently supports more than 470 children and their families and provides a range of free services including a volunteer-based befriender network and counselling, free tuition at home, at their Rainbow Family Care Centre on weekends and for children warded at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital, the charity also offers bedside tuition.
In addition, Club Rainbow also helps in family bonding through a range of social activities. The visit to see the Clipper fleet was one such initiative and despite the various challenges facing the children, they were quickly swarming over the boat, clambering up and down ladders, trying out the coffee grinder winch pedestal and standing at the helm like seasoned sailors.
Uniquely Singapore crew member Karan Teo, a Marketing Executive at Keppel Seghers and one of four Keppel ambassadors taking part in Clipper 09-10, was on hand to meet the special guests and she quickly bonded with one youngster. As they played in the warm sunlight, Karan learnt more about the challenges from the child’s parents and it is clear that Club Rainbow is doing a very important job. A father who has benefited from the charity describes their work as ‘a dark cloud lifted’.
When the bus arrived to take them home, it took quite some persuading that it was time to leave the yacht and the children went home armed with Clipper’s kids’ activity pack, route maps and souvenir magazine.
“It was really great to welcome such an inspirational group on board,” said Jim Dobie, who added, “They were so keen and sure footed around the boat, I think we might have found some new Singapore crew members for future races!”
Clipper’s recruitment manager is in Singapore looking for just that – the next generation of crew from the Republic to take on the challenge of the Clipper Race. Today saw the second of the presentations and there is a third, drop-in session on Wednesday 3 February at The Island Suite, Marina at Keppel Bay, between 7pm and 9pm.
There have been a constant stream of people interested in taking part in Clipper 11-12 which, with the addition of a new Australasian leg, will be 40,000 miles long and the longest global ocean race in the world.
With almost 50 per cent of the berths already filled, interest in the race has never been higher.
For more details and to apply email our recruitment team.
Cape Breton Island does the business
29 January 2010
The Cape Breton Island yacht did the business out on the race track, winning Race 5 from Geraldton, Western Australia, to Singapore. And now that they are safely berthed in Marina at Keppel Bay, it is the turn of the sponsors to do the business with key targets in the region.
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A cup of tea and a good book
28 January 2010
What you need in this heat is a good cup of tea – and there’s none better than a cuppa from Yorkshire. This afternoon Welcome to Yorkshire is hosting a traditional Yorkshire Afternoon Tea for guests from the Singapore media and the crew of Hull & Humber.
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