SINGAPORE — After missing out on the gold in the Team Optimist final on Sunday, Singapore’s sailors cranked up the gears today (June 9) and netted four golds out of the six on offer at the National Sailing Centre at East Coast Parkway.

The victories were wrought by Colin Cheng in the men’s laser standard, Bernie Chin (men’s under-19 laser radial) and the keelboat races, with Stanley Chan, Anthony Kiong and Colin Ng bagging it in the men’s race, and Jovina Choo, Terena Lam, Dawn Liu and Daniella Ng in the women’s event.

In other races, the Republic’s sailors are also in good positions and Singapore Sailing Federation Tan Wearn Haw said the next few days will be exciting for the team.

He is also looking forward to a good showing in the knock-out team events, which start at Marina Bay on Thursday and end with the grand finals on Sunday.

“They are all doing well, and we are keeping our fingers crossed,” said Tan. “Normally when it comes to the Games, it is relaxed. The hardware has been done before that and whatever it is, it is.

“We have the windsurfing races tomorrow and they have been doing quite well, and I am looking forward to them finishing off strongly. After that we have a super weekend, which is exciting as it will be country versus country racing, like a boxing bout right in the heart of the city.”

The fairy tale story of the day belonged to Stanley Chan, who has only won silver or bronze at the Asian and SEA Games. 

He finally tasted success in the men’s keelboat fleet racing with Anthony Kiong and Colin Ng, who at 40 and 36 respectively also competed at the last SEA Games that Singapore hosted in 1993, winning the men’s 420.

Said a jubilant Chan on finally bagging gold after a closely-fought battle with the Philippines: “It was a tough fight because we were really close on total points throughout the race series and it all came down to the medal race today. So we just stayed calm because we went through our roles last night and kept our focus on sailing.” 

The trio will also be in the mix in the knock-out men’s keelboat match-racing that starts at the Marina Bay this Friday, but SSF CEO Tan thinks his charges, especially Kiong and Ng, have already achieved something special.

“In the whole SEA Games, Anthony and Colin are the only ones who took part and won gold in 1993 and they did it again this time. There is another event coming up for them on Thursday and hopefully they can get another one, but I think as it is already, it is pretty nice because it is not easy to get two gold medals spread over 22 years.”