SEA Games 2015 Blog

Shane’s Story
Shane Ong, Enterprise Risk Services Executive & Team Singapore Sailor

There is hardly a better way to spend my time than on my sail boat, with the sun beating down on my back, and wind in my face. But this was not always so: my first taste of sailing at the tender age of 10 was traumatising! I was afraid of the sea and did not want to continue with the sport.

It took me two years and lots of encouragement from my family for me to get back into sailing again. This time, I got hooked!

Initially, I did not do well as I was rather nervous competing with the other more experienced sailors. Nonetheless, I persevered and progressed slowly and steadily. I eventually went on to join the national team the following year and have since taken part in many international competitions representing Singapore. The feeling of pride when I represent Singapore in a race is unparalleled and the most memorable races for me are the Eurocup in Italy and the World Championships in Canada where I placed 10th for both events.

Having the 28th SEA Games in Singapore this year bodes well for the Singapore sailing team because we are in familiar waters and we know the wind patterns and currents well, unlike overseas races where we have to manoeuvre in unknown territories.

Many people have a somewhat romantic view of sailing – that it is a sport where we can chill and throw back some beers; or that we sail standing up, riding the waves like a windsurfer. How far from the truth they are!

Sailing is a physically and mentally challenging sport and to do well in it requires countless hours of grueling training, be it out at sea, on land, or indoors in the gym. There are many different aspects to master in competitive sailing, for example, boat handling, physical preparedness, tactics and managing competitors.

I see sailing as a challenge and I actually love the physical and mental demands of the sport because the trainings and competitions teach me a lot about myself and spur me to push my boundaries.

There are many lessons that can be culled from sailing but the one that I value most is learning to strategise and adapt to changing conditions. The waters are unpredictable and no matter how much I plan beforehand, when I’m out at sea, I have to focus, think on my feet and improvise, as every misjudgment made during manoeuvre or tactical decisions can change the outcome of the race.

The ability to adapt makes me a better sailor and also comes in handy in my work as an Enterprise Risk Services executive at Deloitte – a role I came into in September 2014. Along with the support from the firm as a whole, I get a lot of personal support from my colleagues and supervisors when I need time to focus on my training. I also enjoy educating them about sailing and what it entails, and maybe one day I can take some of them out to sea with me.

Although I am not able to compete in this year’s SEA Games together with my fellow Deloitte athletes, I will be part of it as an employee of Deloitte Singapore. It will be ‘all hands on deck’ for all of us when the time comes, and I look forward to supporting and cheering on our Team Deloitte athletes as they do our nation proud in its Golden Jubilee year.

Shane