'When I’m out sailing on a boat at sea, I feel humbled and grateful. The sea generously imparts life lessons for me to apply when I’m back on land, ' says Norma Noordin. Photo: The Star/KK Sham
They may only be “kids”, but they’re out in front with the big boys. That holds true for skipper Norma Noordin and her crew of teenagers between the ages of 14 to 17. Norma is a skipper of sea scouts, and not only is she the first Malaysian female skipper to have participated in the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, her team was the only one with a crew of teenagers.
“It’s an overnight sail. We’re given 24 hours to reach each destination and there is a point system, the first to reach in one’s class (boat type) wins, ” says Norma, explaining that the regatta comprises three passage races: Port Klang to Pangkor, Pangkor to Penang, Penang to Langkawi. They sail 420km in total, and have three days of harbour racing around the islands of Penang and Langkawi.
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Charting her course
'When I’m out sailing on a boat at sea, I feel humbled and grateful. The sea generously imparts life lessons for me to apply when I’m back on land, ' says Norma Noordin. Photo: The Star/KK Sham
Not only is Norma the first Malaysian female skipper to have participated in the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, her team was the only one with a crew of teenagers. Photo: The Star/KK Sham
Norma (in white) with her teammates. Photo: The Star/KK Sham
'I love sailing because it connects me to mother nature, makes me agile and fit, and it’s a great activity that connects people on board a boat, ' says Norma. Photo: The Star/KK Sham
Norma with her fellow trainers on board the Rangga. Photo: The Star/KK Sham
'Life is a matter of sprints. Keep them short, targeted and make it count. After that, take a rest, Then repeat, ' says Norma. Photo: The Star/KK Sham
Norma's late father used to take the family out on his boat for a cruise on weekends, and Norma reckons her interest in sailing started from there, even though he didn’t exactly approve of her wanting a life on the sea. Photo: The Star/KK Sham
Norma in a training session with her sea scouts troop before the pandemic. Photo: Morph Outdoors
'One advantage the children have over the adult competitors in the regatta, is their sea scout training, ' says Norma. Photo: Morph Outdoors
Norma is passionate about imparting her knowledge and nurturing young sea scouts as she feels she is passing along skills the young scouts will use for the rest of their lives. Photo: Morph Outdoors
