I, myself have an experience in joining the regatta. I'm one of the lead rower representing my school in year 1988-89. It was my first experience in rowing a boat with 20 other students. We went for our weekly training at Land and Survey Depo as we needed to borrow their boat and their coaches. During that time, Land and Survey Department (famously known as Landas) was famous in Sarawak Regatta. Their team always won trophies in various categories and also emerged as an overall champion.
It took us months of intensive weekly training, only on weekends as we are all students. A lot of fun things happened during that time. The boat capsized. Rowing in the rain. Seasick after the training. It was fun. On the actual day, on the way to the starting point, towed by the organiser's boat, my paddle slip off my hand and dropped into the river. I was so panic as I'm the lead rower. I started to shout around to other team whether they have an extra paddle or not. I was lucky, I managed to get one but working with a comfortable paddle the whole time during training, and use a different one on actual day is not easy at all. The grip either is too big or too stiff to handle. No matter what, I have to deal with it. At last, we managed to settle at second place, losing to SMK Santubong due to navigator error when taking the last corner when he supposed to cut in but did not and went around the corner. This is where SMK Santubong overtake us. We have our prize money and trophy. Good experience but unfortunately, the following year, the school category was scrapped off the list in Sarawak Regatta. It was years later when I have my second experience in Sarawak Regatta.
I can't remember which year it was but I'm sure it was in mid 1990's. Maybe 1995-97. I heard that Association of Bank Malaysia, Sarawak branch decided to participated in a Sarawak Regatta and they needed a team. I immediately volunteer myself in the team. It was a very raw team formed with employees of various bank. We went for training after office hours at Waterfront Kuching. 1 hour training, 3 times a week. At first, it was a complete chaos. The paddle knock each other. The backend rower don't know what is happening at the front.
I, again, volunteer myself as the lead rower. With my short experience during my school time, I showed the rest what we supposed to do and how to do it. Eventhough the team wasn't really ready for the race, we managed to complete the race, I think in the last position. Very unorganised but good experience. Sadly , there's not even 1 photo of our team during that time. The smart phone wasn't introduced to world yet.
There's many more memories of Sarawak Regatta in my life. When I was 5 or 6 years old, my parents used to bring me and my siblings to watched the race. During that time, Kuching Waterfront doesn't exist yet. There're rows of godown, wharf and stores located along the river. Also coffee stalls made of ataps and fish market. My father have a relative who is from Sejingkat-Tanjong Bako and they always camping in their boats along the riverbanks everytime there's an event like this. They would sail from their village to Kuching town and spend few days just to watch the event.
So, my parents, as the gesture of courtesy, my parents visited them in their boat. We had our drinks, food. I saw my sister went to the back of the boat and I followed. Both of us playing there for a while until a speedboat passed by and created some big wave. My sister tried to stand up and walking to inside the boat when she off balance and fell off to the water. The boat rocks violently, hitting the neighbouring boats. I think I was panic but I can't remember whether I scream or not. One thing that I remember, I tried to reach to my sister, extending my hand when I feel I was grabbed from behind before my hand was squeezed between the the rocking boats. I remember someone jumped into the river. I remember my father jumped into the river. They managed to pulled my sister out from the river. From here onwards, everything was blurred. I can't recalled what happened. She survived.
Photo above-Chinese Museum. I remembered that there used to be atap stalls located around this area selling foods, fish etc. There a small river where boats docks. This place used to be a riverbanks, now, it is a land reclamation, with children playground built on it.
I think that is all I want to say about Regatta and me. I will always treasure the experience in my memories. One day, I can say to my younger generations that I've been in Sarawak Regatta. The only regret I have is, there's no photo of it at all as that years, I can't afford to have one.
Adios..... 😘
