Faces of Sailing — Shahrom Taha

Members of the public can sign up to join sailing courses at Changi Sailing Club, just like Shahrom Taha, who brought his kids to learn sailing at Changi Sailing Club during the pandemic in 2020. He has since formed a strong bond with the community.

At just three months old, Shahrom Taha's children experienced their first taste of saltwater. 

"We have this tradition of actually putting our newborns to sea," explained Shahrom, who is a descendant of the Orang Laut (which means “people of the sea” in Malay). 

Singapore’s community of Orang Laut were a nomadic maritime group that lived on boats and in coastal settlements around the waters of Singapore.

“So for my kids, as early as three or four months, I bring them to Changi or East Coast, and then just dip them in the water, play with them in the water,” added Shahrom.

This ritual of respect is a family tradition passed down through generations, connecting them to the waters their ancestors have lived alongside for centuries.

This simple act represents something profound: the open sea is far more than just a recreational playground — it's a living bridge to Singapore's maritime soul.

Shahrom now spends most of his weekends at Changi Sailing Club enjoying the nature on our coastline with his family.

Changi through the years

Today, Shahrom and his children sail at the Changi Sailing Club, an institution that embodies this deep maritime heritage. 

The club was founded in 1936 by British military personnel from the Royal Engineers and has gone through almost a century of change. It has served as a testament to Singapore's enduring relationship with the sea.

"Changi Sailing Club celebrates its 90th anniversary next year, so it predates Singapore's independence," said Deborah Barker, the commodore for Changi Sailing Club.

The club has also been a cornerstone in Singapore’s sailing history.

“We also had Changi sailors, who are Singaporeans, racing at the Southeast Asian Games here,” added Deborah.  

“Singapore is a maritime nation”

For Shahrom, sailing these familiar waters with his family makes him feel connected to his heritage. This connection extends beyond personal stories. Historically, Singapore's identity is anchored in the sea. 

"Singapore itself is a maritime nation," Shahrom emphasised. 

“We should have avenues for maritime activities, we should have leisure activities centred around the sea.”

Shahrom began visiting Changi Sailing Club during the pandemic, when he discovered that it was one of the few places that continued to provide sailing courses for kids, albeit with just one coach to one sailor due to social distancing.

Changi Sailing Club’s General Manager Choy Yi Hong said he got to know Shahrom and his family when his oldest son enrolled in the Optimist Introductory Course in December 2020.

“From the outset, Shahrom stood out as someone incredibly down-to-earth and deeply passionate—not just about sailing, but also about the sea, Singapore’s maritime heritage, and the rich biodiversity along our coastline,” said Changi Sailing Club’s General Manager Choy Yi Hong.

The family eventually joined the club as members in 2021.

As Shahrom watched his children learn to sail, he was reminded of how his grandmother had once commuted between islands to attend school. With the Long Island project on the horizon, Shahrom wonders what the future holds for his children’s cultural heritage.

“My mom used to stay at Lazarus Island, and my dad used to stay in Pulau Brani,” recounted Shahrom. No one calls these two islands home now.

“These are the things I miss, but what will my children miss?”