Staff Spotlight

Meet the man behind our awesome sailing scene, Uncle Mazelan - our Senior Seasports Assistant!

How long have you been working for SAFYC?

I joined the Club in back in January 2016. I joined the Sembawang side and have been stationed here since then. It was a 4-man team back then with Wee Chin as the Seasports Manager. I have stayed with the Sembawang team even though we had Changi clubhouse back then.

What is your role in the Seasports operations of the Club?

I am a Senior Seasports Assistant and I help in coaching, maintenance of the boats we use for the courses and supporting various regattas that the Club conducts. I make myself available for anybody who needs help as well when it comes to sailing related matters.

I go over to NSRCC side once in a while to also give a helping hand to the other seasports staff stationed there.

Any memorable experiences from your Seasports work?

A memorable experience for me was when Wee Chin (Seasports Manager at that time), Iggy, Hadi and I sailed the SB20 boats to deliver it to a charterer at One15 Marina. We sailed out from Sembawang from morning and we reached Sentosa quite late in the afternoon.

Even though it was an exhausting journey, it was memorable as I got to sail with the team and polish my sailing skills after a long time.

What’s the most exciting part of your job?

One of the most exciting part of my job is when I get to rescue sailors who are stuck or stranded at sea during storms. It is challenging too but after successfully helping sailors, the exciting feeling of accomplishment is immense. I remember rescuing 3 sailors who veered off to Malaysian waters during a storm and I teamed up with Andy from our Marina department to rescue them and tow them back to the Club.

What is your favorite part of working at the Club?

Coaching young sailors definitely brings me joy as I see our future sailors in them. Parents seeing their child sailing out in the open brings me immense joy too as I know they are proud of their kids and I, in part, have done my best in guiding them. I also enjoy the teamwork that our department has and I do not only have colleagues but friends among them.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy exercising near the park at my house. I enjoy moving and keeping myself fit as it is also helps in my job when lifting heavy sails and doing boat maintenance works. I feel better when I get to stretch and workout.

Where would you like to go on a dream destination?

Once we are allowed to travel freely and the threat of COVID19 is behind us, I would like to travel to Saudi Arabia and visit Mecca with my wife.

What’s your favorite place of all the places you’ve traveled?

My favorite place will always be where my family is, and that is Malaysia. I remember the good times when I got to visit them in Malacca and spend a week with my family. We went to various places and traveled to KL and enjoyed out time together.

Uncle Mazelan assisting Get-Kids-Afloat participants in launching their boats and making sure they are set for a great sailing time! Use 3 words to describe yourself for people who do not know a thing about you?

I would describe myself as quiet but very approachable, disciplined when it comes to coaching and most of all, easy-going and funny when I want to be.