Fun At Sea

Jan 2 1961

TENS of thousands gathered around Clifford Pier to savour a spectacle of sea sports to celebrate the new year. Sportsmen from Singapore as well as neighbouring Riau Archipelago took part in a traditional kolek(small sailboat)race, as well as tub races, greasy pole competitions, swimming, diving and inexplicably, cock fighting. The origins of this sea sports carnival can be traced back to a regatta that was organised in 1834 by European merchants, before it became an annual affair from 1839.

Gracing the occasion was the then Yang di-Pertuan Negara (head of state) Yusof Ishak, before he became Singapore's first president in 1965.