Woman skipper guides teens, teaches life lessons learnt at sea


'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.

Subscribe now and receive FREE sooka plan for 1 month.
T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Family

Anxieties drive falling birth rate in Germany
Fostering stability: Why parental trust is key in managing teenagers
Teens in turmoil: 25% of British teens say they are unhappy with their lives
Families who play together are the happiest, but not all get to do so: survey
Starchild: How Malaysian kids imagine their umbrellas would look like
Never too late to lift: How to strength train safely as you age
Malaysian tattoo artist inks tribute to her roots with Iban pua kumbu designs
Way before the pandemic, Australia's Outback kids were already learning remotely
This Malaysian card game encourages good eating habits for children and adults
Beacon of light: How lighthouse parenting style helps in guiding children

Others Also Read