Sailing in Singapore

[Nic]

Hi, I'm interested in Sailing a 25 foot + yatch in Singapore. I've been told that "everyone" needs a Singaporean certification to do this. I've got an Australian boating license. Is this good enough?
If not it sounds like a money grabbing initiative on behalf of the Government given that the Singaporean Olympic sailing team came in last and 2nd last respectively in Sydney.

[Yes]

Mr Gundry

What does the result of the Singaporean sailing team has to do with the rule that you need to have a Singaporean sailing license? This is quite a common practice in a lot of countries around the world.
This board slowly evolves into a "I know better/I am better"-board. Stop moaning for once!

[CSJ]

Haha, very funny both

Still, Nic has a good question...I'm a would-be sailor too.  I have lots of sailing experience and certificates back home, but is it really true that I have to take a $500 course to do it here?  There are surely other expats who wonder this, but I haven't found one who knows...

[Nic]

Dear Mr Yes - why can't boating/sailing licenses "in Singapore" have a similar international recognition system to Motor and Aviation licenses "in Singapore"?

By the way Mr Yes, I used the example of the Singaporean Olympic Sailing team to illustrate that the level of sailing is not a class above all other nations and  warrants separate tests and courses.