Sundram – In the Middle of and Island

Langkawi, 27 February 2005 – For a man who spends considerable time staying away from the water, Wicky Sundram has a singular occupation.

He’s general manager and director of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC).

It’s not that Sundram suffers from hydrophobia; it’s just that he can’t swim very well and so prefers to keep his feet from getting wet.

But ask him about yachting and he will spew a mouthful of sailing jargon.

No matter, for Sundram is patient with those who find sailing argot as unfamiliar as nuclear science.

He is willing to explain everything about the sea sport including, if necessary, the “parting of the waves” that saved the children of Isreal from the Pharoah’s army to the classic race elements including overpassages, day racing windward, leeward course and offshore racing.

For Sundram, 39, the miracle of the sea always fascinated him from young.

Talk sailing and he lights up – although he does not like to sail.

“I spend all my time trying to stay out of the water.” And understandably he is the right enthusiast to preside over the sport and care for the overall smooth sailing of the four-day third BMW Royal Langkawi International Regatta at Kuah, Langkawi, starting tomorrow.

“I like to compete, I guess, I don’t dislike it, but my sailing is just the bottom line, like adding up to the score in bridge,” says Sundram, who is also a social golfer. “My real interest is in the tremendous game of life.” Even his wife of nine years, Jeniffer, a business woman shares his enthusiasm for the sea.

He spends his working time shuttling between his offices at Pulau Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur from where he gets much of the organisational paperwork done.

Still despite his enthusiasm he has no plans of awakening the interest of his son Dhanesh, five, into the sport. “Let him get by his more-important studies first,” he says.

After three years at the helm of the club, Sundram hopes to improve on the overall quality of sailing.

“I want to see a Malaysian sail in first. To this end, we will work hard till we get there.

“As long as I have the fire and the drive… and the imagination, we will push ahead till we are there,” he said enthusiastically.