Newsletter No. 9

CUHK Newsletter Introducing the Water Sports Centre and the Staff Boat Club The Water Sports Centre Visit the University swimming pool on any hot summer day and you will find it very crowded, especially during lunch time and after working hours. It is a place colleagues love to go to escape the summer heat. In contrast, the Water Sports Centre is a much quieter place; in fact, a lot of people probably don't even know that it exists! Origin of the Centre The Water Sports Centre is down by Tolo Harbour, near the Marine Science Laboratory. It stands on what was once a tiny beach; the site was reclaimed from the sea with the construction of the Tolo Highway. Given the site's proximity to the campus and the Physical Education Unit's desire to develop water sports, the University decided to establish the centre there. Facilities Established in 1986 as part of the Physical Education Unit, the Water Sports Centre does not, strictly speaking, have any 'real' buildings: its lounge, office and changing rooms were all converted from containers. Outdoor facilities include showers and shelves for stacking boats and canoes. All together they cost the University just $500,000 or so. Improvement Works While the initial set-up cost was low, the University had to pay an extra $300,000 last year to improve the slipway at the centre. According to Dr. Frank H. Fu, director of the Physical Education Unit, the old slipway was inadequate in that it was too narrow (only 2.5 metres wide) and too short. Crewmen had a tough time drawing their boats along the slipway and it was not infrequent that boats overturned in the process. Redevelopment involved lengthening and widening the slipway, which could only be carried out when the sea was at its lowest level. Each day workmen had to wait for the low tide to begin work and that contributed to the comparative high cost of the project. Today, the slipway is twice its original width and much longer, making it possible to accommodate two boats at the same time. Rights of Use One possible reason why the Water Sports Centre is not widely known among colleagues is that its facilities are for the exclusive use of the University's Staff Boat Club and the student Canoe Club. Members of the two clubs can leave their boats or canoes at the centre and have them readily available for sailing almost anytime. Non-members who wish to enjoy the facilities of the centre have to be accompanied by a member of either club. Rights always imply duties: the Staff Boat Club has to contribute $8,000 annually to the Water Sports Centre. Actually, the centre has sufficient space to accommodate other water activities, and the University's original plan was not restricted to sailing and canoeing. However, soon after the establishment of the centre, Tolo Harbour became very polluted and the quality of the sea water deteriorated quite rapidly. Plans for further development had therefore to be shelved. A One-man Operation The day-to-day business of the Water Sports Centre is managed by Mr. Yip Chi Chiu. As it is basically a one-man operation, Mr. Yip's work is appreciably heavy. His day begins with the opening of the centre at 9 a.m. He observes the weather and the current, then hoists the corresponding signals to convey the information to users of the centre. When someone takes to the sea, he has to register the necessary information and help with the launching of the boat. He also keeps a close eye on the condition of the sea. And should a boat capsize or an accident occur, he would act immediately to help. When things are more relaxed, he goes around the centre to check if there is any maintenance work to be done. Occasionally, Mr. Yip leads members on longer boat trips, such as to Kat O or Tap Mun. Mr. Yip is busiest in the summer months, the 4