3. Yamaha Sea-hopper (1981)

The Seahopper was built by Yamaha in Japan to similar dimensions as the Laser. It actually looked very much like a Laser. It cost me 2000 ringgit; but it was worth every cent because this sail boat some times forgot that it had no engine! At about 15 knot cross wind, it would plane and consequently, the speed would increase suddenly with most of the hull out of the water, behaving like a speed boat!
It was a very exciting boat to sail because it would capsize unless a good balance was maintained constantly by hiking out on the wind ward side. It was especially risky when launching through breaking surf with an onshore wind.

I sailed this dinghy very often on my days off from the rigs. It was much more exciting than playing golf! In Malaysia, the game of golf has been spoilt. It has become a game played mainly by timber tycoons, politicians, snobs and social climbers who liked to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. I gave up golf and took up sailing as my new hobby for the next 25 years

After a while I was looking for an even faster sail boat. There was this Hobie 16 for sale. It belonged to Chris Knight, our MD. He wanted 15K for it; but a catamaran was well beyond my budget. Finally, I found the boat I wanted in the Salam, a 4.7 metre two men dinghy which has a main, jib and a spinnaker.