DBS Sailing at the Bay Marina Bay Singapore
Sailing

DBS Sailing at the Bay: The Free Sailing Programme at Marina Bay

If you have ever stood at Marina Bay and watched the sailboats with the bright blue hulls tacking between Customs House and the Merlion, you have seen DBS Sailing at the Bay. It is one of the few genuinely free recreational programmes in central Singapore. It has run for more than a decade, and most people who live here still do not know they can book a slot.

This guide covers what the programme is, how to get a slot, what happens on the day, and how it compares to the paid sailing options around Singapore. Facts come from the official DBS Sailing at the Bay page and the Singapore Sailing Federation's Marina Bay Sailing page, which is the organising partner.

What it is

DBS Sailing at the Bay is a free public sailing programme run by DBS Bank in partnership with the Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF). The Federation handles sailing operations and the crew. DBS sponsors the programme and runs the booking platform. It has operated for over a decade, with the stated aim of sharing sailing with the public.

No experience is required, and no payment is taken. You book a slot online, turn up at the pontoon next to Customs House, sign an indemnity form, and step onto a crewed sailboat for a short ride around the Bay. The crew sails the boat. You are a guest, not a trainee.

The boats and sessions

The programme uses six Swedish Match 40 (SM40) racing sailboats. These are 40-foot keelboats built for match racing. Each boat carries a crew of two and up to eight guests.

Session length is 30 to 40 minutes. That includes a 10-minute safety briefing and indemnity form submission before the boat leaves the pontoon. The sail itself is roughly 20 to 30 minutes on the water.

Sessions run on five days a week. Sailing is suspended on public holidays and on days when the federation is running sailing regattas on the Bay.

  • Wednesday to Friday: five sessions between 3:00pm and 6:25pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: seven sessions between 1:40pm and 6:25pm
  • Monday and Tuesday: no sessions

The Federation publishes the current week's session times on their Marina Bay Sailing page. Check the source before you go, since timings can change around regattas and events.

Who can join

The programme is open to anyone aged between 7 and 70 years on the date of sailing. Children must have turned 7 at the time of registration and need to show photo ID to confirm their age. The upper limit of 70 is stated by the programme and applies regardless of fitness or experience.

No swimming-ability requirements are stated publicly, but life vests are provided on board and must be worn throughout the session. Guests sit in a designated area on the boat and do not handle the rigging or the rudder. The crew does the sailing.

If you are thinking about bringing a young child, the 7-year minimum matters. Younger children cannot be accommodated, regardless of how experienced they are around water. For families with younger kids, our kids' pool party guide and water safety for kids guide cover age-appropriate options.

How to book

All bookings go through the DBS Sailing at the Bay website. The Singapore Sailing Federation does not take bookings directly.

The booking cycle works like this:

  1. Slots are released one month ahead. DBS opens bookings for the following month during the last week of the current month.
  2. Each slot is free. There is no payment step in the booking flow.
  3. You register your name and email. A confirmation email follows. The confirmation lists the date and time of your booking.
  4. You turn up 10 minutes before your session. Check in with your NRIC, SingPass, or passport at the pontoon next to Customs House.

The Federation's own FAQ notes that the programme offers over 4,000 free slots every month and that they typically book out within a few hours of release. If you want a specific date, set a reminder for the last week of the month, and check the booking page each hour until slots appear.

Booking gotchas

  • No confirmation email: roughly 2% of registered guests never receive one, usually because of typos, junk folder filters, or institutional email server blocks. Check spam first. If there is still no email, the Federation can only confirm your booking 30 minutes before the session, in person at the pontoon.
  • No date or time shown in confirmation: this usually happens when booking on a mobile phone, where the date/time selectors can be hidden. Re-book on a desktop or tablet.
  • Tickets are not transferable. If you cannot make your slot, the person in your place cannot use it. You have to rebook.

Walk-in option

Since August 2025, walk-in registrations are permitted. Walk-ins take the slots of guests who booked but did not turn up. How it works:

  • Show up at the pontoon next to Customs House
  • Wait in line. No-shows are only confirmed 5 minutes before the session starts, so there may be a wait
  • If a slot opens, you fill in an indemnity form with the same personal details as the online registration and board the boat
  • Walk-in entries are first-come, first-served

No guarantee of a slot. On a busy Saturday, the walk-in queue can outnumber the no-show rate, and you may leave empty-handed. On a rainy weekday, the opposite. Treat walk-ins as a bonus chance, not a reliable path in.

On the day

The meeting point is the pontoon beside Customs House at 70 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049323. The closest MRT is Raffles Place (Downtown Line exits). Walking from either Downtown MRT or Raffles Place takes 5 to 8 minutes.

The flow on the day:

  1. Arrive 10 minutes early. Late arrivals are not accommodated. The programme is run to a tight schedule and boats must rotate to fit the next session
  2. Check in with your NRIC, SingPass, or passport at the pontoon
  3. Fill out the indemnity form if one has not been submitted online
  4. Receive a safety briefing from the crew. This covers what to do in an emergency, how to move on the boat, where to sit, and what not to touch
  5. Put on your life vest. Life vests are compulsory for all guests on board
  6. Board the boat and sail for approximately 20 to 30 minutes around Marina Bay
  7. Return to the pontoon and disembark in time for the next session

The DBS Audio Tour is available separately. It is an 11-minute audio guide that plays on your phone or earphones during the sail and covers landmarks around the Bay. It is optional, and most guests do not use it, but some find it adds context for the views.

What to bring

  • Photo ID. NRIC, SingPass, or passport. Required for check-in
  • Comfortable casual clothes. You will sit on a damp boat in the sun or shade for 30 to 40 minutes. T-shirts and shorts work well
  • Flat or sports shoes. No heels, no open slippers that can slip off in the water
  • Sun protection. Sunglasses, cap, sunscreen. The Bay gets direct sun and the water reflects it
  • A dry bag. Useful for phones, wallets, and keys if you are concerned about spray
  • Water bottle. There is no on-board catering. Hydrate before and after
  • Earphones. Only if you plan to use the DBS Audio Tour

Life vests are provided. You do not need to bring your own, and the crew will ask you to wear the one issued.

Weather and cancellation

Singapore weather is the main variable in this programme. Sessions run in light rain but are suspended for Category 1 lightning risk, thunderstorms, or unhealthy haze. The organiser can delay or cancel sessions at very short notice.

The programme uses a visible flag system on the pontoon:

  • Orange flag flying: the current session is cancelled
  • Red flag flying: sailing is cancelled for the rest of the day
  • No flag: sessions are running as scheduled

Haze rules follow National Environment Agency (NEA) guidance: if PSI is expected to exceed 100, outdoor sessions are cancelled. Before heading down, check the Meteorological Service Singapore rain areas and lightning forecasts for the Marina Bay area.

If your session is cancelled due to weather, you can modify your ticket online to reschedule. Cancellations happen often enough during the monsoon seasons (roughly November to January, and mid-year squalls) that flexibility is worth building into your plans.

Become a crew member

If you enjoy the experience and want to go further, the Federation runs a crew pathway for the SM40 boats that most guests never hear about. Worth knowing if you have sailing experience or want to build it.

Requirements:

  • A Basic Sailing Course Level 1 certificate, or comparable past sailing experience
  • Commitment to sail with the programme at least two times a month

Successful applicants go through a 1.5-day SM40 crew training course at no cost. Once qualified, you bid for shifts and earn $16 per hour as an SM40 crew member. A weekday shift is 4.5 hours; a weekend shift is 6 hours.

This is not a full-time income. But for sailors who want regular time on the water and a bit of pay for it, the arrangement is rare in Singapore. Contact the Federation at marinabay@singaporesailing.org.sg if you are interested.

Compared to other sailing options

DBS Sailing at the Bay is the easiest and cheapest way to get on a sailboat in Singapore, but it is not the only option. A quick frame of reference:

  • DBS Sailing at the Bay (this programme): free, 30-40 minutes, no experience needed, Marina Bay. Best for: curious beginners, visitors, families with children aged 7+, cost-conscious exploration
  • Singapore Sailing Federation Basic Sailing Courses: paid, structured training toward certification. Several courses at Level 1 and up, held at the SSF base and at partner venues. Best for: people who want to learn to sail properly
  • SAF Yacht Club: members and reciprocal members only, based at Changi. Sailing access plus courses for members. Best for: long-term sailors who want club facilities
  • ONE°15 Marina (Sentosa Cove) and Raffles Marina (Tuas): private marinas with yacht charters, courses, and membership options. Best for: yacht ownership or luxury charter experiences
  • Constant Wind (East Coast / Changi): private sailing school with adult and children's courses, keelboat and dinghy. Best for: structured lesson paths outside the central Bay

If DBS Sailing at the Bay sparks a real interest and you want to progress, the Federation's Basic Sailing Course Level 1 is the natural next step. It also unlocks the SM40 crew pathway if you want to return to Marina Bay as a crew member rather than a guest.

Honest summary

Thirty to forty minutes on a racing sailboat in Marina Bay, no cost and no experience needed. The only real effort is securing a booking, and walk-ins now give you a second chance when the booking window has closed.

Set your calendar for the last week of the month, book as early as you can, and show up ten minutes early with your ID. You do not need to swim. You do not need to know anything about sailing. The crew handles the boat, and you get a view of the Bay most Singaporeans never see.

If you want more sailing after the taster, the Federation's Basic Sailing Course is the entry to the real sport. If you want to spend more time on the SM40s, the crew pathway pays you to do it.

For other aquatic activities in Singapore, see our open water swimming guide, public swimming complex directory, or browse all guides from the homepage.