Jump aboard for Northsail

It wasn’t all plain sailing for participants in last year’s Northsail, with some rough conditions testing their resolve. This year’s event, which begins in Sydney on April 27, promises to be just as challenging.

Northsail 2003

Leg 1: April 27-29 – Sydney to Coffs Harbour Leg 2: May 2-4 – Coffs Harbour to Manly (Qld) Leg 3: May 7-9 – Manly to Bundaberg Leg 4: May 11-13 – Bundaberg to Mackay Leg 5: May 16-18 – Mackay to Townsville Leg 6: May 20-22 – Townsville to Mackay Leg 7: May 25-27 – Mackay to Bundaberg Leg 8: May 29-31 – Bundaberg to Manly (Qld) Leg 9: June 3-5 – Manly to Coffs Harbour Leg 10: June 7-10 – Coffs Harbour to Sydney

THE Australian Defence Force Sailing Association’s (ADFSA) annual Sailing Adventure, Northsail, which begins in Sydney in April, is looking for participants.

A sailing adventure organised by the ADFSA to enable Defence personnel – both military and civilian – to develop individual self confidence, leadership and team skills in a demanding environment, Northsail continues to provide a challenge for experienced and inexperienced sailors.

In 2003, Northsail will be conducted using two of the Navy’s 11-metre yachts.

For some participants, it will be a completely new environment, in which they have to learn a whole new set of skills and language.

For others, it will be second nature.

The expedition provides participants with challenging situations, such as rough nights, seasickness, cooking, eating and living in a confined environment

This tests each participant’s physical and mental stamina. However, for every challenge, there are also rewards, such as developing new friends, new skills and experiencing beautiful scenery.

Each yacht will be led by an Australian Yachting Federation (AYF) qualified skipper and supported by an AYF qualified mate.

The skipper and mate will train the six crew in all aspects of sailing the vessel, with most crew able to sail and manage the yacht effectively by the end of their sailing leg.

Northsail 2003 will be conducted over 45 days and will feature 10 sailing legs.

Each participant may nominate for a sailing leg of three days.

As each yacht is limited to eight crew per sailing leg, the total number of berths available for this year’s event is 160.

Nominations for skippers and mates have already been called for with crew nominations available on the Northsail web site: http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/raafweb/Sites/ADFSAIL/

To apply for a crewmember position, you don’t need any sailing experience, but you must be physically and mentally fit.

Participants must provide a doctor’s certificate when they apply.

.