Recognition for flying sailor

By Andrew Stackpool

More than 600 ADF personnel have benefited from the Northsail program.

The Northsail program was first organised in 1999 by FLTLT Rob Saunders and AVM Tony Austin, pictured above.

NORTHSAIL adventurous training received high-level recognition when its director for the past five years received a CDF Commendation recently.

Flight Lieutenant Rob Saunders, who has been the driving force behind Northsail since 1999, received his commendation from Air Vice-Marshal Tony Austin on August 19. Air Vice-Marshal Austin is the Patron of the ADF Sailing Association and an experienced yachtsman.

Describing sailing as ideal for recruiting and retention, Air Vice-Marshal Austin said sailing, especially blue-water racing or cruising, is a real leveller.

“There are times out there when you wish you were somewhere else, times when you wish you were dead, but you have to keep going,” he said.

“Everyone must play his or her part, there is no room for rank or status. If anyone fails then the whole crew may be at risk. Everyone must rely on everyone else. People get to know their true capabilities.

“These are qualities that we rely on heavily in people in the ADF, where our work requires us to go into areas of risk.

“Sailing develops people skills. It makes us aware of how far we really can go under periods of stress and ultimately makes us better people.

“It is wonderful to see children who start a sailing course who are often terrified of all the other boats around, the wind and the boat heeling, and the fact they don’t know what they are doing, but at the end of the course are quietly competent and confident. They are afraid of nothing and know what they can do.

“They have developed their own characters, unlike, perhaps, some in other more popular sports. More importantly, they take these skills into their education and work, and move on to do great things in their lives.

“As they move up the sailing ladder into racing, they become much more interested in their own health, in fitness and in fair play. They become much better people overall.”

The Northsail series comprises two of the Navy’s sail training yachts undertaking an ocean passage from Sydney to North Queensland and return. Sailed in a series of stages, each voyage takes about 50 days. Each yacht is crewed by eight personnel for each stage.

The skippers and mates are professionally qualified yachtsmen and women but the others, volunteers from across Defence, have often never stepped onto a yacht before. During the voyages, the crews may experience the full range of weather conditions and learn how to work together to sail the yachts safely.

Since Flight Lieutenant Saunders has had the helm, more than 600 personnel have participated without a single significant incident.

ADFSA spokesman Commander Martin Linsley said that although no Northsail was held in 2005, the next Northsail is currently in concept form, under the management of Major Col Chidgey.

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