News
How She Sails: Tiffanie
Published Thu 18 Jun 2020
How long have you been in the sport of Sailing?34 years
What Club, Association or company are you involved with?
Townsville Sailing Club and RQYS
What Part do you play in our sport?
Sailor; Parent
Tell us how you first got involved with Sailing.
I had done some sailing as a child with my Dad on a Puffin pacer which he built himself, but my involvement really began when I was riding my bike to Uni. One day while listening to the radio on my Sony Walkman ( yes, I am old!!) it said “Do you want to spend 9 months being cold, uncomfortable and nauseous?” I thought to myself - Yeah, that sounds better than studying!!! So, I applied.
After a 3 day long selection camp, I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of 6 men and 6 women to be the delivery crew of the Young Endeavor on her maiden voyage to Australia.
There are many pathways in sailing, where has your journey taken you?
After 9 incredible months on Young Endeavour, I returned to life on land, but I felt restless and knew I had to sail again, so, after a few years of working, I met my future husband and, together we fitted out a boat and spent 7 years sailing around the world.
Whatever part of sailing you belong to, tell us about what you enjoy about your sport?
I enjoy the immediate connection that you feel with other sailors. I think it is because our sport is tough, uncomfortable and you have to have a deep respect for the ocean and Mother Nature. You have to be humble and know that you never truly in control, but always reacting to the conditions you find yourself in. This can put sailors in situations where they have to truly dig deep in order to survive/overcome the challenge before them.
What would you say to someone thinking about getting into sailing?
I would say go to your nearest sailing club and ask if you can go for a sail with someone. Do a learn to sail course.
Tell us your favourite story ….
I have no favourite story, but many favourite memories of our 7 year circumnavigation. We saw calving glaciers in Alaska, swam with seals in the Galapagos and sailed past the White cliffs of Dover. Our longest passage was 36 days (4,500n.miles) and during that time the only other life forms we saw were whales, booby birds and flying fish. At gunpoint, we were placed under boat arrest in Port Sudan; we chugged our way through the French canals and into the centre of Paris. We sailed the dark waters of Loch Ness and walked on beaches where the only other footprints were made by Grizzly Bears.
I have no favourite story, but many favourite memories of our 7 year circumnavigation. We saw calving glaciers in Alaska, swam with seals in the Galapagos and sailed past the White cliffs of Dover. Our longest passage was 36 days (4,500n.miles) and during that time the only other life forms we saw were whales, booby birds and flying fish. At gunpoint, we were placed under boat arrest in Port Sudan; we chugged our way through the French canals and into the centre of Paris. We sailed the dark waters of Loch Ness and walked on beaches where the only other footprints were made by Grizzly Bears.
"I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of 6 men and 6 women to be the delivery crew of the Young Endeavor on her maiden voyage to Australia." |
