BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS – HOW MELBOURNE SABRE SAILORS ARE RIDING THE SECOND WAVE.

In a series of on again, off again COVID-19 restrictions since March, Melbourne Sabre sailors have found themselves stranded high and dry. Undeterred by the storm, the fleet has ‘re- written’ the sailing instructions; rigging up new strategies for community connection.

The class’ renowned enthusiasm normally reserved for the rigging yards and racecourse, has rapidly switched tack to embrace online sailing development forums designed to share and foster skills growth, Sabrette Soirees creating a sense of connection and community across the female contingent and PR cross-State collaborations. While fortnightly informal Zoom catch ups have replaced after racing bar chats, boat repair checklists and to do lists pre-empt a no excuse strategy for a return to the sea.

Although some sailors have hooked into regular informal online social opportunities, others have maintained motivation by hurling heavy and light weight questions into the Facebook Sabre Development Forum. Ranging from how to improve boat speed, plywood boat rule changes, sail designs, centreboard rake, righting lines, mast sections and installing self- bailing systems, questions have been asked and willingly answered by all.

The sharing Sabre spirit continued as Alan Riley, current go fast guru holding two Sabre National State Championship titles back to back, invited fellow Sabre sailors to participate in several ‘all you can digest’ one-hour Q&A sessions. He says, “I like to think people have been learning from me, so will improve and enjoy their sailing more” and is keen to see the initiatives continue post lockdown.

Enjoying the information on offer, Randall Garnham from Black Rock Yacht Club, admittedly suffering serious sailing withdrawal symptoms, has become a further force to recon with after participating in the sessions. “I learnt heaps from these. Alan and Murray O’Brien’s tips were great. Their knowledge on how to sail fast in various conditions and how to address our problem areas was great. I’m itching to put it into practice so watch out!”

When asked what the most difficult thing about not being able to sail during this period has been, Sabre sailor Pam Webster remarked, “It’s the total physical isolation. I can’t go to the sailing club to check on the Sabre or do maintenance … or evict the water rats that might have taken up residence in my Sabre.” After regularly participating in Sabre Zoom events she comments, “I don’t feel isolated and it’s the positive attitude of the people in the class” that she has found helpful.

Lisa Barrand, familiar with Sabrette succour, sleepovers, and regular host of the Sabrette Soirees is confident the “Regular Zoom has been very supportive for people – beyond sailing.” Luis Mata says, “I miss being physically tired after going for a sail, and the sense of peace and relaxation that comes after sailing.” While Harold Medd, Mata’s fortnightly forum co-host and Sabre veteran shares, “I have always needed the completely absorbing activity of sailing to get me away from all other issues.” Both agree that the sharing of stories and getting to know each other beyond the club and a regatta has deepened their connection to the class and are keen to see the events continue.

In an environment where most Melbourne sailors don’t have a compass bearing for the next windward mark, it’s been the collective display of will, determination and commitment to community, symbolic of a sailing class made up of people prepared to batten down the hatches and weather a storm together, that has seen Sabre sailors reinvent the rules to continue living out the class’ values. Values readily described by its members as, “Encouraging, supportive, welcoming, inclusive, friendly,” or in the words of Adrian West, “Awesome!  Seriously, it’s one of the best groups I’ve seen.”

It’s traits like these that will see the continued development of a sustainable class of inclusion and participation. Securing Sabre success for the highs and the lows, the storm and the calm. In a class that can truly claim:

“Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.”

(Simon and Garfunkel)

TERMINALLY UNIQUE – Cracking the Code on Self-Worth

Trying to write a piece on a topic that sounds like a disease is complicated. It’s not exactly a draw card, eye catching or essential reading; nor would it be a hit on the Top 10 Blog charts. When the phrase in focus, ‘Terminally Unique’, offers up an oxymoron, the reader is more likely to develop interest in a burnt piece of toast than sort out the conundrum of expression. But unlike charcoal toast, there is nutritional value in unpacking the paradox.

For many of the technologically challenged like me, remembering passwords is like recalling the national anthem. My portal confrontation starts with a subtle process of login conviction, a move to mild annoyance and finally to ultimate remonstrance and surrender. Messages of “Username already taken” or “Incorrect user ID” spurs keypad clobbering and vehement castigation. Short of offering my unique details, the vault remains unwaveringly bolted. A deep dive into notebook archives leaves me digging for my unique credentials, the perfect password, my classified code. It’s some crazy combination of upper case, lower case, non- alphanumeric characters. My digital distinctiveness.

Therein lies an odd but obvious contradiction. It seems we unquestionably accept the requirement for cyber singularity; but ironically spend most of our lives as digital hackers. Cloning or stealing selfhood. Ignoring, burying, discrediting or sabotaging our personal scripted specialness. We ride high and low in our search for self- truth; our alter egos shouting crude distractions and deceit over the soul whisper of belonging, place and worth.

Anchored inside the dark web of identity denial and the intranet of self- derision; terminal uniqueness wraps itself lithely around our doubt. It ensnares personal insecurity, swallows shame and overshadows ambivalence. Its source code unfolds diversity, discovers delight and musters confidence. It clobbers lies and smashes the ceiling on our mainframe of mediocracy. Terminal Uniqueness – the Spirit’s script of wonder and possibility; the Creational directive of eternal, inescapable and indiscriminate un-likeness. A password of raw truth about you, me, him, her, them, us.

So, I’m loading up my firewall, locking out identity hackers, protecting my username and one- off Creator’s code. With determination I’ll resist password reset, yielding to the ‘yes’ of the gospel truth of my inherent uniqueness. Running a virus scanner against malware and the deep-seated infiltration of untruths, I’ll embrace Shakespeare in his, “This above all: to thine own self be true” and hold steady to the Psalmist who penned, “Wonderfully Made.” And being the only version of me, I need to get with the program, lock in the password, live with intention and always, always, remember to pop up the toast.

BEYOND THE FENCE

“Just stop digging!” Curse this frenzied journey to the centre of the earth. What secret navigational coordinates indicate a prized cache buried here? Oh, to have discovery as a hardwired, quintessential mandate. A high energy, all encompassing, thoroughly convincing and self – confident mission to love blindly, serve unconditionally, dig vociferously and destroy innocently. Envy of such single minded determination. Loving the sock, the ripped serviette, the table leg and its seriously angry owner simultaneously seems effortless.

Mixed somewhere in the dried dog food, hides a secret ingredient for daily vigour and endless vitality. Half a cup three times a day until 6 months. How much for over 40? Fearlessness underpins ‘fetch’, all wrapped up in a yellow rubber ball, stick or half eaten plastic bottle. Hesitation abandoned, confidence abounding, adventure aspirational.

An audacious self-belief and worthiness oozes from every greeting, lick, tummy rub or request for treats. Vulnerability is erased with the stroke of a hand. Self-evaluation, wallowing or pity evident only after discipline for brazened defiance of rules, requests for peace and demands for returned wet washing. Life is a wholehearted “yes”, until a resolute baritone voice enforces a fleeting “no”. Love is communal and, with the exception of a bone protecting military offensive, generally unselfish. Confidence a constant companion attached to a lead with a road to anywhere, along which curiosity breeds courage, illusions of canine grandeur and magpie domination. Self – doubt lies unchartered, abandoned, and expired alongside the squeaker dismembered from it’s toy.

Fowl feathered friends present prospects for opportunity. Stern admonishment equating to exploits temporarily postponed. Discovery or defiance? The ever present yard fences shift paradigms, forming horizons for adventure, solid motivation and innovation for excavation and escape. An infectious enthusiasm mandates enquiry, exploration, and embrace of the new.

Trudging to the garden shed, I survey my options. What tools do I have for a scandalous approach to enquiry? For infectious enthusiasm? What will be useful for life’s tug of war or punctured tennis balls?  A saw will prove useful for a hole in the fence, or a ladder for a quick ascent. A chainsaw rapidly removes dead wood creating pathways – a permission slip for adventure. Fertilizer provides ingredients for new shoots of wholeheartedness and a shovel imperative for expedited uncovering of long buried self-belief. Loading the wheelbarrow my determination is reassured by the breeze of a wagging tail. A heartening encouragement that growth is directly connected to my willingness to cast aside doubt and scale the limitations of the fences in my mind. It only takes a sniff.