Sailing with Courage
As much as I can, I am out on the water, sailing. I have been participating in the sport for about eight years and sail small dinghies - like the Mirror, 125, and Sabre. It is an incredible sport, with competitive racing that relies on teamwork and skill.
On 16-17 November, I was competing in a regatta in Williamstown. I was sailing a Mirror, with my crew, Oli. Suddenly, after racing, a massive squall came through, with winds of up to 50 knots (90km/h). Almost the entire fleet capsized, and we were stuck sitting on our upside down boats for almost an hour while everyone was rescued. The shipping channel had to be closed, there were 50 boats upside down, and the event ended up on the news.
Eventually, we ended up at Sandridge Beach, and a rescue boat came to get us. All the competitors were safe, but it was quite a dramatic scene - with many powerboats, yachts, water police, and even a coast guard helicopter searching for and helping the sailors. Oli and I ended up coming 1st in our division, and it was a very interesting experience overall.
Over the summer holidays, we will be competing in both the Australian Mirror Class Championships and the 125 National Championships, hoping for better weather and flat seas. Next year, it would be amazing to get an MSJ school sailing team together!
Our camp to the Daylesford/Macedon region was such an amazing experience and one we’ll never forget! As part of the Duke of Edinburgh program, we learnt important skills like first aid, Trangia cooking, and how to set up a tent. All the preparation paid off and made the camp more fun and successful.
The views on the hike were amazing. We got to see places like Camel’s Hump, the Mt Macedon Cross lookout, and Lake Daylesford at sunset. It was so cool to just stop and take in how beautiful the scenery was. We also got closer as a group, spending time with people we didn’t usually talk to and making some great memories. Funny moments, like cooking marshmallows for breakfast, spotting wild peacocks and slipping in the mud when it rained, made the trip even more special.
Working together was a big part of this camp. We helped each other set up and pack down the tents, shared the cooking, and even came up with a headcount system to make sure no one got left behind after a few of us fell behind on the first day.
The hardest part was sleeping on the uncomfortable mats, but we pushed through and were so proud of finishing the second day’s hike with only a few stops in the rain. This camp showed us how much fun camping can be and left us with memories we’ll always treasure!
Jessica Aivaliotis, Hannah Williams & Evie Middleton - Year 9
