Six salty sailors after Audi Victoria Week experience

The Rotary Youth Audi Victoria Week program provides six 16-18 year olds from regional Victoria a chance to enjoy Australia’s largest sailing regatta and to celebrate the significance of Australia Day.

Friday morning the six spent one-on-one time with 12 time sailing world champion and dual Olympic Tornado silver medallist Darren Bundock and Beijing 470 gold medallist Elise Rechichi in preparation for the historic passage race from Melbourne to Geelong on Saturday at 0930hrs, when a fleet of 335 boats set sail in spectacular fashion.

For all but one of the six successful nominees it was the first time on a boat and there was plenty of nervous excitement as they were briefed on the race format.

Their first offshore outing wasn’t the most comfortable of rides with a southerly headwind and patchy showers, but their spirits were not dampened. The six who hail from regional towns such as Echuca, Bendigo and Castlemaine thoroughly enjoyed such a unique experience.

One of the participants was fortunate enough to join sailing legend, Lou Abrahams on his yacht Challenge. Amy ‘Jean’ Van Heumen, nominated by the Bendigo Strathdale Rotary Club was suitably impressed, “It was really good, so much fun.

“It was a little bit choppy to start with, but fantastic. Being from Bendigo there’s no beach, no yacht club, so it was a great opportunity.

“I’ll definitely have a good night’s sleep tonight,” she said.

In 2001 John Bertrand AM, Patron of Audi Victoria Week and Victorian Australia Day Committee Member, introduced a concept that has evolved into the Rotary Youth program. The core objective was to connect regional Victoria to the metropolitan Australia Day celebration by creating a wide eyed, awe inspiring ‘day in the life of Australia Day’ experience.

The six youths were selected by clubs within the 9800 Victorian districts. They were invited to attend Thursday’s Australia Post Australia Day luncheon at the Peninsula room in Melbourne’s Docklands before they stepped aboard a Sydney 38 one design boat for the 34 mile nautical race.

It was a race fraught with disaster for one yacht that collided with another and sunk, fortunately for the Rotary Youth students, no such drama.

The students were selected based on special recognition, or for their high achievements. The 2010 Rotary youth are:
• Kelcie McDonell representing the Rotary Club of Eaglehawk
• Ricky Tinetti representing the Rotary Club of Echuca – Moama
• Leah Corrie representing the Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst
• Deborah Kinnersley representing the Rotary Club of Castlemaine
• Jess Brain representing the Rotary Club of Castlemaine
• Amy (Jean) Van Meumen representing Rotary Club of Bendigo Strathdale

Follow the action daily and view images, video and full results at: www.victoriaweek.com
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