RCBN Happenings 11 December Meeting

 

Kate Mitchell was our Guest Speaker who titled her presentation ‘Becoming A Sailor’
Kate started sailing when she was little because she came from a family of sailors.
She was given her first boat at 8 and her brother became an Olympic sailor.
Kate just got more and more serious, sailing larger and larger boats. Her first race was to Geelong where she came 3rd!
Now she is part owner of a 45 foot, 15 crew, ocean racing yacht named ‘Goldfinger’. The name Goldfinger having connotations one cannot print in a Rotary publication.
Kate showed us many photos of ocean racing with some showing sailing dangerously close to serious trouble at times.
Kate admitted that she gets extremely stressed preparing for the Sydney to Hobart race. Jim knowingly agreed. As he did when Kate mentioned modern sails can cost $15000 each!
Racing such a large yacht calls for extreme team-work, particular individual skills and split timing as well as tactical navigation skills which Kate excels at.
All in all a fascinating and enjoyable presentation by a very driven lady - Rear Commodore Kate.
Meg giving the VOT thanked Kate for treating us as family and for giving such an interesting talk.