“I was really looking forward to going sailing for the first time, but I never thought it would be like this; competitive, tactical, technical and a sport where team work is essential. I am still shaking from the adrenalin rush. I am hooked and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve got fireworks going off in my head.” Commented, injured soldier, Chris, after his first ever yacht race at Skandia Cowes Week on TOE IN THE WATER, the Army Sailing Association’s Archambault 40.
The Injured Soldiers Sailing Initiative (ISSI) has been very inspirational to Chris. Dealing with traumatic injuries is not just about addressing the obvious physical injuries, there are also the psychological effects to consider and coming to Cowes and competing in the biggest regatta in the world seemed a distant dream to Chris only a few months ago, as he explains.
“I was at Headley Court for eight months which was a comparatively short time, most of the injured guys are there a lot longer than that and they won’t let you go until you are able to look after yourself again. I still go to Headley Court for check ups and I can’t wait to tell the lads there about Skandia Cowes Week. I will be telling them that they can do it and how it has filled me with confidence as well as a real interest in a great sport.”
Fellow sailing novice and injured soldier, Andy, says that the initiative is a huge success, “The sailing community has welcomed us with open arms and sailing as a team on the boat has nothing but positives. I seriously wonder why we as soldiers from all ranks wait to be injured before using sports like sailing in this way. I’m sure these opportunities were available anyway but would be great if the benefits of going sailing were better advertised – then maybe more people would take it up as a sport.”
In a seriously competitive fleet of 28 boats from all over Europe in Class IRC2, TOE IN THE WATER were sixth on the water in their first ever race, a staggering achievement. On Day 2 of Skandia Cowes Week, the team were in real contention for a podium finish, lying third on the water. However as is the way with sailing, a torn spinnaker was their undoing with nine boats passing them before they could recover the sail, dropping them to thirteenth, a commendable result under the circumstances.
Undeterred, the TOE IN THE WATER crew will be back in action tomorrow, keen as ever to take whatever the competition can throw at them.
Het lijkt wel een film. Bovenstaande tekst is van augustus 2008, intussen heeft Chris een atlantische oversteek op zijn naam en doet hij een opleiding om professioneel zeiler te worden…. Need I say more!?
