Eclectic mix for latest Noakes Youth regatta

by Lisa Ratcliff on 22 Apr 2009 The latest Noakes Youth Regatta brought together an eclectic mix of youth aged 15 to 24 from three states, and all from very different backgrounds.

Noakes Youth regulars and newcomers, students from Marist Sisters College Woolwich and a small group from Colony 47, a Tasmanian youth program which focuses on housing, employment, education and mentoring, transcended their respective upbringings and lapped up the opportunity to be team players and display confidence and leadership skills in an unfamiliar environment.

The previous Noakes Youth regatta was held in Hobart in October with those Colony 47 participants who sailed both days of the weekend invited at the time by Noakes Youth founder Sean Langman to Sydney to take part in the next regatta.

The overall win following Saturday’s eight races in a south easterly breeze went to the crew aboard the Elliott 6 sports boat 5 Rings skippered by Olympic Laser aspirant James Burman - who’s spawning good omens at every opportunity – and crewed by Clint Johnson (Noakes Youth), Mel Johns (Noakes Youth) and Bridget Edwards (Colony 47).

A champion Laser sailor who joined the Noakes Youth program last July, Burman sealed his fourth consecutive Noakes Youth regatta win from eight after claiming the gold medal race, leaving the Zees, skippered by former Noakes Youth coordinator Erin McNight and Bananas team, led by Ed Christian, an original Noakes Youth member who is now a team leader, tied for second.

Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia aboard their fleet of Elliott 6 Olympic class sports boats, the latest in the series of Noakes Youth regattas was much more than a day’s sailing on Sydney’s picturesque harbour.

The interstaters were flown to Sydney Friday evening and taken to their accommodation before meeting the rest of the group the following morning for breakfast at Bondi Beach. The group was then transported to the CYCA at Darling Point for a briefing and to rig up four Elliotts.

Racing commenced late morning under the watchful eye of 17 time Rolex Sydney Hobart veteran Sean Langman and ran all day with little separating the four teams on the final results sheet.

'Unlike previous Noakes Youth regattas the teams were pretty evenly matched and the pace was pretty fast,' said Noakes Youth coordinator Nicki Langman who, along with a coordinator and two case workers from Colony 47, watched the action from the sidelines.

Twenty three year old Clint Johnson, a first time participant and member of the winning crew, praised the concept: 'The regatta displayed teamwork, character development, a sense of community and just outright fun, and by the end everyone had bonded through the experience.

'Sean was overly generous in everything he did and his character was a great display of leadership,' Johnson added.

Saturday evening the entire group debriefed at Pancakes at the Rocks and Sunday Langman took them out on Noakes’ historic Rosman Ferries, Proclaim, all enjoying an on-board BBQ to the sounds of Balmain’s Acoustica music festival.

'The group dynamics were good with the Colony 47 participants showing a lot more confidence socially this time around, and wanting to be really involved in all the planned activities,' added Nicki Langman.

www.noakesyouth.net.au