Challenger students offer support to sailing champs

by Nikki Sinclair on 2 Dec 2011 Ten Marine Tourism students from Challenger Institute of Technology are playing an integral role in the running of the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships being held in Fremantle this month.

Challenger Institute lecturer Matt Wescott said that the event had provided a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students.

'As this a world stage, the Championships provided a huge opportunity for them to network and contribute to the running of this massive event.'

Mr Wescott said that the Marine Tourism and Marine Studies students would be performing a number of different roles over the two weeks.

'Their tasks range from driving the marshalling vessels, chaperoning the teams, timing, manning the world village and involvement in the Parade of Sail opening event,' Mr Wescott said.

Kyren Gorey is studying a Certificate III in Marine Tourism at Challenger and will be helping the athletes to launch the boats over the three weeks of the event.

'I think it’s really cool that something as big as this is coming to Perth. I think it’s something that people will remember in years to come, like The America’s Cup,' Kyren said.

I’m also looking forward to the sense of achievement I’ll have at the end of it and the fact that I’ll be able to look back in time and say that I was a part of it.'

Kelsie Munro who is also studying Marine Tourism said that she had always loved sailing.

'I watch sailing on TV and now it will be great to experience this once in a lifetime event in real life,' she enthused.

Both students have recently learnt to sail themselves as part of their studies at Challenger and were taught by none other than sailing great David Dicks.

Challenger Institute itself is involved from an operational perspective with the car park of Challenger’s Fleet Street campus being transformed into the Challenger Boat Park. The boat park is where the Men’s and Women’s RS:X windsurfers will be based.

The sailing event is the biggest international sailing event of the year as well as the major qualifier for sailing at next year’s London Olympic Games.

The 16 day championship regatta is being sailed off Fremantle between 3 – 18 December with some 12000 sailors and 850 boats from almost 80 nations taking part.

Challenger website: www.challenger.wa.edu.au