CAPTAIN SARAH INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED FOR SAIL TRAINING

STS Leeuwin II Captain Sarah Robinson has been internationally recognised with the prestigious Sail Trainer of the year award for her role in the Leeuwin’s sail training program for young Western Australians.

Captain Robinson was announced as the winner during the International Sail Training Conference for 2013 held in Denmark recently; making her the only Australian to have won the prestigious award, to date.

The award is the highest accolade that can be achieved by a professional in the Sail Training industry, recognising a high performing individual over 25 that successfully delivers sail training programs.

Sarah Robinson developed a passion for tall ship sailing at the early age of 14, where like many of the young trainees she now helps train on Leeuwin voyages in the position of Captain; she sailed herself as a trainee on British Square Rigger T.S Royalist.

Leeuwin CEO Anne-Marie Archer said, “The Leeuwin’s main purpose is to inspire and challenge young people to realise their capabilities and reach their full potential. With Captain Sarah’s professional manner, years of experience and background in originally starting as a trainee in a sail training program herself, she is the perfect person to oversee Leeuwin’s sail training program.”

“Sarah’s role on the ship positively impacts on the Western Australian community and generates outcomes from youth that have long term benefits, taking the future members of society and teaching them the many life skills that will contribute to a better society.

“The Leeuwin and the wider Australian community is very fortunate to have her as a Captain, as she has inspired and had an impact both directly and indirectly on thousands of young people’s lives,” Ms Archer said.

In 2010 the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation was internationally recognised as the leading Sail Training organisation of the year, demonstrating excellence in ‘innovation’ and ‘best practice’ in sail training for young people.

“The Foundation aspires to continuously improve its program and being recognised on the international platform is a wonderful endorsement of our efforts, “Ms Archer said.

The Foundation was also recently recognised closer to home for its Corporate Social Responsibility, in the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce Business awards for 2013.

Captain Sarah is no stranger to recognition, having also been awarded the Pride of Australia Medal for the Fair Go category for Western Australia this year.

In addition to her everyday responsibilities as Captain of the STS Leeuwin II including navigation, management of crew training, and ensuring safety standards are kept relevant and followed, Sarah is totally committed to the training and development not only of the trainees who come on board but also of the 10 volunteer crew and 4 permanent crew who sail with her. 

Sarah has trained several people to levels where they can attend college and go on to pursue careers; whether that is becoming ships officers themselves or going on to get jobs on tall ships all around the world.

In response to her reasons behind choosing this often demanding lifestyle and line of work Captain Sarah Robinson said; “I choose it because I enjoy witnessing the growth in the young people that come on our voyages.”

“I consider myself a product of sail training and it has given me some amazing opportunities that I hope I can pass on to young people and open their eyes to what they can do if they put their mind to it and work hard.

“Going to sea is not for everyone but the skills people gain from a voyage are skills they need in everyday life,” she said.

KIND CLIMBING

This week we celebrated World Kindness Day, which provided the perfect opportunity to reflect on many beautiful moments we have witnessed here on Leeuwin over the years.

One of the many that came to mind was that of a young visually impaired trainee who had set a personal goal to climb up to the first platform of our foremast by the end of her voyage. Climbing our masts can be quite daunting and sometimes difficult at the best of times, let alone attempting to climb without the advantage of seeing what you are climbing and where to place your hands and feet. However, this did not seem to discourage the girl who was determined on reaching that first platform. 

When climbing our foremast, there is a section right before you reach the first platform that leans outwards, requiring the trainees to climb, leaning back and supporting their own body weight. Although the young trainee was accompanied and supported she experienced quite a lot of difficulty navigating this section. After witnessing the young girl try without success on multiple occasions, her Watch Leader took the initiative to attempt to understand her challenge by climbing that section again whilst not relying on visual dependency in order to find a way to better instruct the young girl to climb. After the Watch Leader successfully climbed the section, she found herself needing to shift her thinking as to how her years of experience could be conveyed differently to provide supportive instruction. So with a new frame of mind, she climbed the mast again, taking note of everything she could use to provide a more tactile description to support the trainee’s goal to climb the mast.

After climbing back down, she accompanied the young trainee back up the mast with specific instructions as to what to feel for, and where to place her hands and feet. This time with success, the young girl made it all the way up to the first platform and achieved her goal. As the Watch Leader and trainee made their way slowly back down the mast to the deck, with the Watch Leader helping place the young girl’s feet into the right rungs, the ship had entered Fremantle Port and was almost alongside. As the ship slowed in front of B Berth, there was now a crowd of parents, and onlookers awaiting the return of the voyage and their children. This young trainee’s amazing achievement was witnessed by all alongside the wharf and celebrated with loud cheers and a few tears.

We have an amazing crew and volunteers here at Leeuwin and every voyage and sail we are lucky enough to witness moments like these where we have made a difference in young people’s lives. Thank you to our many kind hearted crew and volunteers that embrace the principles of World Kindness Day - EVERYDAY!

VOTE FOR CAPTAIN SARAH!!!

We need your help to VOTE FOR CAPTAIN SARAH! Captain Sarah recently won the Pride of Australia Medal in the Fair Go category for Western Australia. She now has the chance to win on a National Level and we need your help!!!! The finalist with the MOST ONLINE VOTES is the winner. If Captain Sarah wins nationally, the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation will receive a $10,000 donation that will go towards keeping our life-changing youth development program running. ($10k.... imagine what we could do with that!!)   Please visit this web address, register your details and vote for Sarah Robinson. http://prideofaustralia.com.au/peoples-choice-medal/nominees/fair-go  It will only take a few minutes but every vote counts!! Voting closes Monday, 28th October so please spread the word and get your friends and family to take 2 minutes and vote. GO CAPTAIN GO!!!!

2013 VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

It's that time of year again... the time of year where we celebrated our annual volunteer of the year awards, recognising volunteers who have made a special contribution for various categories over the last sailing season. We would love to share the award categories with you and recognise the winners for their amazing efforts, contributions and support over the past year.

AUSTA MEDALLION Peter Graham

Each year since 2001 AUSTA has awarded personal achievement medallions recognising persons of any age who have shown outstanding personal achievement either on board or in support of the organisation’s vessel.

This year, this prestigious award goes to a volunteer who doesn't let his age get in the way of his amazing contribution to Leeuwin. This person returns time and time again, committing to at least one voyage a month, as a Watch Leader and is loved by all of his trainees and fellow Leeuwin crew. This person is always willing to shuffle his own schedule around, often moving things of priority to put Leeuwin first and can always be relied on to put his hand up when we are short of volunteers. Trainee Watch Leaders are often placed under the guidance of this volunteer, and there are not many current Watch Leaders who have not sailed as a t-dub under his training prior to receiving their watch leader rating. This volunteer’s patience, kindness, knowledge, skills and dedication to young trainees are an absolute asset to the Foundation. Coming straight from the Captain’s mouth – this volunteer’s presence on board any voyage makes the voyage sail that much smoother and makes the Captain happy. 

AUSTA MEDALLION Chloe Hosking

The second AUSTA medallion goes to a young person aged between 16-23 years who has shown outstanding personal achievement while undertaking a voyage.

This AUSTA medallion recipient is a volunteer always willing to go the extra mile and put in more than what is required of her. She shows hard work, enthusiasm and dedication towards everything she helps out with at Leeuwin and has come to fit right in with the shed boys, though she drops the average age about 50 years. This volunteer has shown great progression this year and worked very hard over many voyages to get her Watch Leader rating. She can always be seen around the ship and shed with a beaming smile and a positive attitude.

ORDER OF MERIT (VOYAGES) Chloe Hosking

This award recognises one red shirt who has volunteered their time on the most number of voyages this sailing season. This volunteer participated in 12 out of 20 voyages this season.

ORDER OF MERIT (SHORT SAILS) Don Kinnear

This award recognises a red shirt who has volunteered their time on the most number of short sails this season. This volunteer participated in 36 out of 89 short sails this season.

CAPTAIN’S AWARD – Mitchell Cullen and Barbara Henderson

This year the Captain’s award is an endurance award that is recognising two volunteers for their contribution to the Monkey Mia leg of our voyages. This year two of our red shirts both did the voyage up to Monkey Mia and back, and everything in between. Those voyages can be particularly tough and  these volunteers gave their time to participate in all voyages.

 

SPIRIT OF LEEUWIN  (INDIVIDUAL) - Emily Brough

This award recognises a volunteer who encompasses the spirit of what Leeuwin is about. This recipient really is a great example of the Spirit of Leeuwin. She is friendly, willing to teach others, skilled, passionate, dedicated and reliable and has in past been awarded volunteer of the year by the Sail Training Association. 

SPIRIT OF LEEUWIN AWARD (ORGANISATION) -  Woodside and Minderoo Foundation

This award recognises an organisation/ community partner who encompasses the spirit of what Leeuwin is about.

This year, we awarded the Spirit of Leeuwin Award to two organisations whose contributions and support over the year have seen hundreds of young people who would otherwise never have the opportunity available to them, be able to attend a voyage this season. Woodside and the Minderoo Foundation (formerly known as the Australian Children’s Trust) have continued to support us in the form of scholarships. The voyage fare can often be a barrier for many young people to have this life changing experience, so to have the support of Woodside and Minderoo this year has been amazing and both organisations really do encompass the Spirit of Leeuwin – and that is aiming to bring positive difference to the lives of young Western Australians. 

OTHER ORGANISATIONS 

It is not just our major sponsors who have helped us out this year or made a

contribution to helping young people attend a voyage. We would also like to

recognise the following organisations for all of their support over the season in the

form of sponsorship, scholarships , promotion and continuing a partnership sending

local youths on a voyage.

            

Manjimup APEX club

Shire of Harvey

City of Kwinana

Middle Island Fishing Club

Shire of Dardanup

Lions Club of Leeuwin

Shire of Dandaragan

CRC Network

The City of Gosnells

And KEI

VOLUNTEER SHORE SUPPORT AWARD - Ken Whiting

This award recognises an individual who has made valuable contributions to the smooth running of the office.  He is perhaps a lesser seen volunteer who started with the Foundation over 20 years ago. Since then he has been on several voyages as watch leader, purser and doctor; he is a long term member of the Ultimate Challenge Committee and assesses all trainee voyage medical forms. 

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD - Sarah Gilbert

This award was a chance for all of our volunteers to nominate a fellow red shirt. The award recipient is described as being awesome, fun, hardworking, and someone who can be relied upon by her fellow volunteers. She is always willing to lend a hand and has done by being involved in refit, short sails and voyages.

VOLUNTEER ALL ROUNDER AWARD - Jeffrey Poon

This award goes to one of our red shirts who has excelled at all roles he has taken over the past year. He has been a cooks mate, purser, watch leader and has volunteered in the shed and office. He has not a lot of free time, but always makes time for Leeuwin. He goes above and beyond what is expected and has come to be someone other red shirts go to for his knowledge, wisdom and skills. He is friendly, enthusiastic and  is always wearing a huge smile. 

APPRECIATION AWARDS - Angela Bond, Mike Swan and Ben Dewar

SOCIAL CREW SPONSORED AWARD - Heather Denham

This award recognises one of our newest watch leaders. This person returned after a 3 year break to volunteering on voyages. She was a trainee watch leader and watch leader on a total of 7 voyages, including 4 out or 5 Christ Church voyages.  She has the patience of a saint and is welcome back anytime after she gets back from travelling America.

OTHER THANKYOUS 

Thankyou to Gail and Bernie for their contributions and hard work running the Leeuwin social crew this year

These are only a few of our amazing volunteers who keep the ship, shed and shore running so a huge thank you to everyone involved with Leeuwin this year. We couldn't do it without you and are very excited to see old and new faces joining us for the new season starting tomorrow!

ONCE-A-YEAR VISIT TO BUNBURY

Join us on a day sail on our only visit to Bunbury this year! 

This coming weekend a group of excited trainees are set to sail our blue canoe to Bunbury on a youth explorer voyage, where we will be opening the ship at the Port for two exclusive short sails on Saturday 5th October.We only visit Bunbury once a year, so this will be your only chance to hop on either a day sail or twilight sail and explore the unique surrounds of Bunbury, by tall ship. 

Saturday 5th October

Day Sail (11 - 2pm)

Twilight Sail (4 - 7pm)

Don't miss out! Places are filling quickly so visit sailleeuwin.rezdy.com to book your spot!

MEET OUR MATE!

It’s 7am on a weekday. Some of us have had a solid night’s sleep and have gotten used to the rocking motion of sleeping on a ship. Some of us have only just shut our eyes after just coming off the 12-4am night watch. All of us are woken up by the sound of Abba blasting through the ship’s speakers, followed by a Croatian accent greeting us with “Morning guys, guys morning. Time to get up and do some stretches, then we go eat.” Sitting in the Charthouse at the other end of the speaker, holding his cup of freshly brewed coffee, is Slaven Roje, our First Mate.

Born in Croatia, Slaven moved to Oz and joined the Leeuwin team in early 2012, having previously been in the position of First Officer on the Queen Mary. Slaven has sailed on cargo and cruise ships all around the world, and has travelled to places as diverse as Antarctica and the Caribbean. He worked as the second mate on the Queen Victoria before jumping ship to the Queen Mary as second mate and working his way up the ranks.

“Before I joined LOAF, I didn’t really know what to expect from Sail Training.

Does it really work, is it just an excuse for people like me to have fun on tall ships… now, a year smarter and definitely more experienced in Sail Training, I can say that the previous year of my life has been a fulfilled one.

I am now convinced that what we do here does make a difference and it can change young people’s lives.

I know it sounds like a cliché, but then again if it wasn’t true, it wouldn’t be a cliché.”

As First Mate on Leeuwin, Slaven is second in command of our ship. He is the one of our five permanent crew members that works most closely with trainees on voyages and runs the trainee program on board.

When Slaven isn’t sailing he enjoys photography, running, the gym and motorbikes. He would also like anyone who owns a long board with a single fin to give him a call!

MEET THE CHEF!

Some of the questions we always get asked when we visit schools and tell students about the Leeuwin voyages, are "What's the food like? If we get really hungry will there be enough? Can  we go back for seconds?" After returning from their first voyage the trainee's post-voyage letters almost always read words gushing over how good the food was, all thanks to our awesome Chef Aidan.

After an early morning start, woken up after having just come off night watch, morning stretches, climbed the mast several times and done a solid morning's sailing, the tempting smell of freshly baked biscuits wafts up from below deck, making all mouths on deck water. Trace that alluring smell down the main companionway and you will find our chef Aidan in the galley, music loud and cooking up something delicious. 

Growing up in the WA country town of Denmark, Aidan first came to Leeuwin as a trainee himself, with his first voyage in 2005. He enjoyed his first voyage so much that he returned as a volunteer often and as much as he could, with ratings of Bosun’s Mate and Watch Leader, every year until he came on board as the Leeuwin chef in early 2012. 

For Aidan, the Leeuwin exposed him to a different and more positive social avenue as a teenager. He wants to be able to provide the same experience he had to other people. “If in some small way I can give that to other people, I will.” 

With a love of food and a ton of experience working in a variety of restaurants, bars and cafés all around Perth, Aidan always manages to please trainees with his food.

“Working on Leeuwin is a truly unique experience; you will never have a working environment the same as this.”

JOIN US FOR MARITIME DAY

This Saturday, 31st August, is Fremantle Port's Maritime Day. 

There is a ton of fun and interesting activities and events happening including a performance from visiting Indonesian Tall Ship Dewaruci's marching band!

The Leeuwin team will be manning our stall in the B SHED, along with lots of other stalls, so if you are down in Fremantle for the day, come and say hi!

We will also have a team of Red-Shirts ready to give you a full deck tour of our beautiful "blue canoe" for just a gold coin donation 10 - 4pm.

Hope to see you there!!

JOIN US ON A JOURNEY DOWN SOUTH

This amazing weather is making us more and more excited to start the next sailing season, and we are starting it with a bang! We're headed to Bunbury and there's still space for you to join us!

Why not swap an otherwise uneventful week sitting in front of the computer, monitoring an unmoving Facebook news feed, for a spontaneous sailing adventure? 

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

This school holidays/ uni break, join us on a seven day ocean adventure that promises to be packed with new challenges, experiences and adventure. Meet a whole crew of new mates, wake up every morning out on the open ocean to the fresh salty air, and try something you wouldn't get the chance to do in every day life. 

Our crew will teach you every aspect of sailing a tall ship, giving you the chance to take the helm, plot our course, climb our 33 metre main mast and experience the thrill of setting and furling all sails. It's not uncommon to witness some pretty spectacular sights out there on the ocean, everything from standing on the bowsprit while dolphins play in the water directly below, whales within metres of the ship, meteor showers and the amazing phosphorescence during night watch. All of this makes for an awesome week, and is made even better by sharing it with a great group of new friends. 

VOYAGE 13/14 

Departing :  Fremantle 28th September
Arriving :     Bunbury   4th October

VOYAGE 13/15

Departing : Bunbury 7th October
Arriving :    Fremantle 13th October 

Email: ashleigh@sailleeuwin.com
Call: 9430 4105 
Visit: www.sailleeuwin.com

To enquire about scholarship opportunities, for more info or to book your spot.

LIFE STARTS NOW! 

WHAT'S NEW IN THE WORLD OF REFIT

It’s been the start to a busy month down here on the wharf. A ship in maintenance has seen the B shed buzzing with volunteers, contractors, crew and staff seven days a week; all giving their time, effort and skills to repairing the ship that has, at some stage, played a prominent part in each of their lives. 

With five weeks down and just over three more to go the refit troops have finished, as some would say, “de-fitting” the ship and preparations for “putting the pieces back together” are underway. Progress so far has seen:

• The galley floor been repaired and being painted as you read, with all cupboards and sinks yet to be put back, lino to be laid and final ‘plumping’ to be done.

• Main mast work has been in full swing with welders aloft all week, every week, working hard to repair rusting and wear. The main mast will be soon ready for a final lick of paint.

• The water tanks in the main saloon have now been patched up with the companion way back in and ready to be bolted down. Lots of woodwork has taken place with everything wooden now sanded, varnished and looking sleek.

• A few of our cabins are currently getting a lick of paint and will be back to ship shape in no time

• The Leeuwin laundry is in the process of getting a revamp with everything having been stripped down and now ready for rust treatment.

•  Our beloved Lioness figure head has been given a well needed coat of paint and a shining and is now looking fantastic.

• In addition to all of this there has been plenty of tarring, oiling and painting all around

A big thanks to the team behind the scenes. They are doing an amazing job and will have our beautiful blue canoe, looking the goods and ready for the upcoming voyages to and from Bunbury at the end of September. We can’t wait to have her out on the ocean again and start the next sailing season fresh!

THE RED RIBBON PROJECT

"Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;

 indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead

This week at Leeuwin, we have been dragging all of our volunteers into the back office to sign a giant piece of red ribbon. If you are one of our amazing red shirts or volunteers and haven't yet signed the ribbon... pop in to say hi in the next two days to be part of the Red Ribbon Project.

To celebrate 25 years, Volunteering WA is inviting all volunteers of Western Australia to sign  a piece of their red ribbon. At the end of the two weeks, our section will be collected and sewn to other volunteering organisation's sections to create one long red ribbon.

Once completed, the finished product will be wrapped around Government House on International Volunteer Day, December 5th, with thousands of signatures as a symbol of how volunteers make the world a better place.

Without volunteers, the Leeuwin would not sail and our amazing ocean adventures would not be an opportunity available to so many young Western Australians. The Red Ribbon Project is the perfect opportunity to show off some of our amazing volunteers.

Meet some of the team... 

ANOTHER CHANCE TO TOUR WONDERFUL VISITING VESSELS

It has been a busy few weeks with the arrival and visit of the Dutch tall ships Bark Europa, Oosterschelde and Tecla, and British square rigger STS Lord Nelson. 

Last weekend crowds of people headed down to the wharf here at Fremantle Ports to pay a visit to the beautiful visiting ships and our own blue barquentine. People lined in front of B, C and D Shed, patiently waiting their turn to hop on deck, with a glimpse into authentic sailing history costing only a gold coin donation. 

This weekend you will have another chance to see these wonderful vessels before they head off on their Batavia expedition to the Abrolhos Islands on Sunday 4th August, returning on the 14th and departing Fremantle for good on the 16th, bound for Adelaide. 

The Dutch ships will be open 10-3pm this Friday 2nd August and 9-2pm this Saturday 3rd August for gold coin donation. If you missed out last time, be sure to pay a visit to Freo this weekend. It is unlikely a fleet of tall ships like this will return for what may be more than a decade. 

The British square rigger STS Lord Nelson will be out of dry dock and also open to the public on the 15th and 16th of August. 

For more information follow this link:

 http://www.fremantleports.com.au/News/News/Pages/News-Item.aspx item=228&returnurl=http://www.fremantleports.com.au/Pages/default.aspx

A FISHERMAN'S TALE

Find a fisherman and you find many a great story. When the fisherperson happens to be the Engineer and the other, the Bosun, then you are guaranteed a ripping tale.

Many years ago when fisherpersons were made of steel, a competition started onboard Leeuwin. The Bosun and Engineer pitted against each other with their fishing implements of choice. Both propped up on the Poop deck and the competition was cast. Who could capture the windward side, who the Lee, hand lines or rod and reel, poppers or deep divers, wind speed and sea state. So many variables; it needs a cool head to comprehend and then act on all this information. For the last 2 years Alf and Ange have gone head to head in the latest instalment of the fishing competition.

“Big Bertha, Big Bertha, Big Bertha” this is the call to action over the PA. Scrambling from the darkest depths of the bilges the cry of “Out my way”, “Move, Move, Move” are heard below decks. While in the sunny heights of the upper top mast shouts of “Excuse me, Pardon Me , Thank you” fall to deck. Within moments both Alf and Ange are accounted for on the Poop deck ready for action. Which line has the massive fish taken? Ange pulling on her gloves, Alf buckling on his rod holder and grabbing his rod & reel. Both checking their line; low and behold the rarest of occurrences, a double hook up.

Now the whole crew swing into action, Captain Sarah takes the watch and control of the ship. The Mate Slaven ready with the gaff, either Engineer or Bosun mates ready with fish buckets, Purser ready with the all important camera and Aidan the Chef down in his galley sharpening his knives ready to prepare that night’s feast.

- Alf Green

THEY'RE HERE! [DUTCH SHIPS ARRIVE IN FREO]

After much anticipation and months of building excitement, the second and third Dutch tall ships arrived in Fremantle just after midday today.

Oosterschelde and Bark Europa sailed in to harbour with horns sounding, joining the first of the Dutch ships to arrive earlier in the week, Tecla.

All three ships are now berthed next to the Leeuwin II  at Victoria Quay in Fremantle.

The visit to Fremantle is just one of their many stops as part of the fleet's sail around the world, following trade routes of historic times. The ships will commence on an adventurous expedition to the Abrolhos to visit the Batavia wreckage site in August; with guides on board telling passengers the historic tales of the Batavia history.

It is not often a fleet of tall ships like this visit and it is unlikely that an event like this will come again for at least a decade, so we encourage everyone to come down to the wharf on Sunday to pay a visit to all of the beautiful ships. 

The Leeuwin will also be open for deck tours  from 10-3pm for a gold coin donation.

For more information on the individual ships visit www.dutchtallships.com

We had a pretty great view of the arrival from the top of the main mast...

TECLA ARRIVES!

The first of the Dutch ships Tecla has just arrived in Fremantle! 

.

Onlookers gathered on the wharf and deck of the Leeuwin to see the new-comer sail in to town, with both Lord Nelson  and Leeuwin II sounding their horns in warm welcome. 

We now have 3 tall ships in Port - Leeuwin II, The Lord Nelson and Tecla.  The ships are visiting Oz as part of the International Tall Ship festival for 2013. 

The other 2 Dutch ships are scheduled to arrive later this week with all ships open for deck tours to the public this Sunday for gold coin donation. 

Don't forget by coming on a deck tour for only a small donation - if you fill out an entry form you can go into the running to win a historic Batavia voyage to the Abrolhos on one of the Dutch ships for FREE! 

Built in 1915 in Vlaardingen, Tecla is a fast sailor, built for the North Sea. Owned and sailed by a family of four professional sailors, the Tecla is a two mast Ketch with topsails and different sized forsails for light weather. 

Like Leeuwin, Tecla is also a sail-training ship designed for people to get the most out of what they put in to the program.

Here's some pics of Tecla's arrival...

Not long now... the other two tall ships are not far away...