My Three Challenges by Ahmad
Taufiq Yassin
 What was it going to feel
like on the Leeuwin? At first, I thought of big and
spacious rooms, long, hot showers after a dip in the sea
and having the crew take care of all the sailing! That
was before I stepped on board, and I was soon to find
out that things were going to be a lot
different...
As it turned out, we were put in cabins where we
each had a bunk and a little pigeonhole to put all of
our luggage and our stuff. Our showers lasted as long as
30 seconds (so we had to pandai-pandai),
and we had to do all the hauling and easing on the lines
to bring out and put back the sails.
It was quite weird for me, as it was the first
time that I was sailing out in the open sea. Wind speeds
could change from 10 km/h to 45km/h in just a few
minutes!! There were four watches, and each watch would
be given a sail to look after. Harry, who was my watch
leader was a really nice guy, and taught us all that we
needed to know, from the names of all the sails and the
names of all the pins to making knots and
splices.
 I had three personal
challenges ahead of me; to go up the main mast and read
the plaque, to avoid getting seasick and also to get
along with other participants. I got a chance to go up
the main mast on the last day while we were heading for
Victoria Quay from just behind Rottnest Island.
After having a "buddy-check, I went up onto
the rigging and started climbing. The wind was blowing
at 20 km/h and I started getting quite nervous. I soon
reached the platform where Duncan, a watch-leader, and
Adam were waiting. After learning what to do when I got
to the top, I went on higher. And the higher you go, the
less space there is for you to get a hold on. But I
overcame that somehow. At the top, after putting my
clips on to a “butterfly”, I stepped up on the
spiders...I made my way up and there was the plaque, in
the sunshine it shone
brightly.
 I overcame seasickness (I
don't know how) and I was one of the few Malaysians that
didn't let it all out over the side. And I’m proud of
that because rather than getting sick, I helped to look
after those who were sick. I have learned that
Australians are one of the friendliest people on this
planet. We all got along quite okay, and I got
everybody's names and
addresses.
I think Leeuwin has brought me
to another level in life where you try to be more
disciplined, and know when to do things, and when not
to. I have to take charge of my life, and I think that
the Leeuwin has taught me how. I’ll definitely be
onboard the Leeuwin again, but rather than as a
participant, why not as a member of the crew!!
|
