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The Young Nation A View from ... LeedsBy Tim Kamuzu Banda
Are you still one of those who think that you are too young to live your dream? Then you will be surprised to learn that one of the latest entries in the Guinness Book of World Records is a 24-year-old girl who recently realised one of her dreams - to sail alone around the globe. Young Ellen MacArthur circumnavigated the globe in just 94 days, 4 hours and 30 seconds at the recently concluded Vendee Globe Yatch Race. She not only became the fastest woman but also the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe in a single-handed race. Although she finished second in the competition, her achievement eclipsed that of the winner, Michel Desjoyeaux, who is ten years older than her. Ellen's was a story of courage and determination that captured the hearts of many around the world. Because of her relative inexperience at sailing and her tender age, Ellen was not expected to complete the race when it was flagged of on November 9, 2000. The following 95 days at sea for the sailors was to prove that experience or age without courage and determination was not enough. In one of the incidents, Ellen's yatch, Kingfisher, hit a submerged container damaging her port, dagger board and yatch rudder. Terrified by the horrendous noise, she rushed around the boat checking out for leaks but luckily the boat was not damaged. She however had to spend a night in the sea storm struggling to replace the damaged dagger board. The dagger board weighed more than her body weight and involved hanging onto the rears of the 60 foot yatch. By the time she finally did get it in place, she was extremely exhausted. She had to gather herself again and steer the boat in the right direction and regain the lost time. She barely slept for two hours. One night, the 5 foot 2 inch tall girl spent hours up in the rigging, wrestling to repair the yatch's torn sail a task that would normally need a crew of 12. On January 19, she managed to claw back 600 miles to catch up with the pack and even lead them until she was faced by a near disaster. The front forestay rigging that strengthens the mast and maintains the yatch balance was snapped off by the strong winds. This time she had to call the designers of the boat and find out if that was to be the end of her journey. Luckily, she was able to continue but the yatch was no longer able to handle the race at full force. She had to handle it with care if she was to complete the race. When she finally crossed the finishing line at the French Port of Les Sables d'olonne, the British born girl received a hero's welcome that even overshadowed that of the eventual winner, Michel Desjoyeaux. Thousands of people cheered her to shore including her parents Ken and Auril and her younger brother, Fergus. Because the boats were all equipped with top wireless communication devices like email and mobile phone sets, the world's media was able to monitor their trials and triumphs while in deep sea. Ellen's grit and courage was admirable. She had previously sailed around Britain at the age of 18 but this was a much greater challenge. To the French and her native Britons, she is a hero but to the young people around the world, Ellen is an icon, a symbol of hope and a testimony of the height of achievement one can achieve despite age. In most of the numerous interviews that Ellen conducted with the media, she resounded one point. "You can realise your dreams if you set your mind to do so." So if you are doubting
your capability because of your age, it is time you put those
doubts aside and just like Ellen, courage and determination may
be all you need. |
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Nation Newspapers
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