'Gold' medal for first time sailor

5:22 PM Sun 26 Oct 2008 GMT

'Winning boat Poop Seas, skippered by Noakes Youth sailor James Burman' Peter Bent

This afternoon Hobart resident Anthony Hawkins picked up his first 'gold' medal for a sport he was introduced to yesterday. Twenty-year-old Hawkins was one of 15 participants in the Noakes Youth Regatta held on the Derwent River and today he stood on the podium with the rest of the winning team.

'This was my first time sailing...I think I've found a new hobby,' Hawkins declared this afternoon following the medal presentation at the Derwent Sailing Squadron, which generously supplied the J24s and race management support.

'It's good to get into something new...it's something to do instead of getting in trouble,' admitted the sailing convert who had plenty of life experience to share with the Noakes Youth sailors from Sydney, Perth and the Huon region.

Colony 47 event coordinator Heather McCallum nominated eight participants, including Hawkins, from the Tasmanian organisation's youth programs, which focus on housing, employment, education and mentoring, While some of her charges decided one day's sailing was enough, she believes those who returned today had importantly developed confidence in the teamwork aboard their boat, as well as discovering the thrill of sailing.

'There was a wonderful exchange of life experience between the participants and an appreciation of how varied our community really is. Participants from Ethiopia, Somalia and Sierra Leone joined with others from Colony 47 and the Noakes Youth sailors for a unique social and sporting challenge,' McCallum said.

Heather McCallum, Colony 47 event coordinator, and Sean Langman, Noakes Youth founder - Peter Bent

From this weekend at least two Colony 47 youth are hoping to continue sailing through the Derwent Sailing Squadron - which is also planning to expand its youth program following the success of this regatta - and will be looking to Noakes Youth founder Sean Langman for his advice on career opportunities potentially via his Noakes Boat and Shipyards apprenticeship scheme and his local contacts.

'The success of these regattas is really based on the opportunity to travel and meet new people,' said Langman this afternoon. 'It's as much about getting together at a restaurant and ordering a meal for the first time, which develops social skills and self-esteem, as it is about sailing.

'It amazes me how much success we have with these regattas with not too much effort. It's about people and organisations like the DSS and Colony 47 coming together to utilise the resources we have at our disposal to create opportunities and choice for young people.

'After meeting the young people from Colony 47, the Noakes Youth sailors I flew to Hobart with have a much greater appreciation of their own circumstances,' Langman added.

Noakes Youth sailor Kylie Ashlin, a nineteen-year-old Launceston Maritime College student from the Huon region of Tasmania, was struck by the many different upbringings. 'I met people this weekend with really interesting life stories. It made me appreciate my life, and that some people have had a really hard time growing up,' she said.

Eight races were sailed yesterday in light and fluky breezes. Today's 20-25 knot sea breeze on the Derwent River really tested crews with a collision in race one, a person overboard and plenty of bruises starting to appear this afternoon.

The overall regatta win following today's eight races went to the crew aboard the J24 Poop Seas, led by lucky charm James Burman who picked up his trifecta of wins in the Noakes Youth Regatta Series. His crew included Hawkins, Ashlin and Melanie Johns, a Noakes Youth sailor from the NSW Central Coast.

Burman is a champion Laser sailor and Olympic aspirant who joined the Noakes Youth program in July. A full time University student and athlete, Burman's ultimate quest is selection for the 2012 Olympic Games in the single handed men's class.

The next regatta in the Noakes Youth series is likely to be staged before Christmas in Sydney utilising the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Elliott 6 fleet. Langman today invited the Colony 47 participants to take part, the chance of his first trip to Sydney capping off an exhilarating weekend for Hawkins.

Colony 47 www.colony47.com.au/

Noakes Youth www.noakesyouth.com.au