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Back to the 9th Annual Awards and Reunion Banquet page
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9th Annual Awards & Reunion Banquet
Saturday, October 25, 2003.
Captain Kathryn Whittaker’s Speech
Once again this summer, I had the opportunity to join the team at Bytown
and sail aboard the Fair Jeanne. It was a bit last minute, whisking me away
from my darling husband and a summer sailing in the tropics, hanging out on
sandy beaches & snorkeling in the warm, warm, warm, salt water of the
Caribbean.
And can I just say, what an awesome summer it was!!!!
Fair Jeanne sailed hundreds of miles, stopped in dozens of ports, raced in
four American Sail Training Association Challenge Series Races where we were
truly the only youth crew participating. We came second in all four races...and
even beating out the Indian Naval ship TARANGINI on two occasions. We
introduced dozens and dozens of new sailors to our passion of tallship
sailing; we told hundreds ...no probably thousands of tourists about our
voyages (and what those fuzzy things up "there" were for too!!!!) We spread
the word far and wide with great pride and delight.
Why we do we do this? Why? Because our adventures have been exciting and
AWESOME...it changes us from the inside out. We try our best to express this
to others and make them understand just how incredible it really is. But it
is not until you get involved, really step on board, that anyone can fully
comprehend what it is that makes us so passionate about it. It does wondrous
things, not only for the youth, but for everyone who joins the ship's crew.
It teaches teamwork, imparts self-confidence and gives a sense of
responsibility. It is a character building experience like no other! When
the wind has a character of its own and you have to match wits with the sea,
it leaves you with character in reserve!!
It is certainly not without its challenges...we conquer our fears, we test
our abilities, we push ourselves to the limit and beyond, we work through
some of the most difficult private and personal problems and we do all these
things with the help of our shipmates and very quickly we all become a
family. We reached the top of our mountain again this year and we sure
didn't do it by falling there.
Way to go team!!!!!
I would like to thank you all: from Mrs. Fuller, Simon, the Board of
Directors, Robbin and the administrative crew, the volunteers, the ship's
crew and the trainees... for the opportunity of sailing on the Fair Jeanne
again this summer, for welcoming me back with HUGE smiles and GIANT hugs, for
helping me every step along the way. Without the help, support and love of
every single person, this giant rig we call BYTOWN BRIGANTINE (each and every
little shackle, an integral part of that rig) would not have sailed along so
smoothly again this summer.
And a very special thanks for the ship's crews... You are incredible - you
worked so very hard!!! You could have spent your summers sitting around,
shopping at the mall, going on holidays with your family, hanging out with
your friends and sleeping in - everyday! Instead, you spent your summer
where you know at some point you are going to get yanked from your bunk in
the middle of the night, then end up furling square sails in a gale, where
you know you are going to end up feeling green, donating your dinner back to
Neptune, & ending right back in the galley to finish the clean up because you
know it has to get done, where you know you are going to have to teach the
same thing over and over again, where you have to study new things and be
tested - daily, constantly, incessantly by the captain no less, where you are
going to be asked a thousand times (in a day maybe) "are those sails
real?...but you don't actually sail this boat - do you? Its just for show,
right?" and still you smile and respond ever so politely tell the truth.
I think Ferdinand Magellan, the famous explorer summed it up nicely for us...
The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these
obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore... unlike the
mediocre, the intrepid spirits seek victory over those things that seem
impossible... it is with an iron will that they embark on the most daring of
all endeavours... to meet the shadowy future without fear and conquer the
unknown.
You are a very accomplished group of individuals with some very unique
abilities. You have acquired skills that will take you far in life. As a
team, we complimented each other beautifully and achieved great feats.
A super gigantic THANK YOU to each of you.
This page last updated:
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 10:56
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