Reason To Live..... some days only the tough keep going...

 

 

 

Day Two of training and it was time to "go Public"

 

 

Having established that the red rib just wasn't going to cut it in the rough waters of Morton Bay..

 

 

 

We had called out the 'big guns' overnight ,

 

and friend Geoff Mc Innerney arrived with his Little treasure !

 

 

 

This was going to give the rescue crew a comfort ride

 

                             David was on hand .. for his daily trip across to Darling Point

                  Word had spread - friends and family came to add support to the first sea trials..
                                                                           

 

There was Ian Reid, and Brien Possey, Graeme Boyd, David Hogg,  Len on video,

 and plenty of kids and family..

 

                                                        .Pete and Rachael headed out ..
                                                                                     

 

Confident in their skills...

                                                   there's no stopping them now!

                                                      ......testing the angles... As you do...

 

.. having a laugh..

                                                        
                                                                  getting the feel of it...
                                               while the crew followed in their wake..
                                                                                  

                                                                  all the angles felt good...

                                        

                                                                                 
                                                      When the day sailing was done ...

                                                  the obligatory, bedside de - brief each night ..
                                                            
                                                             
                                                     

Let the training begin!

                                              

                            "for whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

                                       it is always ourselves we find in the sea."
                                                                                    E.E.Cummings, The Sea


                    Within a few short hours the following morning, Ray had the Scud ready for it's first sail.

                    ... and the rest of the team rolled up to ensure that there was an appropriate audience to   

                   witness the first great moments on the water..

 

 

                                                                    

 

Pete, Yve and Camille  ( the trusty camel pack)

 

 

Ian from Sailability Bayside at Darling Point devoted his services to the team for the week, meanwhile Pete's PA ( Perfect Angel) Yve was on hand with Camille to offer a burst of energy before heading out.!

 

 

 

                                              with a hoist and a sling, Pete had the easy ride ..

           It was all systems go ! Rachael held the reins in the front seat, while Pete took over the helm

                                              .. on the way out... other yachts were heading in....

                                                                                  hmm...
                                                                              

                                                       looking  a bit nasty out the front...

                                                                        

                                           and of course the support team needed a RESCUE Boat...

                                                                             
                                                Ginger, the Professor and the skipper took off,
                      while Maryanne was far too sensible and didn't want her camera wet!

                                     .it wasn't long before the team caved under the conditions,
                                                       and the skip was left to flounder...

        

                                            Pete and Rachael had tested the Scud..  All was A.. OK                     
 

                                               Time for some minor rig tuning and call it a day...

                                   

                                       .. and perhaps find a slightly more robust rescue vessel

                                                   .. and plus everyone wanted a chance in Pete's seat!

The journey so far...

                                           

                                          Reason to Live

                                             A campaign  to raise funds to send Peter Beard
                                    to the IFDS Worlds in Halifax, Canada in August 2014
                           

 

                                         

                                               Multiple System Atrophy

             Just what is this disease and what changes has it made for Peter and Yve Beard ?


                                                                             
Peter Beard was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy(MSA) in 2010, and since then both his and Yves lives have changed dramatically.

MSA is a rare neurological (brain)condition, caused by a gradual loss of nerve cells and shrinkage of the brain cells in the parts of the brain that control movement, balance and the automatic functions of the body. It is a progressive condition that as yet, has no cure.

Sailing was Pete's passion from the age of four, competing in Club racing, Regatta racing , blue water yacht races and International events over the years. In May 2012 . Pete joined his mates on S.V. Charlie's Dream to sail the Inaugural Brisbane to Noumea Race. It was to be his last ocean race.

Pete decided while in hospital in late 2013 that he needed a reason to live , a goal to look forward to and something that involved his passionate love of sailing.

 The campaign was born..  Reason to Live  became a reality when Pete chose as his goal, a determination to compete in the International Federation for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) World Championship in Canada in August 2014. He is planning to bring home a medal!

Held at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, close to Halifax, Pete, will be accompanied by crew Rachael Cox, an Australian Silver Medallist in the 2008 Beijing Para-Olympic Games.

Peter and crew Rachael, will be supported by Pete's wife Yve, Chief fundraiser, Graeme Boyd, and Ray and Marina Hobbs, along with members of their families, who will travel to Nova Scotia to witness the achievement of a dream that Pete has termed his Reason To Live.

It has been a journey of 7 months from its inception and 3 months of fund raising and organisation, with many obstacles and doubts. Despite all of this Yve, Graeme Boyd, David Hogg, and many others in the sailing community of Wynnum -Manly have rallied to assist Pete in achieving his goal.



                   On May 8th, Pete's Scud 18 arrived from Perth and he had a first look at the  

                                                  boat that he was going to sail in Canada.

                          The container was delivered to Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron,

                                                                             

 

 

and with mounting excitement ,

Ray unlocked  the container with Pete looking on

 

 
 
 

 
         .. with a bit of grunt and a heave to.. Rachael, David and Ray with the help of Pete as
                                                    'doorstop' unload  the container 
 

                              By 6 pm on the first night, the crew were assembling the boat and   
                                                        preparing for a launch the next day.