The Yachtsman 2016-2017 RPAYC Yachtsman 2016-2017 | Page 84

INVICTUS GAMES
RPAYC SUCCESSFUL INVICTUS GAMES LAUNCH
M
ost members will have seen some great
footage of their Club conducting the
Invictus Games Launch on Sydney
Harbour in June.
The day started with the Official
Launch at Admiralty House, 500 days ahead of the
opening of the 2018 Sydney Invictus Games and 108
days until competition begins for the 2017 Toronto
Games. In attendance was the 2017 Australian Invictus
Games Squad, their friends, family and other supporters.
RPAYC General Manager, Suzanne Davies was invited
to represent the RPAYC at this event in recognition of
the Club’s contributions to the day.
The Master of Ceremonies for the event was
Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, Chairman of the Invictus
Games and he introduced the speakers, the Governor
General Sir Peter Cosgrove, His Royal Highness Prince
Harry, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and NSW
Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Prince Harry’s speech was heartfelt and moving.
He spoke of the catalyst for the Games being the moment
he was forced to leave his fellow soldiers on the front line in
Afghanistan in 2008 after his presence there was leaked.
While he realised that to remain would have endangered
his company, the guilt he felt was overwhelming.
The flight he departed Afghanistan on carried the body
of a Danish soldier and other badly injured soldiers and
he reported that this was the moment he knew he had to
do something for these people to help them and thus the
Invictus Games were born.
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YACHTSMAN
On launching the Games, Prince Harry said; “Sydney
will soon be the custodian of the Invictus spirit and the
focus for hundreds of men and women using the Invictus
Games to motivate their recovery from physical and
mental injuries. “I know that people across the country
– from Perth to Sydney, from Darwin to Adelaide – will
embrace the Invictus Games and show their support
for competitors from their local towns and right across
the country. I have no doubt that the Sydney public will
make these games their own.”
Prince Harry concluded “The Invictus Games are
coming to Australia – game on down under!”
It was Gladys Berejiklian who announced that sailing
would be included in the Invictus Games for the first time
in Sydney! As the event broke for a morning tea with the
Prince, the dock of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
was a buzz with RPAYC and RSYS representatives and
veterans preparing to head out in the wet and blustery
conditions to conduct the sailing demonstration.
The event was executed by RPAYC Club Coach
Tom Spithill who had worked tirelessly in recent weeks
ensuring plans were in place, the boats were ready,
volunteers engaged and veterans prepared to race. With
everything in check it was game on! RPAYC Race Officer
and Vietnam Veteran Ted Anderson was in charge of the
day’s racing and with the assistance of David West and
Sue Anderson they trained up a number of veterans who,
while they were unable to participate by sailing, enjoyed
learning to participate in the race management activities.
Bill Ebsary’s Le Billet and Andy McKillop’s Winifred
were out on water supporting the fleet and providing