The Yachtsman 2017-2018 The Yachtsman 2017-2018 | Page 32

R PAY C A C T I V I T I E S
R PAY C A C T I V I T I E S
INVICTUS GAMES
GUIDES OUR FINEST
S
ailing had long played a starring
role in Rob Saunders’ life. He
was introduced to it as a five-year-
old by his father, took up racing
dinghies, progressed to yachts
and eventually competed in eight Sydney
to Hobart races.

Invictus Games Helping
Guide Our Finest To A
Better Place
Photos: Jayson Tufrey ©
Commonwealth of
Australia, Department of
Defence
However, since his latest deployment to
Afghanistan a couple of years ago, the Royal
Australian Air Force Squadron Leader has
directed his energy elsewhere.
“I’ve had to focus on my family and myself,
just sort out a few things,” Saunders says.
“There’s been some mental health issues from
various factors, but certainly deployment in a
war zone didn’t help.”
The 53-year-old’s rehabilitation is “a bit
of a tough road”, he admits. But a positive
part of the journey has been getting back into
a boat, drawing vitality from the sun, sea and
air, and spirit from his mates.
In
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YA C H T S M A N R PAY C
October,
Saunders
represented
Australia in a different theatre to his work
with the RAAF, sailing on Sydney Harbour
at the Invictus Games. Rob Saunders has
benefited from the mateship sailing provides.
The Sydney Invictus Games will be the
fourth edition of the sporting competition for
wounded soldiers. It will feature about 500
competitors from 18 nations, competing in 11
sports. Sailing takes place on October 21 at
Farm Cove with races to be held in the Hansa
303 and Elliott 7.
“It’s really the camaraderie and mateship
that I’ll get out of it,” Saunders says of why
he wished to take part.
“The teamwork is very enjoyable. For me,
it’s about getting back out in the social world
again and not isolating myself.”
really dark places. Seeing them grow and lift has really been
the real benefit out of it. It’s a whole-of-life thing, not just the
sport. The sport is the catalyst, but it’s far more than that.
We’ve been training hard, we definitely want to win. But
the main ‘medal’ is the journey and the growth that we’ve
all had.”
Six Australian Defence Force personnel will compete in
sailing, two in the Hansa 303 (both of whom are amputees)
and four in the Elliott 7. “Some of the guys have little or no
sailing experience,” Saunders says. “The Hansa guys have
no experience, but they’re getting fantastic coaching through
Sailability up at Newport and they’ve grown rapidly. The
others, sailing the Elliott, have various levels of experience.”
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has provided the
Australian Team with great support.
The support Saunders has received from his family and
the ADF throughout his recovery has been “phenomenal”
and, in preparing for the Invictus competition, “We’ve had
fantastic coaching and support through the Royal Prince
Alfred Yacht Club and Tom Spithill”, the brother of dual
America’s Cup-winning skipper, James Spithill.
“They’ve opened their doors up, made everything
available to us,” he says. “Tommy’s been providing coaching.
He’s got a fantastic heart.”
“I’m recovering well,” the aeronautical engineer says.
“It’s been a bit of tough road, but things are coming good.
Hopefully by this time next year I’ll be fully back to normal
and deployable.”
“Sailing is part of it. The whole journey has taught me to
appreciate the simple things in life, my family, people. We’ve
been doing a lot of camping with my children, mountain
biking with my son - it’s those little things that I’m getting a
lot more pleasure from. It’s just about changing my focus and
looking out for the important things in life.”
“Some of the guys in the team have got
some horrific injuries and it’s good to see how
they deal with it, with a very positive attitude.
It’s very uplifting.”
“Some people have come from some 
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