AUGUST 2010

Ames Army Newsletter ISSUE #1

This is the first of hopefully many Newsletters to come from

Ames Army. It is my way of keeping you up-to-date, not just by
the blog, but also as a summary of the previous month’s events.

It will cover subjects ranging from sailing regattas to fund

raising events and also a slightly more personal touch from
highlights of the Ames Army teams individual lives.

Photograph by Sander van der Borch I.F.D.S. World Championships Medemblik

JUST FOR A LAUGH
Okay- funny stories from the past:
When I was younger, my siblings would make
up fictitious stories of why I was missing limbs.
Here is one.
Apparently it is a well known fact that when
starfish lose a limb, it will grow back, unless of
course it loses all five.
My sister Kate decided she might try this
theory on me…………………obviously it does
not work the same on humans.
The Netherlands
After a 22 hour flight, we arrived at our accommodation in the small
township of Medemblik in North of Holland. After two days of recoup
we got straight into intense training for two weeks. We spent
approximately four hours on the water each day, this did not include the
time that Lindsay Mason spent rigging and fine tuning the “Jim Brown”.
Adrian Fingles was our coach for this regatta and spent a great deal of
time making sure that we were prepared for the intense competition
ahead. The weather was good to us although we may have needed a
touch more wind, it did not get above 10 knots for most of the training.
This was the second World Championships that Lindsay and I have
sailed together as a team. Since we were prepared, due to our training, it
did not take us long to warm up and get into the swing of things. In
general the racing was clean with few protests. Our overall results were
fairly consistent, if not one of the most consistent in the fleet. Our
placing of fourth was excellent and with more training gold is
achievable. The team who came 3rd was the Silver Medalists at the 2008
Paralympics and the 5th place getter was the Bronze Medalist at the 2008
Paralympics

Photograph by Sander van der

Borch.
Lindsay and I with the purple
spinnaker

AME BARNBROOK
P.O. Box 525
Narooma, NSW, 2546
02 4476 1640 office
www.amesarmy.com.au
 AUGUST 2010
Ames Army Newsletter ISSUE #1

University of Wollongong 2007 - 2009 “It is not the ship

In December 2009 I graduated from Wollongong University with a
so much as the
Bachelor of Creative Arts majoring in Sound, Composition and Music
Production. This was achieved after many late nights and early skillful sailing that
mornings. I lived on campus with three housemates in a self-contained
unit. My everyday needs were supposed to be met by attendant care assures the
providers, however this was not always the case. The inconsistency of
support made it more difficult for me to live a normal University prosperous voyage.”
lifestyle, this did not necessarily mean partying at all hours of the day
George William Curtis
and night, however it did mean that I had to get out of bed on time to
attend classes.
UP-COMING EVENTS
My course was demanding although I was capable of completing all 2010
tasks and assessments set. This was through the help of my facilitators,
who not only helped me during class hours, but also eased  Oct 30 Fund Raiser Queanbeyan
homesickness. The flexibility of the lecturers was also vital to my  Dec 6-9 Sail Sydney ISAF Sailing
success, thus giving them a greater understanding of my needs and also World Cup
other students with disabilities.  Dec 13-18 Sail Melbourne ISAF
Sailing World Cup
I am going to use this degree as a stepping stone in becoming a Music
Therapist. To achieve this I am going to study Psychology by distance 2011
learning. This, in turn, will allow me to help many people to express
themselves through the art of music as well as being able to use  Jan 23-29 Rolex Miami OCR ISAF Sailing
Psychology as another occupation World Cup
 Apr 22-25 Asia-Pacific & Australian
Access Class Championships Perth
 Apr 22-29 Semaine Olymlpique Francaise-
ISAF World Cup France
 Jun 5-11 Sail For Gold ISAF Sailing
World Cup Weymouth U.K.
 Jul 1-8 IFDS Disabled Sailing World
Championships Weymouth U.K.
 Oct TBA Sail Melbourne ISAF Sailing
World Cup Sandringham

Photograph by
Robert Barnbrook

AME BARNBROOK
P.O. Box 525
Narooma, NSW, 2546
02 4476 1640 office
www.amesarmy.com.au
 AUGUST 2010
Ames Army Newsletter ISSUE #1

“Jim Brown” joins Ames Army

Lindsay and I are privileged to carry forward Jim Brown’s
passion for sailing. Sadly Jim passed away earlier this year
from Myeloma. Well known in Sydney, over the years Jim
sailed NS14s, Compass yachts, Access Dinghies and his SUPPORTERS
Delphia 37. Ame’s Army is particularly
appreciative of the support of
But thanks to the generosity of Jim’s family, his name is Sailability NSW who has given us
still on the water in the form of a Skud 18 named “Jim ongoing guidance and
encouragement in our campaign.
Brown”. “Jim Brown’s” first outing was at the IFDS We are especially grateful for the
Worlds in Medemblik. Once the boat returns to Australia in facility that enables contributors to
September we will begin training in earnest again for our receive a tax deductible receipt on
next events. donations

My crew member Lindsay Mason

Everyone knows all about me, but let me take this
opportunity to introduce Lindsay. Lindsay and I joined
forces in 2008 to mount a Skud 18 campaign with the goal
of winning a gold medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in
London.

In 1985, Lindsay began competitive racing in the junior

Flying Ant sailing class at St George Sailing Club on
Botany Bay. He then progressed from this class into VJ's.
In 1998 Lindsay was diagnosed with the genetic eye
condition Retinitis pigmentosa.

A talented sailor, since 1998 Lindsay has won multiple VJ

and MG14 NSW and Australian titles. Now Lindsay and I
are working towards fulfilling our goal of Paralympic Gold
in 2012.
Photograph by
David Staley

AME BARNBROOK
P.O. Box 525
Narooma, NSW, 2546
02 4476 1640 office
www.amesarmy.com.au
Charity Gig featuring Wolverines,
Counterfeit Cash and Ashleigh Mannix
Promoter Lance Fearne has donated his time into putting on a fund
raiser for Ames Army. The money raised will go towards costs such as
costs for hardstands, coaching and travel expenses for myself and
Lindsay. This event will be held on the 30th October 2010. I hope that
this will be the first of many fund raising events

AME BARNBROOK ASM BCA

P.O. Box 525
Narooma, NSW, 2546
02 4476 1640 office
www.amesarmy.com.au