By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
IT WILL be a picture. One wind surfer, dozens of yachts and a record breaking quest for self-empowerment.
Avid wind surfer Simon Chambers is a 40-year-old man from Blind Bight, a CFA volunteer of 18 years and a husband battling depression.
But his desire to take on the Warneet Motor Yacht Club’s Around French Island Race (WAFIR) on a surf board and dependent on the wind only is one that has never been done before.
And it’s something that’s been bugging him for more than 10 years.
“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, so I’m going to do it,” Mr Chambers said, despite doctors’ warnings.
“Three years ago I was in hospital with blood clots in my heart and lung, doctors told me that I wouldn’t be able to wind surf again because I am on blood thinners, I took the news very badly.”
Doctors were concerned for his recovery if he was to have an accident on the water and those words spiralled Mr Chambers into a deep depression.
“It took me about six months to try and deal with the news and with depression you have good and bad days,” Mr Chambers said.
“But this expedition is my chance of saying listen, this has been my life for 28 years and I’m not going to change. Wind surfing is an outlet for me, I love being out on the water and it’s a way of taking control of my life.
“It’s about that feeling of freedom, of knowing I can do what I want to do, rather than being told I can’t.”
It will be his longest expedition to date and Mr Chambers will leave from the Warneet Yacht Club at 8am on Saturday 20 February along with the yachtsmen who are also taking on the eight-hour trip.
Mr Chambers is currently liaising with his gym instructor on what food to pack in his specialty board and has been working hard in preparation for the mighty sail.
“The journey will cover around 100 plus kilometres, the longest I’ve ever done in one stint has been 70 kilometres so it will be a challenge on both my fitness and windsurfing abilities,” he said.
Mr Chambers cannot be officially entered in the race because his choice of transportation doesn’t fall under the correct guidelines.
“They’re happy to monitor my progress and I’ll feel safer knowing I have all the yachts around me – and so will my wife!” he said.
But Mr Chambers isn’t making the ride all about him, instead he is using his quest to help raise awareness for the CFA, which is always on the lookout for volunteers.
“Our local CFA brigades face the challenge of recruiting new volunteers to ensure a strong future and I thought I may be able to help spread the word,” he said.
Mr Chambers has added stickers to his sail to “get the word out”.
“I have been a CFA volunteer for 18 years and there are so many brigades struggling with numbers,” he said.
“I am hoping to use this unique adventure to bring both my long-time passions together.”
Since his medical setback Mr Chambers has conquered some of his own sporting personal bests.
“They said I shouldn’t surf, but you can’t keep a man down,” he said, laughing.
“Since they told me that, I’ve gone faster than I’ve ever gone and now I’m looking at going further than I’ve gone.”
Those who have been inspired by Simon Chambers’s efforts and who would like to become a CFA volunteer can get more information at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer-careers.
