In one of the stars I shall be living ..

In one of the stars I shall be living.
In one of them I shall be smiling.
And so it will be as if all the stars were smiling,
when you look at the sky at night.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - The Little Prince


The story behind the Star named in Jenny's Memory is here. It is located in the Constellation of Vela in the Southern Sky and she looks over us as we continue our adventures in life.

Jenny - Mutton Bird Island / Coffs Harbour (Sun 02 Jan 2005)
Jenny's Star Shining Brightly - Constellation of Vela (24 Mar 2011)
Sydney Observatory - (24 Mar 2011)
Jenny's Star - Sydney Observatory (24 Mar 2011)
Looking into the Southern Sky - Sydney Observatory (24 Mar 2011)
Looking into the Southern Sky - Sydney Observatory (24 Mar 2011)
Geoff, Lynn, Grant, Maureen, Jo, Julie, Jo and David - Sydney Observatory (24 Mar 2011)
Jo and Geoff - Sydney Observatory (24 Mar 2011)
The Climb - Jenny's Amazing Climb (more here)

Happy Birthday Jenny,

Happy Birthday Joanne.

Love .. Geoff xo

Thu 24 Mar 2011

HCC 2010 Team Vela - Preparation

In preparing for the 2010 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (2010 HCC) I looked at how we might be able to utilise GPS technology to assist us during the course of the paddle. I have a Locosys BT-31 (*) and a Garmin Forerunner 301.

Team Vela - Geoff Eldridge, Jo Petterson, Alasdair Grant, Charlotte Pache, Rachel Mosen and Graeme Bacon - Windsor - Sat 23 Oct 2010 (picasa)
The Locosys GT-31 has navigatiion capability where a course can be entered into the GPS and that the course can be tracked by following a directional bearing provided by the GPS.

The first step was to work out how to create and load a course into the Locosys GT-31. After a little bit of goolging, the following links proved useful:

• gmap-pedometer.com which can be used to plot a course.


• Plan GT-31 Route in Google Map

It was decided that we should have our pit stops at Sackville and Wisemans (Dargyle near Checkpoint E is now not used as Pit Stop), so our attempt would be split the HCC into three sections. Namely:

1. Sect 1 - Windsor to Sackville (29.2 km)



2. Sect 2 - Sackville to Wisemans (29.3 km)



3. Sect 3 - Wisemans to Brooklyn (40.3 km)

The course was then plotted on gmap-pedometer.com for each of the three sections of the HCC:

• Sect 1 - Start to Sackville (29.2 km - gmap / trkpt gpx)
  
  
• Sect 2 - Sackville to Wiseman’s (29.3 km - gmap / trkpt gpx)
  
  
• Sect 3 - Wiseman’s to Finish (40.6 km - gmap / trkpt gpx)

The resulting gmap-pedometer.com maps (see screenshots below) can be zoomed in/out and panned to follow the course in great detail. Hopefully, this demonstrates the kind of lines to follow in order to minimize the distance covered (however tide and weed have an impact on following other lines). Navigation can be done pretty much by sight in the full moon. There may be fog and dark spots along the course, so it is always helpful to know where we are.

Sect 1 - Start to Sackville (29.2 km - gmap / trkpt gpx)

Sect 2 - Sackville to Wiseman’s (29.3 km - gmap / trkpt gpx)
Sect 3 - Wiseman’s to Finish (40.6 km - gmap / trkpt gpx)
After some data massaging (a long post in itself - email for details at present), the resulting section files were uploaded into the Locosys GPS. The Garmin Forerunner 301 would be used as a backup for data recording purposes.

The next step was to come up with some kind of arrangement to see the GPS, particularly at night, where as a steerer, I did not have the opportunity to switch on the GPS Backlight. A booklight was suggested and an arrangement was planned for and put together on the day (see the following photo). The GPS can be seen in the bottom left corner of the Team Vela photo at the top of this post:

GPS Setup for Locosys and Garmin GPS's - Windsor (23 Oct 2010)
Having paddled the 2007 HCC, I had a GPS Result file which I could use to provide some estimates for arrival times at our pit stops at Sackville and Wisemans, to assist our great landcrew in preparing for our arrival.

One thing I found from the 2007 GPS Output, was that the distance travelled was 99.3km, which approximately 10% lower than the 111km length, the HCC has become famous. I also had a file with the Checkpoint GPS Cordinates (provided from the HCC website). These two files allowed calculation of the distances between each checkpoint so that a better estimate could be made of arrival times.

The other factor determining estimated arrival times was the tide. The HCC Organisers provided a Tide Chart and I plotted various arrival time lines (10, 11 and 12 hr) to determine where the tides would change. See the 2010 Tide Chart below, for more details:

HCC 2010 - Tide Chart with 12hr (Red),11hr (Blue) and 10hr (Green) finish times - Sat/Sun 23/24 Oct 2010 (pdf)
With all this information in hand, the following table was constructed:

HCC 2010 - Progress Chart - 2007 Times - Tide Estimate - 10km/hr Estimate
The Tide Estimate details were transferred onto an ammended HCC Progress Chart (see below). A laminated copy was available in the OC6 for the paddle.

HCC 2010 - Progress Chart based on Tide Estimate - Sat/Sun 23/24 Oct 2010
It was nice to be prepared and I will write up later how it all went on the night.

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only plan but also believe." - Anatole France

Joanne, Jenny and Geoff - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Windsor - Sat 28 Oct 2006 (picasa)
In 2006, Jenny, Joanne (Jenny's younger identical twin) and myself (Jenny's husband) decided to do the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (HCC) with our paddling club, Pacific Dragons. By mid June 2006, there was enough interest to enter three mixed OC6's crews.

At the time we, along with a number of other PD's paddlers (see picasa), some who were also paddling the HCC, had also been selected to represent Australia at the 2006 Asian Dragon Boat Championships in Macau in late Sep 2006 (see picasa). It was great campaign and we even learnt how to paddle and race standing up.

On our return, via Singapore for a Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Regatta for Jenny, we had about four weeks to prepare for the HCC. Our team comprised of 5 paddlers from the Macau Campaign (Mandy, Nicci, Jenny, Joanne and Geoff) and Paul who would do the majority of our steering. We were commonly referred to as the Macau Crew, but we decided to call ourselves Team Happy for our team entry application, as we were a happy bunch of paddlers. We were in it for fun and we did have a whole 13 hours of fun and finished strongly standing up.

A year later, I was asked 3 days before the 2007 HCC to fill a seat, in a Mixed OC6, that had become vacant due to a paddler injury. They were called the Red Devil's and had been training seriously for months. They wanted to have fun, but they also wanted to break the Mixed OC6 record, which they did. I was pleased to help out at such short notice and have fond memories of the crew and night (see picasa). Jenny and Joanne even came to the start line to wave us off (picasa). It was a nice surprise as I was not expecting them to come out because of a Breast Cancer Seminar they attended that day in the City.

Sadly, we lost Jenny on Tue 30 Jun 2009. Joanne and I have tried to live fulfilling lives, something that Jenny wanted for us. We have paddled in her memory and honour. She inspires and guides us from above. It is barely 12 months, and we already have some great memories.

The Climb - Jenny's Amazing Climb (more here)
In 2009, Joanne and I did not paddle the HCC. We had only just returned from Europe after the 2009 World Dragon Boat Championships. I was able help out at quite few training sessions towards the end, and Joanne and I went to the start line to wave the PD's Mixed OC12 crew off (picasa). Lisa has some great recollections of her experience (see Part: 1, 2 and 3).

In 2010, Jo and I will paddle the HCC.

Shortly after Jenny's passing, the 2009, Prague bound, Australian Dragon Boat Squad presented Jo and I with a gift in Jenny's memory. It was a Star, located in the southern sky, named In the Memory of Jenny Petterson in the Constellation of Vela. Vela is latin for Sail and the star was picked because of the Constellation's water themed name.

Jenny, believed the 2006 HCC was an experience that created life time memories, which it surly does, as anyone who has paddled the HCC will tell you. She fondly recalled (see more further below):

It was such a great experience under a sky filled with thousands of stars.

It is something that we will be able to look back on for the rest of our lives.

So when it came time to name our 2010 Mixed OC6 (Charlotte, Rachel, Jo, Alasdair, Graeme and Geoff) Team, I tried to think of a name that allowed us to remember Jenny and to inspire us. It had to be Team ?? following our 2006 tradition. It did not take long to come up with Team Vela which I think allows us recognise the past, present and future.

I hope this goes some way to explaining the name - Team Vela.

This post includes some photos and recollections from the 2006 HCC, as well as a couple of inspirational quotes.

We will remember Jenny as we paddle under a thousand stars. In particular, we will remember Jenny and the star named in Jenny's Memory in the Constellation of Vela as it shines down brightly upon us from the southern sky.

Go Team Vela! - the most fantastic team on the Hawkesbury!!!!

Regards .. Geoff

Joanne, Jenny and Geoff - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Windsor - Sat 28 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Jenny writes about the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic ..

On our return from Macau a routine CT scan showed that I had an accumulation of fluid around my lung. I had it drained so I was able to take part in the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic. This is an 111 kilometre race from Windsor to Brooklyn along the Hawkesbury River. All types of craft including kayaks, canoes, outrigger canoes and surf skis take part in the race. It was a fantastic experience. I was a member of a six person team who paddled an outrigger canoe. Geoff and Jo were also in the team. We set off at 6pm and paddled through the night arriving 13 hours later. It was such a great experience under a sky filled with thousands of stars.

Pacific Dragons Crews and Supporters - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Windsor - Sat 28 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Jenny and Joanne - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Windsor - Sat 28 Oct 2006 (picasa)
From A Familiar Path by Doug Miller (more here) ..

"A single step repeated hundreds and thousands of times would see us eventually arrive at the end. It did not take superhuman strength or a talent that most do not have. It took a steadfast commitment. Step by step, the miles added up and the challenges slipped by. Today just like those days on the trail, is another step. Tomorrow is yet another. I walk this journey in anticipation of the end, but I also know that there is much to learn in the process. It is the process, no matter what the hardship where great beauty and adventure can be found."

Sunrise - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Hawkesbury River - Sun 29 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Sunrise - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Hawkesbury River - Sun 29 Oct 2006 (picasa)
From the Manual for Climbing Mountains by Paulo Coelho ..

Respect your soul: don’t keep repeating "I’m going to make it". Your soul already knows that, what it needs is to use the long journey to be able to grow, stretch along the horizon, touch the sky. An obsession does not help you at all to reach your objective, and even ends up taking the pleasure out of the climb. But pay attention: also, don’t keep saying "it’s harder than I thought", because that will make you lose your inner strength.

Team Happy - Geoff, Jenny, Mandy, Jo, Nicci and Paul - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Brooklyn - Sun 29 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Sarah and Gav - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Brooklyn - Sun 29 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Gav wrote on Mon 30 Oct 2006 ..

PDs, There are some very inspirational people in this club. They won't jump out at you, and they won't tell you about it - but if you stop, look and listen you will see immense courage, inner strength, and team work mixed in with a joke and a smile.

3 PD OC6s + Claire on her ski, showed some true grit on the weekend by finishing the Hawkesbury, and in good time. Each paddler taking 40,000 strokes through the night (give or take a couple).

For a race so long, you can't start the race with the mind set and strength you need to finish it. It's impossible. You have to find it along the way. Brutal mind games that get played out as the kms tick over.

The paddlers have to dig deeper and deeper in themselves in order to keep going and enduring the pain and extreme fatigue.

In the darkness, they imagine the sweet sweet moment at the finish line where they realise their goal of conquering the distance, and finally allowing their bodies to stop.

Sometimes it feels like it is getting further away. But when it finally, actually, really happens - PADDLES OUT- the sense of achievement mixed with relief is overwhelming and pure ecstasy.

Tears, smiles and hugs all round.

After the Hawkesbury, your concept of distance and yourself changes forever. From then on, you are never again afraid of 'not being able to finish' a race. It is now just a question of how hard you can go.

Well done to the 'Amazing 18' !!! May we all be made of the same stuff.

There is only one way to find out.

Joanne and Jenny - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Brooklyn - Oct 2006 (picasa)
On Wed 1 Nov 2006, Jenny wrote ..

Thank you all so much for the wonderful experience. It was unbelievable and seems like a bit of a dream now. It was truly an honour to be a part of Team Happy. It is something that we will be able to look back on for the rest of our lives.

We cannot thank you Gav, Sarah, Tamara and Luke (and for that matter, all of the other land crews) enough for all the support you gave us. You all made things so easy for us and looked after us soooo well. We could never have done it without you. From helping us on and off the boat, keeping us warm, feeding us, helping us change and massaging our weary bodies. You are the best!

Go Team Happy! - the most fantastic team on the Hawkesbury!!!!

Bye for now,
Jo, Geoff and Jenny

Don't wonder "What If?" - Jenny P - Our Guiding Light and Inspiration

[Thank You] Don't Wonder "What If?"

Vale Jenny Petterson - picasaweb - A Pocketful of Sequins - PD's Tribute

Joanne and I sent the following message to the Australian Dragon Boat Team on 18 Aug 2009, a few days before we left to participate for Australia at the IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships held in Prague in late Aug 2009. It is now history - an amazing experience for all of us, particular for Joanne and myself.

We just wanted to say thank you to everyone for helping us to celebrate Jenny's Life, and for your kind words and support for Joanne and I over the course of this campaign.

We also thank everyone for the lovely "Name-A-Star" gift that Amanda presented to us, on your behalf, at the 2nd Team Trial at Penrith. We have attached a copy of the documentation that came with the Sydney Observatory "Name-A-Star" catalogue. The star selected is in the constellation of Vela and has been named "In Memory of Jenny Petterson". As part of the gift, we will view the star at the Observatory on Jenny's and Joanne's Birthday, the 24th March 2010.

Jenny was an amazing person and she showed us all how to live life to full, even in the face of a life threatening illness such as advanced breast cancer, something she lived with for 12 years.

Paddling has become a constant in our lives and the irony is that we would not have found it, if Jenny did not have her cancer. Jenny would often say "what would we be doing if we did not start paddling?". We have travelled this state, country and the world as paddlers and wherever we have travelled we have met friendly likeminded people, no matter their culture or background. We feel we are better people because of our paddling experiences.

Jenny's life changed in 2004 when she nervously, yet humbly, co-featured in an episode of the ABC's "Australian Story" titled "In the Pink"

The episode was watched by more than 1 million people and helped expose Dragons Abreast Australia to many women. It told the true story of breast cancer and it did not shy away from the harsh realities of breast cancer. From then on wherever Jenny travelled, she would be "pulled up" by people in the street or at regatta's so they could talk to her about how the Aus Story Episode helped them to make positive changes to their life.

Following the airing of In the Pink episode, Jenny would often be asked to give a talk to various groups of people. She also became a speaker for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The last talk she gave was on the 1 April 2009 at the Riverview School in Lane Cove. The talk was given to approximately 200 Year 9 and 10 boys. They were mesmerised and inspired by her story of hope, courage and strength. She was also touched by the fact that the guest speaker they had a month earlier was Dr Chris O'Brien (of RPA Fame), a person she felt quite connected with. He made sense to her through his own public journey with cancer.

A copy of Jenny's Riverview Talk is now kindly hosted on the Dragons Abreast Australia Web site. It tells her (and indeed our story) in her own words with the last few pages giving an insight into her approach to life, and how she embraced her cancer and through it, felt empowered to live a wonderful and fulfilling life. The cancer helped to reveal her true inner spirit and character that she was born with.

Initially, unknowingly, and then later, humbly, she helped to inspire many people throughout Australia and the World to follow their hearts and achieve their dreams.

It was an amazing effort for Jenny to make the NSW State and Australian Teams this year. She was diagnosed with multiple tumors in her liver in early March and started a fortnightly cycle of chemotherapy and another drug. Through the encouragement of her "Support Team", she trained and paddled through all of her treatment and went on to paddle for her State and Club at the 2009 Nationals DB Championships at Kawana. It was with tears in my eyes that I witnessed Jenny, along with her team mates, paddle to Gold Medals in both 500m finals for her State and Club. The most amazing thing I have ever seen.

Finally, Jenny, Joanne and myself visited Prague in September 2005 after the World DB Championships held in Berlin. It is a beautiful City. Little did we know then that we would have the opportunity to compete for our country there in 2009. Jenny was selected in the Australian Team and was training up until early June. Joanne and I will now compete in Prague, with Jenny as our guiding light and inspiration.

Death may end a life, but our relationship will continue forever.

I have included a couple of photos from our trip to Prague in 2005 in our online photo album.



Don't wonder "What if?" - http://bit.ly/iKkog

With Thanks and Kindest Regards .. Geoff and Joanne

[ Jenny Petterson - Don't Wonder "What If?" ]