SAFA Skysailor Magazine

13 September | October 2021 SKY SAILOR In the past, I had spent periods of my life rock climbing, whitewater paddling, mountain biking and spent a lot of time alone in remote areas. I like adventure, but my risk profile has changed since having a kid. I feel I have a realistic assessment of conditions and my abilities, and a firm control of my fear, through prior practice and experience. Preparing for SIV Like probably every PG pilot, I watched Jockey Sanderson and Pal Takats’ SIV videos to try and prepare myself for what was to come. While they made it look pretty easy, I was prepared for a different reality. I wasn’t exactly scared, but I knew there was some risk involved. Rafa’s briefing brought this fact home. To paraphrase, ‘listen carefully and follow what I tell you or it can go badly,’ was the take-away for me. I usually don’t sleep much before major events – a big film-shoot, a difficult bushwalk, a serious sailing trip – while I process the unknown and run through scenar- ios in preparation for what might come – the night before SIV was no different. Knowing that sleep was next to impossible, I relaxed as much as I could and used the time to visualise the manoeuvres described in the briefing, over and over. Next day, I could tell that most of our group were nervous, but having done my version of this days and weeks before, I felt very little fear now. I fell into my usual pre-big game routine of becoming quiet and focused on the task, making sure my gear was right. Of course I felt some fear – somewhere within me – but through necessity and practice I was able to compartmentalise it. Once identified and recognised as valid, fear simply stresses the seriousness of the task, determines how much Above: Water landing under reserve Right: Launching from the lakeside Left: On tow, viewed from boat Photos: Brad Harris