Like all good sporting endeavors preparation and training are an important part to achieving a good result. In the lead up to the Apollo Bay race Aidan has taken advantage of the training and racing programs offered by the ORCV to progressively build his crews knowledge and skills.

Having bought his boat in Pittwater just over a year ago he has now competed in a number of races that have progressively challenged and extended his skill-set each time.  He and his wife Nerida have also completed the Safety and Sea Survival Course.  Along the way they have been gathering and training crew members to form the basis of an ocean racing team. At the moment Nerida who is now five months pregnant finds the motion sickness hard going and is supporting Aiden as shore crew.

In 2011 Streetcar competed in the cruising division of the Melbourne to Geelong race.  Aiden and Nerida enjoyed the race so much they took the next step and joined in the ORCV Latitude Series.  The Latitude Series is an innovative series of races coupled with a competitor support program and mentoring support to help those new to ocean racing and sailing get started.

The ORCV paired Aiden with experienced ocean racer, Jeremy Walton and under his mentoring Streetcar went on to take-out first place in the Latitude Ocean race. This was closely followed by a third place in the Latitude Pursuit race from Blairgowrie to Brighton. Two weeks ago he teamed up with Jeremy to test their skills and systems in the Double-handed Bay race.

Aidan has high praise for the support and encouragement he has received from the ORCV. Having done his preparation he is now looking forward to putting all he has learnt to date into practice, in his first ocean race to Apollo Bay. Good luck!