2 Sail R's Together Again

The 2 Sail R's are together once again on one continent....Australia.

I arrived back in Australia on Friday September 7.  Russ greeted me at the Prosperine Airport with a big grin and a bouquet of Australian flowers.   Worrall Wind was decked out with her flags, and her brightwork shone in the setting sun.  Lots of spit and polish had been going on while I had been away.

I thought the natural sheen was green.

It was great to come back "home".

During the last week, I have been meeting some of the Aussies that Russ became friends with while I was away.  He has been active in the Whitsunday Lions club.  This club is very active and sponsors the Saturday morning market in Airlie Beach.  They are, as one would expect of Lions, a great group of folks who enjoy helping others and having a good time doing so.

Helping Out in the Food Booth

He has also been racing with the Wednesday night sailors.

Forward:  Colin,  Dave, Alison; Helm: Glen, Di

Paralympics and Journalism

Sailing is inherently challenging.  Try sailing, cycling, running, or swimming with missing limbs or no vision.

While the Qualifying American Cup Races were Happening in San Francisco, the Paralympic co-ed Sailing Races Were Going on in London.  Australia athletes came home with 85 medals.

Spectacular Closing Ceremony of Paralympics 

Russ installed a new flat screen television in the lower saloon during the Olympics.  He enjoyed watching the Olympics, and then turned his attention to the Paralympics which received in depth coverage and reporting here in Australia.  In phone conversations while I was still in the states, Russ kept asking if we were watching this amazing event.  We were not, and not for the lack of trying.  It simply wasn't on the television as far as I could see, although I hope there must have been some coverage somewhere.

Upon returning to Australia,  I was soon introduced to the Paralympics. The Aussies had full coverage of this fabulous event which for me eclipsed the regular Olympics.  There were over 4,000 athletes from 150 countries participating.  

Sadly in the USA, even though we had 216 participating American athletes, most Americans didn't even know this event was going on.  Held in the same London venue as the Olympics, with over 2.7 million tickets sold, the Paralympic games were one of the most uplifting and inspiring events we have ever witnessed.  It is sad that Americans were deprived of watching this event.  Many of our war vets who lost limbs participated in the events.  We should have been supporting our athletes better.   These are indeed super-humans!  Here are some images that I snagged off the Internet:

So what's with our news coverage in America or Lack of News Coverage?

The lack of coverage of the Paralympics is symptomatic of American news in general.  Even on the cable channels it was impossible to find coverage of significant world news.

As an American and trained journalist/educator, I am disturbed with what is happening in America in terms of news coverage?  Having just been in the states during the Olympics and two political conventions, the news appears to be slanted right, left, trivialized, ignored, or omitted.   We are fed sound bites of "news" that lack depth and twist the integrity of the full and factual story.    I had a chance to see quite a bit of "news" while at home and was shocked by the out-of-context bites and opinions that were espoused as news.

This type of reporting or editing of the news is reaping the rewards of an increasing polarization and dumbing down of the public.  Where is the center?  What are the facts without the spin?  How do these facts fit together to give us a real and complex picture of what is going on with appropriate information from which to make decisions, to come up with solutions, or celebrate human diversity?

Americans are becoming increasingly insular and ignorant of world events.  It has been said that knowledge is power...enough said!

Speaking of Croc!

Even though Russ looks close, he is safely on the boat.

Since we are in Croc country, we decided it was time to visit the reptiles in their natural habitat on a Croc Safari.   We had a great day on the banks and on the water of the Proserpine River, home to an abundance of wild life.

Russ and I were picked up by the Safari bus at 8:30 and driven to the base camp where we learned of the flora, fauna, and non-croc creatures on the banks of the Proserpine.  After tea and campfire bread, we headed down the river in a very sturdy barge.

We got a kick out of the safety talk where we were instructed in maritime safety procedures, i.e. how to put on our personal flotation devices so we wouldn't drown if the boat sank.    We could then float around in these bright orange vests as targets for the Crocs!  We learned that Crocs can see in color.  Crikey!  This boat better not sink.

Three Little Babies - Less than a Foot Long

But they Grow Up !  And Look For Orange Life Vests!

That's it for now.  We are packing for a three day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef to do some diving this coming weekend.  More later.

All is Well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind