Maddison Alexander is only 10 years old, but she is already the two-time NSW Heron Sailing Champion, the Queensland and ACT Champion, and the two-time Heron Australia National Champion.
Heron sailing is a two-person dinghy sailing sport. It’s the perfect family sport, as the dinghy is usually crewed by an adult and a child, or two teenagers. Maddison was four years old when her Great Uncle Dave took her sailing for the first time.
“That was the first time I ever sailed. I initially thought I wouldn’t enjoy it, but I absolutely loved it!
“The boat is about the size of a bathtub. In the boat there is someone called the ‘crew’ and someone who is the ‘skipper’. I’m the crew and my Uncle is the skipper. Uncle Dave pulls the main sail to keep the boat even and steers with the rudder.
“My job is to do something called a ‘tack’, which is when you are going around a corner and are changing direction to catch the wind. I have a couple of other jobs, another is lifting and pulling ropes for the main sail, and when there are big waves I have to sit on the side of the boat and ‘hike’ which is when you lean out the side of the boat as far as you can to stop it from capsizing!”
Maddison’s Uncle Dave has been sailing for years having previously won the 52nd National Championship and 56th National Championship for Heron Sailing. Teaming up with his niece he can now add the 63rd and 64th National Heron Championships to his list of sailing achievements.
The first competitive race they teamed up for was three years ago at the NSW Titles.
“When Uncle Dave gets a new boat, he lets the crew name it so I got to name the boat we sail and I named it ‘Chicken Dinner’… because winner winner chicken dinner!”
Maddison’s family couldn’t be prouder of her. Maddi’s mum Rochelle said she is constantly blown away by her talent.
“I remember watching some drone footage of a race she was in, and I have always known Maddi was a great sailor, but I never knew the extent of her technical knowledge until we were watching that and she knew exactly what the boats were going to do and where the wind was coming from.
“Her technical knowledge is off the charts!
“Maddi has this natural ability to read the wind and the waves and she’s ultra-competitive out there, but she is also very kind.
“We have always instilled in Maddison to always be kind. Regardless of where you come in the race it’s the most important thing.”
The whole event is a family affair, Maddie’s grandparents travel everywhere; her grandad is the boat engineer, and her grandma does all the prep work for food and accommodation and Dave’s wife Michelle has obviously lived and breathed sailing with her husband. Mum, Rochelle and Dad, Nathan along with Maddi’s siblings, Mylo and Charlie, are their biggest supporters.
Maddison is young, with plenty of time and talent to reach some impressive goals.
“I want to learn to sail solo. Hopefully in a few years I can master it because I want to make it to the Olympics in 2032. That’s the big goal.
“I have some little goals including beating the record for most championships in a row and hopefully taking on the ‘skipper’ role in the Heron.
“The main thing is to go out there and have fun and try your best. You go out there, be competitive in a friendly way and have fun.”
