from www.yachting.org.au
The skipper of the 2008 OAMPS Australian Youth Team 29er, Nick Peate, tragically died while at home in Ballina (NSW) on Saturday 10th May. He was just 17 years old.
Nick was a member of the Richmond River Sailing Club, the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and The Southport School Sailing Club, where he was the 2008 Sailing Teams Racing Captain.
With a natural sporting talent, Nick achieved representative honours in many sports including sailing, gymnastics, cross country and hockey. He also had success in schoolboy rugby union, athletics and rowing.
Nick was regarded as one of Australia’s top youth sailors, beginning his career in 2001 with the Richmond River Sailing Club in his home town of Ballina in northern NSW. He tasted his first National success just 6 months after taking up the sport, at 11 years of age, placing 3rd in the ‘Manly Junior’ National Championships at Woollahra SC in Sydney.
In 2004, Peter Vaicuirgis, the ‘NS 14’ National Champion and NSW Academy of Sport Sailing Coach asked Nick to crew for him in the NSW ‘Heron’ State Championships. Against sailors with more experience than him, Nick rewarded the faith Peter showed in him, with a flawless performance placing them 1st after three races.
Later that year he was accepted as a cadet into the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) and in 2005 became a member of their Elite Junior Youth Development Squad.
In 2006 he won his first National Title, in the ‘Sabot’ class, and was offered a prestigious Sporting Scholarship for sailing at The Southport School (TSS). Nick relocated to the Gold Coast and despite it being his first year in the TSS squad he was immediately selected as skipper for the 'A' team at the GPS Sailing Championships.
Ongoing triumphs in State and National competitions culminated in Nick being selected for Australia to compete in the 2007 Austalian Youth Olympic Festival as well as a nomination for the 2008 Ballina Shire Young Sports Person of the Year.
Success continued with Nick, and his crew Rhys Mara, recently being selected as NSW Institute of Sport scholarship holders and also members of the 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team to compete in the Volvo ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Denmark in July.
Outside of sport, Nick was a very high achiever earning the Silver & Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards as well as participating in numerous community programs including Solomon Islands Outreach Work and a Server and Crucifer at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Ballina NSW.
Nick is survived by his father Roger, his mother Janice and his siblings Katherine, James and Matthew.
Our sincere condolescenes to all Nick's family and friends.
Date: 13/5/2008 10.00
Weather: Clear blue sky
Location: Sand Point 33'36S 151'18E
Author: Peter
We spent a week in Cronulla in total catching up with as many friends as we could and picking up our new mainsail. The entire time there our bikes were put to good use transporting us around from A to B and by the end of our stay leaving us little tired and sore. The weather has been noticeably warmer, or is it that we started to acclimatize to Tasmania, which has made us start to look forward to heading to Queensland and perhaps even experiencing something that feels like summer. Before leaving we also went to the players biscuit factory where we not only got biscuits but also picked up a massive box of kit-kats for just $5 that should last us at least to the Whitsundays.
We left Cronulla around 10 on the Wednesday morning and had a easy four and a half hour run to Broken Bay before spending the the next two nights in Refuge Bay, including a walk up to the top of the waterfall. It was fantastic to feel warm again, Kylie spending both days in her bikini. Still not quite warm enough for a swim though. 
On Saturday afternoon we made our way into Pittwater where we rafted up to John and Jenny for the night. It has been great to catch up with so many friends, yet such a shame that we also missed seeing so many. Sunday saw us motor around to Patonga where we were picked up before spending the day at my sisters house for mothers day and a quick chance to see half of the family.
That weekend we also received some shocking news. Nick, a good friend from Ballina past away. This news has changed our plans and we our now trying to get to Coffs as quickly as possible, however we have had zero wind over the past few days and the weather does not seem to be changing in time for us to make it up there quickly enough.
Nick we will miss you greatly.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see:
