By Rex Davidson
We used to race keelboats out of Geelong. That was my introduction to sailing.
I grew up in Victoria, down in southeast Gippsland. It was the best of both worlds, by the beach but also up in the dairy country, with those rolling green hills.
My mum and dad always had us moving around on weekends, off doing different stuff. That’s where I first started getting out on the water with Dad. We used to race keelboats out of Geelong. That was my introduction to sailing. From there, it just grew, fishing, diving, anything that got me out on the water.
A Gap Summer That Never Ended
When I finished high school, Dad and I bought a yacht in Tasmania. The plan was for me to head down for a gap summer before uni. Instead, that summer turned into about three years in Tassie. I was ripping around sailing, doing courses, and eventually got a job on the boats.
I’d been accepted into RMIT for Urban and Regional Planning, but I just couldn’t see myself behind a desk. Life on the water made a lot more sense.
Baptism of Fire
My very first night on our yacht was rough, literally. I’d just flown down after school, jumped on the boat with Dad, my uncle, and cousins, and we were sailing from Launceston down to Hobart. It was the middle of the night when the tide and swell kicked up. I got thrown out of my bunk, scrambled for a jacket, and ended up hanging over the side of the boat, sick as anything, while everyone was shouting and the storm was blowing. By morning, the sun was out, dolphins were on the bow, and we were surfing down waves. Low lows, high highs, that’s sailing in a nutshell.
Ever since that trip, Tassie became my training ground. Every day I was on a boat, sometimes for work, sometimes for fun. Spending that much time on the water means you’re going to have hairy moments, but you also get the best ones, too. It shaped me into the person I am now.
By morning the sun was out, dolphins were on the bow, and we were surfing down waves. Low lows, high highs, that’s sailing in a nutshell.
Free Diving
When I’m not working, I still want to be in the water. Free diving and spearfishing are my big passions. With Free Diving, it’s a whole mental game, slowing down your heartbeat, controlling your breath, and just easing yourself under.
On a recent trip to Indonesia, I cracked 20 metres on a dive, which surprised me as much as anyone. My previous best was around 12. Down there, it’s just quiet and calm. I love that feeling, it’s about being fully in the moment.
Looking Ahead
I know I’m young, and I’m lucky to be where I am already. I’ve got big role models in this industry, family, friends, who’ve made their whole lives on the water. Our family group chat is one big competition. I’ve got an uncle overseas in Indonesia sharing surf shots, my cousin in the Arctic sending photos of polar bears, and another uncle up in the Kimberley guiding and posting crocodiles. And then there’s me, with whales.
For me, it’s about pushing forward, kicking goals, and building a solid career early. Maybe one day I’ll make it into polar expeditions, like my cousin. For now, I’m proud of the path I’ve carved out, and I’m excited to keep chasing what’s next.
