Chance meetings with delightful Nikita

ABOUT three months ago, I was walking my dog Maggie along Howrah Beach when a young girl jogged past, increasing her speed to a full sprint before coming to rest. Having been a state rower, enduring a high fitness regime, I was impressed and commented accordingly. We went on to talk for almost an hour while Maggie and Nikita’s dog Mawi played together.

Nikita surprised me when mentioning she was a pilot with Par Avion and she joked about customers’ comments on how someone who looked so young could be a pilot. My wife and I had one of our best experiences when flying to Melaleuca some time back so I knew her routine.

We talked about Nikita’s early learning years, diving experiences, wilderness destinations and sailing. I actually offered to try to gain her a passage on Wild Oats’ return trip to Sydney due to my contact with Mark Richards. I can say, I have never met a more positive, confident, happy, intelligent and thoughtful young person.

Nikita was delightful, and that was just a chance meeting at the beach. After we finished our conversation I walked away feeling I had known Nikita for a long time and spoke of our how impressed I was to family and friends.

By chance, we met up again a few weeks later at Howrah Beach and she was exactly the same, full of enthusiasm and loving life. Even though meeting Nikita was short I will never forget her smile and personality, it was infectious. The circumstances of her passing are tragic and to me it’s just not fair and my heart goes out to her family and all her friends and associates.