ILCA U21 World Championships in Ireland.
During training beforehand, I was able to rest and reset after the UK Nationals, sailing mostly in light winds. However, once racing began, a low-pressure system moved in, bringing strong winds and low temperatures. Throughout the regatta, the breeze stayed around 20 knots, gradually shifting from southeast (onshore) to southwest (offshore), becoming increasingly unpredictable as the event went on.
Being under the optimal weight at the start of the trip made the strong conditions particularly challenging. I had to work hard to keep the boat fast upwind and under control downwind. The last few days were especially tough without an on-water coach, but fortunately, some friends I met at the UK Nationals were able to give me water support, which really helped take the pressure off.
Despite being fatigued in the second half of the regatta, I was still able to gain invaluable experience. Racing in the Silver Fleet meant close competition throughout, allowing me to refine my boat handling and tactics in congested areas of the racecourse such as start lines and mark roundings.
Since returning to Perth, I’ve identified key areas to improve, particularly boat speed and strong-wind downwinds, compared to the international fleet. I’m now focused on building these strengths before heading into the upcoming Australian season.
Thank you to everyone who supported me on this journey. This trip gave me a new perspective on how to approach the next few years of both my sailing and personal development. Without your support, I would have missed an incredible opportunity to experience the standard of the senior ILCA fleet and to understand exactly where I need to grow to compete at that level in the future.