My sailing journey

Growing up in a sailing family in Lymington, being on, in and around the water was part of everyday family life.

Sailing was something I did with my fiends and family, whether it be in my optimist, a scow or some other vessel; the water was my happy place to have fun and laugh with my friends.

At about the age of 7, the competitive streak kicked in; we wanted to go and race! So together, me and my best friends, we toured around local regattas shamelessly in our oversized hikers and purple optimists. It was the highlight of our weeks, getting out in our oppies and going for a good thrash around some body of water or another. Our off the water time was just as much carnage as on the water, with camping, climbing, failed motor home trips and everything in between. But we LOVED it - thoroughly stuck in to everything we did together, spurring each other on on and off the water. It was a fast progression to the top of the fleet.  We made so many friends along the way and found the novel experience of racing abroad and being in other countries all the more exciting and motivating!

I culminated my optimist career in 2014, after multiple World and European championships (of varying success) and having been National Champion the year before, I felt like it was my time to move onto bigger things(boats), still with my friends right by my side.

That’s when I teamed up with Milly Boyle, one of my loyal comrades, as we set out to do great things in the 420. This was a very social class but never less the racing was world class and international fleets could be brutal, as was it in the optimist.

After 4 years battling it out around the world in our 420, we reached peaks of youth national champions, European U17 champions, silver medal at the Youth Worlds and finally rounding off our forever treasured 420 career as World Champions!!

What a 4 years that was. So when I was all set to go off to university to study medicine, but this achievement sparked a deeper itch in the sailor part of me. I was asked to give the 470 a try - just as a pass time in my year off. 5 years down the line… still in the 470! Although much has changed; I have changed partnerships, had some time off, been on the full campaign roller-coaster, but at last - the Olympics is in sight!

Now I will fight to round off this campaign in champion fashion by getting that OLYMPIC MEDAL!

Gold is the goal 😉

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