Grant Reports

As I write this update I am super excited!  My last update told you of my Regional success.  Following this is I removed my entry form the Optimist Nationals and figured that I needed to concentrate on one class, although I have been having fun with a mate in a 420 this summer! 

I managed to secure a place on Ilca Skills week at WPNSA and also entered the ILCA Nationals at HISC. 

Skills Week first – what an amazing week.  I was put in a group with very skilled sailors and I learnt so much.  We had long intense but fun days on the water and lots of discussions off the water.  The sailing conditions varied each day and we sailed in very light winds and also very choppy waters with strong winds.  All our skills were challenged that week.  I was also in WPNSA with another family and loved having more independence.  I worked on this a lot as want to be independent.  Evenings were spent on Chesil Beach hanging out with old and new friends.

Nationals – my first big event.  My family came down to support me which was helpful with the beach launches.  Sailing on the sea has always been more of a challenge for me as I train more at Inland venues and the waters at HISC offered varying conditions.  I had a really good event and finished 11th which I was really pleased with – I was also one of the youngest sailors there! I had a breakage that week but Sailingfast and Ovington did a great job of a quick overnight repair so I lost no time on the water. The talks and Q & A sessions at the Nationals are really good and I tried to attend them all with my mates.

Ilca provided an Open Training weekend at Rutland SC which we went to – it was very hot and the winds were very light  but we managed 2 days on the water before a huge storm hit on Sunday afternoon.

This weekend I travelled to Paignton for the first of the Autumn Qualifiers. I won the Ilca 4 fleet!  It was amazing!  On Saturday we had 4 races – I came 4th, 1st and 1st.  Overnight I was top of the leader board and was looking forward to the racing on Sunday as it was forecast to be quite windy – I like sailing on windy days!  We woke during the night to a huge thunder storm and on Sunday morning the PRO displayed the postponement flag.  We went down to the launch area and the waves were crashing over the sea wall and storms could be seen heading towards us.  Sunday sailing was cancelled!  This meant that Saturdays results stood – I had won!!!! 

Again I would like to thank the RSYC Club as I know that without their assistance last year the travelling costs and a new boat to sail would have been a challenge.