Hi guys,
Weirdly enough this year March is my busiest month of the year and I've been at full speed making good progress in all areas.
Going back to the end of February I had my birthday and spent a few days back home with the family. I did however manage to sail the Waszp which was great fun. Think I got a new top speed record as well... Across Swanage bay in under 2 minutes! Here is a small video from the session:
Before I went I also went on a great mountain bike ride around the Purbeck hills with some awesome trials. It was great to be back on the Cannondale again and hopefully I will have as good weather next time I go riding!
Awesome section of the ride through the forest.
Great view overlooking Poole Harbour and Studland Heath a.k.a mountain biking heaven!
The very next day I returned to Weymouth back to start another British Sailing Team squad camp with my fellow team mates. We had some extreme conditions during the week and on one day I unfortunately snapped my mast!
You know you are pushing hard when the boat breaks before you do!
The snapped mast showing how much load goes through the boat.
Luckily I had a spare at home and my mum kindly drove it all the way to Weymouth the next day to ensure I wouldn't miss any time on the water. Shout out to my amazing parents for all the continued help and support.
The next day was extremely windy and the squad went out for a short and sharp training session. We had great fun and had some serious speed on at times. As the photo below shows, it was very easy to dig the bow of the boat in and pitchpole! Oops.
The short, sharp chop of Weymouth Harbour threw up some challenges...
I also got some great news that I had been selected for the British Sailing Team Marlow Ropes award! This award allows me to have a certain allowance of Marlow products which will enable me to rig my boat to the highest of standards. It is an honour to have been selected for this and I look forward to many hours of fun rigging up my Laser with the best ropes in the world.
The Marlow Ropes Award will allow me to use the best ropes available in the world and ensure my rigging is the strongest and most reliable in the fleet. A big thanks also to UK Sport who enable me to have world class coaches and training.
Over the last few weekends I have also been competing at the second and third Laser World & Europeans Qualifier, at Weymouth and Stokes Bay SC near Southampton.
The second Weymouth qualifier was again a mixed bag. I had good, average and bad moments but ultimately I finished in 10th place overall and most importantly learnt so much. Its funny how you can spend an entire winter training in one thing and at the first competition of the year realise that you now have a weakness in something different.
Laser Worlds and Europeans Qualifier 2 - Race 2 Leg 2 Downwind.
I then attended the 3rd and final of the spring Laser Worlds and Europeans qualifier, held this time at Stokes Bay near Southampton. The Saturday was pretty windy with some harsh chop making sailing upwind and downwind rather difficult. I sailed fast and consistently to end up with a 5th, 7th and a 7th to leave me in 6th overnight.
Unfortunately on Sunday the wind was howling and after waiting around for a few hours the weather showed no signs of dissipating and the call was made to abandon racing for the day. Therefore I finished in a respectable 6th overall and first Under-21.
Results from the Laser Worlds & European Qualifier 3 at Stokes Bay where I finished in 6th overall.
Unfortunately a error on my behalf meant I was forced to sail the event without any gloves. As someone who has worn gloves his whole sailing career this caused a few issues later on...
It was worth the pain!
I have just flown out to Palma de Mallorca for the start of the first senior international competition of the year, Princess Sofia regatta. As a group we've managed to find a really nice, affordable apartment close to the sailing club which always makes it easier.
The lovely view from our apartment.
Thanks to Bolle I have some new sunglasses to test out on the water in the Spanish sun!
Racing gets underway on Monday and runs through until Friday. I am raring to go and feeling confident with my abilities!
Thanks for reading,
Sam
