Well that was quite an exciting end to the season! Whilst my performance at times has been far from perfect it has definitely been an eventful couple of months and one that I will remember for a long time and take all the learning from. Follow my journey over the past few months below:
Training off Durlston Head back. After spending the last few weeks of September back home in Swanage training, I headed off to Split, in Croatia for the Men's Senior Worlds.
A wide range of weather greeted me in Croatia, from scorching sun you would expect to severe rain and thunderstorms with hail the size of golf balls!
After flying in, collecting my charter boat and setting her up I was ready to go for the start of the competition!
The racing was extremely tough and I struggled to get into my groove. Combined with some bad luck I ended up with a disappointing performance, but happy with some progress I had made.
Celebrations at the prize giving as Pavlos Contides (Cyprus) wins the Laser World Championships 2017.
So whilst my first senior world championships didn't go to plan I'm still very happy to have been able to compete against the best in the world. I know I can do so much better and am looking forward to next year where I will hopefully be able to show everyone what I'm capable of.
I quickly returned back to the UK and was straight off up to Sunderland for the first of the autumn UK national qualifier events. It was a great weekend with warm temperatures and great conditions on the water - I would even go as far as saying the best qualifier ever?! Anyway, after some really close battles I finished 3rd overall behind fellow team mates Micky Beckett and Jack Wetherell. Special shout out to my parents who drove my brother and I to and from the event, we wouldn't have been able to do it without you!
Results from the Noble Marine Laser Qualifier 4 at Sunderland.
After a few days of rest I was fired up to go to the Europeans, held in Barcelona, Spain.
Arriving nice and early in Barcelona I had to somehow navigate around the Spanish Metro system which was confusing to say the least!
I soon arrived at the Barcelona International Sailing Centre raring to get going. After a couple of splendid days training in some mixed conditions I was ready for the competition to start.
Unfortunately the first day of the competition was cancelled after the political events going on in Catalonia surrounding the referendum!
Over the next few days we had some really great racing with a wide range of conditions. Perfect! Unfortunately on the first day I developed an infection from a mosquito bite and after battling my way through 3 days of racing a trip to hospital was required. Very frustrating!
With the infection becoming pretty serious, I was given doctors orders to not sail again in the championships and fly home and rest. Not the end of competition season I had hoped for!
Whilst it was quite upsetting to have not finished the Europeans in the way I would of liked it I knew my foot was in a bad way and enjoyed some nice rest back home before getting ready to try a new style of sailing with my younger brother Ben, double handed sailing in the Endeavour Trophy. Find there full report on that here:
Leading around the windward mark on one race at the Endeavour Trophy.
Hugging the shoreline in less tide at the Endeavour Trophy.
So the Endeavour finished and allowed me to get back home and start my preparations for moving to Weymouth for winter training. Although the picture below isn't really preparing for the move the surf was too good to ignore!
Bodyboarding in waves off Swanage Beach.
First winter training session in Weymouth - the classic to Osmington Cliffs and back!
Marked my first night living in Weymouth with a trip up to the top of Portland to see the Olympic Rings next to the lovely sunset. Just ooking at this picture makes me hungry for success.
After a couple of weeks training down in Weymouth I travelled to Grafham Water Sailing Club for the Laser Inland Championships. Held in very shifty and cold winds, I am very pleased to say I won the event for the first time. Here are a few shots of me from around the race course:
Cruising upwind on a big left shift - I was feeling pretty good at this point!
Just after rounding the windward mark and sending it onto the reach.
Sending it on the last reach on my way to win the race.
Me with the Laser Standard Inland Champion trophy and my younger brother Ben who won the Laser Radial Inland Championship!
Returning back to Weymouth I have been hammering in some decent on the water and gym sessions. Hopefully it wont get much colder!
So what next? Well having moved to Weymouth now I am settling into my training routine, setting clear goals to ensure that I am making progress 24/7 and doing everything I can to ensure that my success is inevitable.
I have a few upcoming weeks of training in Weymouth before heading out for the Palamos Christmas Race, always a great event that I am really looking forward to.
Thanks,
Sam
