For the sailors on the West Coast, the biggest challenge is to be able to sail, start, and do well in these bigger fleets that we do not have. This is why I went to the USODA Nationals and the USODA Spring Team Qualifiers.
Team Trials is just like Spring Team Qualifiers: a regatta where sailors have the opportunity to qualify for the US National Team, Development Team and to be selected to represent the US in international events. Team Trials has five events that you can qualify for, in order, Worlds, Europeans, Asians, North Americans, and British Nationals. My goal was to make British Nationals, which I missed because I ranked 85th total and the last selected boy was ranked 83rd, while the last selected girl was 34th in Silver so 114th.
Since Team Trials is such an important event, the US Team I qualified for, (Topsport Vlandereen in Belgium) this past November, decided to host us a practice at Brant Beach Yacht Club, one week prior to the event. Thanks to this practice, I discovered the venue which really helped me, I also met my teammates and my coaches.
Having 222 sailors competing, the racing officials are forced to split us into three groups of 74 sailors to make the starting line and the race course shorter. If you scored 20th in one race, that will count as a 60th overall because your score has to be multiplied by three due to the three fleets. The first three days you rotate between all fleets depending on your overall standing and the last day we are divided into Gold fleet (top 75 sailors) and Silver fleets (A & B). I was very happy to end up 10th in Silver meaning 85th total.
On day one, for the first race of the day I was pretty tensed, I was sort of nervous to start my first Team Trials race ever. I had on OK start and just followed what my coaches told me to do and finished 47th. I was not happy but I knew that this was a 4 day regatta so I was determined to do better next race. The second race I did a little better with a score around 30th. The next two races I got two top 25th which I was really happy with.
The second day I was really happy to go out for Day #2, the first race was really hard, I started and ever since the start I was not doing well, I finished 71st. From there, my scores became a lot better with a 30th and a 25th. Although this day was hard, I stayed focused and I believe mindfulness really helped me get back into the race and reset from that first bad race.
The third day, I woke up in 25 knots of wind, lots of rain, and temperatures around 10 degrees celsius. After rigging my sail I had to attach it to my boat so it would not fly away. We waited 45 minutes and then the race committee called the day off as the wind was gusting to 30 knots.
The last day of racing I was sad not to make gold fleet, but decided I would like to be the first SFYC sailor and do well in silver. My first race I scored 15th and I was really happy. My second I got 17th. My last race of the event I scored 26th which was an OK result.
At the end of the regatta when I looked at the results and saw that I was 10th in silver, I was really happy but wished that I was in gold. I definitely think that doing some mindfulness and workouts really helped me sail better and become a better sailor in general. If you want to learn more about my preparation you can check out my last blog post.
Overall this regatta was an awesome experience. I loved competing with some of the best sailors in the world. I really liked the venue although sometimes very choppy. Plus I had the chance to sail a Winner boat which is the best boat on the market.
At Team Trials, Collie Sails brought a Waszp which was pretty cool to watch. My Dad got a turn on it and learned a lot of new techniques. I can't wait to be representing the USA in Belgium this summer with the Flanders Team and my coaches Peri Brusa and Mitch Hall.
My teammates and I launching for Day #1 of practice:
The view from BBYC Beach :
The SFYC Race Team with our two coaches Nico and Tommy:
Henry and I with the SFYC flag:
The sunset from the beach we were launching from:
Me rigging my boat:
Henry and I in the airport flying out to New Jersey:
My awesome Dad and I:
A picture from Matias Capizzano of me (in the red):
A part of the fleet launching to the race course:
My coach and I talking about the day:
Thank you to my Dad and Mom for supporting me through this journey of Opti Sailing, you have been so helpful and supportive.
Thank you to Jerome for sponsoring me and making this whole journey possible.
Thank you to my family for their love and support.
A special thank you to Caroline for helping me with all the mindset preparation.
Thank you all for making my dream possible!!!!!!!!!
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