Recently, I traveled to Germany to compete in two major sailing events: Kiel Woche and Warnemünder Woche, a Europa Cup event. It was one of the toughest trips I’ve ever had, as I was battling illness throughout both regattas. Despite the challenges, it was an incredible learning experience, and I’m proud of the effort I put in.
Kiel Woche was a tricky venue, with shifty winds coming off the land and the course set right in front of the club. Competing while sick was far from ideal, and I struggled to find any rhythm in such challenging conditions. I gave it everything I had, but in the end, 78th overall was the best I could manage. While it wasn’t the result I was hoping for, I took away plenty of valuable lessons to build on.
At Warnemünder Woche, I was still feeling the effects of being unwell but committed to racing every day and finishing the event. It wasn’t easy, but I pushed through and gave my best in every race. There were plenty of highs and lows, but just getting through it all felt like an achievement in itself. While the results for the whole trip wasn’t what I’d hoped for, I’m proud of how I dug deep and made the most of a tough situation
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A huge thank you to Ron Tough for making this trip possible. Competing at events like these is invaluable for my development as an athlete, and even through the struggles, I gained so much experience to take forward into Nationals and the summer season ahead.