Asda Athletes

They were the first ranking event of the year and like most or the British events this year the first day of the competition was really windy. I did not have a bad day but it was hard keeping the boat upright with all the waves crashing over the boat. On that day I got a 7th ,8th and a 9th which were ok but I still needed better. The next day I was less tired than the day before, the wind had dropped a bit. I did better on the second day a 5th ,3rd and a 1st . I did not really use my discard so I can carry it over to the next ranking event.

The selections are the most important event for me because they decide where I will be sailing overseas representing Britain. This year they were held in Pwllheli, North Wales.

On the first few days it was blowing a hooli and on one day they did not let us sail because they thought it was unfair on the smaller sailors even though at the worlds they would have to sail in those winds.

On the last day the wind dropped and I was even more nervous than I was before. When I am nervous I do not do well so I screwed up the first race with a 55th. If I got even a 20th I would have got into the worlds team because my next race I came 8th which is okay.

I got into the Europeans team which I am pretty pleased with. They are in Portugal this year and are quite expensive so I am going to use my Asda award to help pay towards this event.

Welsh National Squad training has ended for the winter and Great Britain National Squad training ends this weekend.The sailing season has begun.

The first major British Optimist competition is the Spring champs in Weymouth. On the way down in the car I was eager to see what the competition was like after the Winter’s training, I was also quite nervous in case I was not at the top. When I got out on the water my nerves disappeared and i managed to get a 2nd and a 3rd but we could not fit another race in because the wind died.

On Sunday, when I was rigging my boat it was very windy but when I got out to the race course there was hardly any wind at all. I got another third and a 35th which did not count. I ended up finishing 3rd 2 points off first which is a great result for me. The next big event for me is in Holland at Easter so I will tell you how I did.