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| Team GBR |
It all started with another ferry to the mainland from the Isle of Wight and then a long drive once we crossed the Channel. Luckily though I had the car DVD so at least I was entertained. We took a while finding our holiday home park because when we arrived we didn't think we were in the right place as it was too posh. Having found our home for the week it was time to get a good night sleep for some windy sailing the next day.
After a relaxed morning we headed down to the yacht club for some windy training but unfortunately it was a bit too windy and sailing was cancelled. So we headed back to our lodge and headed off to the beach. The sand was incredible! Because it was so windy the waves were gigantic. As well as chasing the waves we found and rescued a stranded fish washed up in the storm. The next day started early due to having no sailing the day before. Everything was done in an instant and soon enough we were out training. It was a lot windy than I expected so I had to make a lot rig adjustments. I didn't sail so well that day but one thing I did learn is that there can be some big waves on a lake! After debrief we headed back quickly and went straight to sleep ready for racing the next day.
Morning dawned and nerves kicked in as the realisation of the day ahead came upon me. However the nerves were matched by excitement! It was around 10knts (perfect!) but I couldn't seem to get things quite right. I was being caught out by annoying shifts. Shifts (that day)= worst enemy. Only two races were completed in which I got a 38th (which became a discard) and a 13th. I wasn't really too pleased with the day but I put it behind me and focused on the next day. If I got a good night sleep I might be able to perform, that was what was in my mind. Like they always say; control the controllables.
The next day was definitely a lot better and I scored a 3,20,22,14, I was really proud and happy from the day because I realised that I was able to move on from bad days and treat every race like it was the first. Being able to do this is a great skill. Another advantage from having a good day is that you go home happy. A win win situation.
When we go up on the next day it was very cold, around freezing, but to perk up our moods it was Easter Sunday!! Freya and I had a quick Easter egg hunt before heading down to the boat park. However the day didn't turn out to be the happy Easter day I wanted. I had a shocking day scoring 32,56, 29. The good news was that I knew what went wrong so I should hopefully be able to improve on it the next time. Despite the bad day I still managed to have a nice evening because we did another Easter egg hunt with Mum on facetime and we had a lovely dinner!
Going into the last day I was full of nerves however excited as well. Despite the day before I was still able to maintain a good position. The day favoured me with light winds so I gave it my all. I worked on my problems from yesterday and I was able to perform well again getting a 17th. Overall I came 26th which I was happy with. It really proved to me that a bad day doesn't mean anything but I know I could have done better. The Selections!!!!
I'm going to keep this short because there Is not much to say. The selections didn't go to plan for me. I came across nerves I had never felt before. TOP 14 TOP 14 TOP 14. That was all that was going through my had. I lost my self-belief. On the brighter side I gained a lot out of the event.
The weather wasn't on my side either. The first two days were really windy, over 20kts and choppy seas. Me and all the light weight sailors really had a hard time making up wind progress. We then lost a day to fog so only had one day left and I was too far adrift to get a Worlds or Europeans place. On the last day I won the first race, which was great, then had two shockers and then another good one, a 6th. So all a bit up and down for me. I've been selected for the Flanders team and learnt a lot from the event which I can use in the future.
