So I wrote the first part of this at the end of June after an amazing training camp in Tarifa, but with the PWA starting on the 2nd of July, I never managed to finish it and I’ve barely stopped since then so this month you’re getting a 2-for-1!

BREAKING SPEED RECORDS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX 

I was very happy to receive all my new boards out in Tarifa so one of my main focusses was to get used to the new setup and different sizes. This year I have chosen to use the Falcon 97 and 115 and Falcon Foil 188 for PWA. These are slightly bigger boards than I’ve used previously, but so far, straight out the packet they are working amazingly! So amazingly in fact that I broke my personal speed record (37.7 knots) and put down the 3rd fastest speed of all women in 2022! These last few months since I got my COROS Vertix 2 GPS have definitely been eye-opening as to just how much I love speed sailing and trying to constantly beat myself and with the right conditions I definitely think breaking 40 knots is on the cards soon!

CROATIA CATCH UP 

Finally, after 6 months of hard training, we were back on the PWA Race Course in the stunning location of Bol, Croatia. Whilst not a full counting World Cup – merely a qualifier, with the scarcity of World Cup events this year, only one of the top 10 slalom riders in the World was missing, so the level was incredibly high. Further for 2022, the rules have changed to combine fin and foil racing at the same time – the course is set and you pick your weapon! Traditionally I have been much stronger on the fin, and was one of the last girls to adopt the foil, so its definitely been a challenge catching up with the girls who are dedicated foilers. I have concentrated a lot of my training from the last 3 months on improving on the foil, but I know I still have my weaknesses, especially with confidence attacking the mark in the middle of the pack. This change has made me reset my expectations from my successes last season, and a top 8 finish for me will be a huge achievement.

In Croatia, the conditions are often 12-25 knots, and therefore I expected to be on the foil for the majority of the week as these conditions, combined with the gusty and sometimes shifty winds definitely favoured the foil. 

I got off to a good start in the week with a 6th and a 7th, but on day 2 a mistake in the qualifications followed by a poor equipment choice led to a last place finish. This certainly wasn’t in the plan of action! Day 3 was a new day, but unfortunately I replicated my performance from the previous day – a strong current on the starting line led to the start line moving in the final minute and I mistimed my start leading to disqualification. Now I had clocked 2 x last places and in my head, the chances of a top 8 finish were completely over. It was now down to chance – if we got enough (7) races completed, we get to delete our two worst scores, so it was time to go all or nothing and take some risks to aim for the best results possible for the rest of the week. 10th, 8th, 9th – I was sailing fast but making poor decisions but it just wasn’t quite coming together at the right times.

On the final day we had completed 7 races already but I was still down in 10th. Far from where I wanted to be and I was pretty disappointed, especially as the wind wasn’t forecast to give us much chance of racing. I tried to stay focussed, headphones on and when the wind changed around, it was my chance to go. Separating 8th to 10th was 1pt so I knew whoever won that race between the 3 of us, would take 8th and the final prize money spot. 

The wind was increasing and decreasing constantly making equipment choices difficult, so I played it safe with my WARP_FOIL 5.9 and Medium front wing. The first hurdle was to make the final, and give myself the best chance at that 8th place. It was a sketchy start and I was last out of the first mark – comeback time! I flew around the course, chasing down as many girls as possible. I made it up to 5th place coming into the last mark, and with a perfect gybe I overtook into 4th and made the final. It was now a 2 person race with one of the other girls not qualifying. It was a head to head between myself and my best friend – she’s flipping fast on a foil too so I knew I had my work cut out. With the wind constantly increasing, it was tempting to go on the fin where I’m definitely faster and more comfortable, but also risky if the wind dropped at all. I decided to match her and take whatever she took, knowing that I’m heavier and should be able to hold it down better than her – she took the same equipment, so so did I. With the first start, 3 girls passed the line too early and were disqualified so then there were 5. KEEP. IT. SIMPLE! I made a good start and focussed on the first mark and sailing as fast as possible. 3 girls exploded down the first reach, leaving me ahead on my own at the first mark with the event winner chasing behind me. I have to say I was a bit confused how I’d ended up there, but I pushed as hard as possible but eventually Sara overtook me and I was in second around the 3rd mark. Game on – I had nothing to loose so I went for an all out drag race and caught up with her neck and neck on the final mark. She hit and awkward wave and fell and I overtook her to take home the victory! What a feeling to win a race on a foil and in such crazy conditions, gusting over 30 knots! The icing on the cake, the 0.7 points you get for winning a race was enough to promote me to 7th place and I achieved my goal for the week. I certainly didn’t make my week easy with too many costly mistakes, but to finish with a win was an amazing feeling, and even-more-so with my parents there to celebrate with me.

A NEW ADVENTURE

In the middle of the event in Croatia, I had a phone call from the PWA Tour Manager asking me if I was available the week after to come to the wave World Cup and run the Social Media for the week. This was an amazing opportunity to be behind the scenes of the event, go and watch a World Cup wave event and an invaluable experience to go and meet all my childhood wave heroes and get to interview them and document their successes. I loved the experience and was even offered to take the job full time – whilst it would be an amazing opportunity and it was an honour to be asked, I have still got too many sporting goals to stop competing at this point, and I love my life too much on the competitive side to let that go!

FROM NEW TO OLD – BACK TO TENERIFE

After a hectic few weeks – training hard in Tarifa, PWA Croatia, quick hop to Gran Canaria and working 14 hour days at the PWA, I needed a reset – mentally and physically. With Tenerife just a short (but bumpy) ferry ride away from Gran Canaria, I jumped in the van of one of my friends and went back to the place which is feeling most like home this year (don’t worry mum, your home will always be home!). As soon as I arrived on Tenerife I was already starting to relax, I know the place so well that I don’t have to think, I can just run on autopilot for a couple of weeks and know I will be able to get lots of time on the water, catch up on work, get in the gym and be surrounded by a lot of my good friends. I’ve had an amazing two weeks here and feel ready and motivated for what lies ahead…

WHAT’S NEXT?

At the end of August we have the biggest event of the year – the IFCA Slalom World Championships in Paros where I will be aiming to go one step better than last year and win the World Championships. I want to prepare as best as possible, so I am heading to Vassiliki in Greece next week for 2 weeks training in their reliable trade winds before a final week of prep in Paros before the competition starts.