One chapter ends, another begins

Time flys. I look back on Weymouth like it just happened yet I’m sitting in my room in Perth on a miserable winter day some six weeks since I raced. World Cup Weymouth was the lightest wind regatta of the season which is highly unusual for England but it did make for some long days meeting new people and chatting in the boat park. I was lucky enough to stay with my Kiwi brothers Sam Meech and Jason “Snake” Saunders in a house in Portland. The house had no wifi but it did have a pool table which made for endless in house competition between us.

The lads walking around the boat park while we wait for wind
The lads walking around the boat park while we wait for wind

The racing was tough. After losing the whole first day we had little time to make it up so only managed 7 races for the series. I had a really tough first day, stuggling to get myself off the start line in any good form. After another long day of waiting on day two we got out to do one very light air race inside the harbour. I was holding third for the majority of the race but lost a bunch on the last run home. On the final day of racing we were sent out very late to do three races in marginal conditions with strong tide. I had a poor first race not getting my wind shifts right but turned it on in the next two. I found myself leading on the second beat of race two but lost out on a last minute shift towards the top. On the final race I lead around the top after a great pin end start where I crossed the fleet but could’t hold it as we finished off the day in as little as 3 knots of air. I was really happy with how I rallied in the light air after a tough start to the week.

Portland
Portland

Once racing was over I jumped in the team car with Blackers, Wearny and TB and headed for Falkestone and the Eurotunnel. The next day we arrived in Belgium to say goodbye to Matt before driving to Amsterdam to drop Blackers off at the Airport. The next day Tom and I packed a bunch of team containers with a small Aussie crew before jumping in the car and driving the whole 1200km to Lake Garda ready for our training camp.

G A R D A
G A R D A

As many of you would know Lake Garda is my favorite place in the world and I was stoked to be back. Normally we go to Garda earlier in the season but due to our world championships clashing dates we were unable to attend. That’s why I was so grateful for the oppertunity to be there.

Post windsurf chill time
Post windsurf chill time

The purpose of being in Garda this time round was to treat it as the final major training and fitness block before everyone went to Rio. Tom and I stayed together and out of all the sailors training there I was the only one not going to the games. It was fantastic to see how everyone trained and focused before such an important occasion. The weather really turned it on for us and we enjoyed two amazing weeks of sun and wind. The daily routine consisted of a gym session, two hours on the water followed but whatever choice of mountain to ride was on the menu. We even managed to squeeze a few windsurfing sessions in there as well.

Climbing Mountains always hurts, this one more than others
Climbing Mountains always hurts, this one more than others

All too soon it was time to pack up and head home. TB and I drove to Munich before I flew one way around the world and he flew the other. Since arriving it’s been a flat out week of meetings and work but I’m really happy to be home after five months away and only having spent three weeks in WA since October last year. Now it’s time for the next step.

Talk soon,

/Swifto

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