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Zac Blomeley

KICKING OFF THE 2024 SEASON: ACHIEVING DESPITE ADVERSITY


 

Achieving despite adversity  


Our first training block started on a fresh spring day in Lake Garda, with snow still capping the mountains and the water feeling icy, we knew this was going to be a tough training camp. It reminded me of my days in 29ers, sailing on Grafham water, trying to get the most out of the winter session but hands and feet going blue after only a short time on the water.  


This was the first time the team had been back together since the end of season one in Barcelona last November. The team has been busy this winter: I’ve been training with the British Youth America’s Cup team, Cas has coached and worked with DutchSail Youth and Women’s America’s Cup team, Sophie has trained as part of the 49erFX RYA Crew for Gold scheme, and Hebe has been selected for the Griffin Project, completing RYA courses, and getting stuck into keelboat racing. After a busy winter, the air around the team was filled with excitement to get ready for the new season. We knew it was time to get back in the boat and start putting the hours in.  



This year our team takes on a slightly new structure; I will be helming the team for the full season and Cas will become our coach (but will compete against us in various events). We have a new main trimmer joining the team: Max Todd. Max was my coach from when I first started sailing and has supported me through my 29er sailing and all the way through to when I first sailed started foiling in the Waszp. As well as offering a great deal of experience, he brings great energy and an unwavering focus to the team. I think we’re in for an awesome year.  



Back to the training. Day one, two and three went as well as we’d hoped. We were following our plan of action, ticking off manoeuvres and learning points, shaking off the dust for me, Hebe, and Sophie. The days were full of learning for Max, and we quickly ran into our first problem. Coming to the end of a big session on the water, we were making real progress and getting the boat locked in, when Max caught his foot on a block during a manoeuvre and rolled his ankle. A loud shout of pain and we knew this was bad, so we immediately had Max on a rib heading to shore and we followed, managing a quick de-rig of the boat.  

That evening, I really had to rally myself and the team. An injury in the team after only three days was not ideal but it’s a long season and we knew we still had the rest of the training camp to progress. Our training became a bit more specific and coach Cas stepped on as our main trimmer for the next couple of days. Max (being Max )had only one day off, spent the next day in the rib, and after only two days off decided that his ankle was okay to sail with an ankle-brace and some painkillers (afterwards an x-ray showed that he had actually fractured his fibula). 



Sailing these boats takes up a lot of mental bandwidth, the more you do, the more you can think. While Max was trying to recover, we decided to feed him as much information as possible. We showed him videos, briefing notes, playbooks, and any other information we could conjure up, but this wasn’t as good as getting him back on the water. 


As previously mentioned, this was a bitterly cold week and, even though the girls had layers on layers on layers, it wasn’t enough. Getting cold on the rib after sailing became a big issue and unfortunately they both got ill. Hebe and the team have to factor in the fact that she is Coeliac (allergic to gluten), and it is something we all have to be conscious of as illness can become a big problem if not managed. Both Sophie and Hebe had a couple of no-sailing days and again our plans had to change. Luckily we had everyone back on the water for the final day and rounded off the week on a high but it definitely was not how we hoped the week would go.  


During the week there was a ILCA6 event going on, with hundreds of sailors out and around Fraglia Vela Malcesine. With only three of us fit and healthy, one of the days we needed a rib driver and a young sailor called Gudleik stepped in and helped us out. Getting him on the water and helping him hit his top sailing speed was a great feeling. Hopefully we sail with or against you somewhere down the line! We also had some Dutch youth lads come join us. We showed a handful of sailors the ‘ropes’ and how the boat can be setup! 


Unfortunately, we didn’t finish our planned schedule (the first time at a training camp we haven’t reached our goal) but given the circumstances it was great how everyone rallied together and really gave everything to make it work. 


On days we only have 30% to give and we give 30%, that’s giving 100% and that’s how this week felt. Achievements were made, the team bonded, and we had some glimpses of greatness. Onto camp two with some big goals and event one is right around the corner.   


Zac Blomeley

Blog 1 of 2024

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