Onward to the European Olympic season

It is a long road to the Olympic Games, and for USA sailors, providing regular updates is needed to maintain interest and support. This is even more vital for a new team, and in this report by Lucy Wilmot and Erika Reineke, they bring us along on their latest adventure:

Last month, we took a refreshing leap across the pond to Portugal for our first camp working alongside our new international training partners. Similar to the feeling of meeting a distant pen pal, we arrived in Lisbon with butterflies in our stomachs.

When we saw each other for the first time, nothing short of excitement filled our bodies. Embracing one another with smiles and hugs, we knew that this would be a moment to remember in two years’ time.

Starting right from the launch ramp, the training was intense. Though we are all sweet, cheerful, and kind hearted off the water, on the water our group is fierce, persistent, and competitive. Both teams giving their best in every drill allowed our coach to provide accurate and immediate feedback for improvement.

Once our teams got to know one another better, all four of us became more comfortable in sharing knowledge and trusting each other. Collaborating together, solving problems, and seeing a high rate of improvement was a dream come true. We could not have asked for a better training environment.

Capping off the February camp, we competed in the Portugal Grand Prix Event and finished 9th. With the same number of boats sailing as the 2021 World Championship and top female/coed teams in the mix, we are proud to have seen over a 50% increase in performance in such a short period of time.

We are eager now to keep this momentum rolling as we head over to Palma de Mallorca, Spain for the Princess Sofia Regatta which starts on April 5th.

Currently en route to Palma and typing away from the Newark Liberty Airport, we are stoked for this next adventure. Just before our departure, we received the new 49erFX 3Di sails! With the sails now rolled and tucked beneath the plane, we are excited to give them a test run with our training partners over the next seven weeks abroad.

At the conclusion of the Princess Sofia Regatta, we will be trailering our hull and equipment to Hyeres, France for the Semaine Olympique Week! Though this is a long stint away from home, we have goosebumps just thinking about all the things we will learn and the memories we will create. Driven to progress and hungry to compete, we are certain this trip abroad will be the most groundbreaking yet.