This last year has been really full on with a vast range of experiences from the dreaded ‘A’ Levels to the Rolex Fastnet Race greatly helped by my membership of the British Keelboat Academy.  I have felt really stretched at times but I feel my skill levels have moved on dramatically over the year so that I am now more able to cope with opportunities that may arise ahead of me.

This was especially important when I found out I had been selected for Artemis Offshore Academy Selection Trials in September.  It has always been my ambition to take part of the Volvo Ocean Race and the Vendee Globe. It would be incredible to become a member of the Academy as it would allow me access to a vast store house of knowledge and experience of offshore racing.  The selection trials started off really well when I went to the wrong location (this highlighted a problem in my navigation skills!). A dash across country got me to the right location but left me somewhat wrong footed so that I had even more to prove during the trials. 

The Selection Trials were highly intensive with very little sleep over the 52 hours of tasks designed to test us to the utmost to see if we could deal with the stresses of single handed sailing offshore.  I shall leave you to watch this Channel 4 programme on the Artemis Offshore Academy Trials to give you a better idea – yes I am the sweaty one!!!!

After my idiotic mistake at the start of the Trials I really felt I had absolutely no chance of being selected this year.  So it was the most incredible feeling when I found out that I had been selected for the Development Squad – like all my Christmas’s and birthdays had come at once.  I now have the most unbelievable chance to lay the foundations for my offshore sailing career.

I am working hard at improving my fitness as the Selection Trials clearly identified the levels that are now expected of us. So I will be pounding the pavements and pumping iron in the gym as well as eating up the miles on the bike!

I am at Southampton University studying Geology but during the autumn my timetable has allowed me to spend Wednesdays working for Artemis at Cowes.  I feel I have learnt a great deal more from the hands on experience working on the Figaros prior to their shipment to Grand Motte in southern France and from working on Becky Scott’s Mini than I have ever before.  It is the little things that one learns from doing a task and working through the problems that arise that really brings things together clearly and sticks in my brain!

We have had some great sailing on the Figaros in the Solent. The Figaro is a great yacht to sail and I am really looking forward to improving my skills so that I can be let loose against the elements and to hone my skills. My dinghy sailing experience up to and including RYA National Laser Standard Youth Squad has given me a solid foundation in racing and the ability to make my own decisions but now I am in whole new area and I am eager to learn the skills that the Artemis Offshore Academy are giving me.

I also took part in the Hamble Winter Series on the Farr 45 Espresso Martini as a trimmer, we came second overall. A steep learning curve, especially for my muscles. Another memorable sailing experience was blasting back from Plymouth to Cowes on the Class 40 in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene!  I really enjoyed the delights of being hosed down while at the helm and must thank Jamie Houston for the opportunity which was the ideal preparation for the rigours ahead!

Artemis Offshore Academy really started Christmas well, the squad undertook the Offshore First Aid Course with some lovely graphic videos of injuries that are aimed to freak you out.  But to help your personal safety you are taught to put in catheters, stitch, staple or glue yourself together.  Mind blowing!  Just to ensure the Christmas party mood continued the next day John Thorn gave us the privilege of testing out freeze dried foods of varying types from the totally edible to the unmentionable.  In short a totally yummy experience and I am just upset I could not bring some samples home to augment my mum’s cooking!

I am now looking forward to 2012 working towards my Yacht Master Certificate, sailing the Figaro, and competing in as many yacht races as possible.  I am still a member of the British Keelboat Academy and am aiming at the Commodore’s Cup in the J109, in addition I am looking forward to sailing on a Class 40 and on Espresso Martini.  This year’s Volvo Ocean Race with all its trials and tribulations is re-enforcing my dreams of racing round the world!!

Many thanks to all who have helped me and wishing you all a great 2012.