Ambassador Blogs

Blog submitted by Laszlo Drummond, Rooster Rider   Going into the GB Team Selection Trials, I felt confident. The forecast looked good, with strong breeze conditions that I knew suited me well. Even so, sitting on the start line before the first race, I was nervous — but mostly excited. This was what I had worked for all year. Day One — Strong Start Race one started exactly how I’d hoped. I got a great start, managed to stay clear, and finished second. I backed that up with a 4th and then a win in the final race of the day, which meant I ended Day One leading the regatta in first position. It felt amazing, but I also knew selection weeks are long and anything can happen. Day Two — Things Started Falling Apart The first race of Day Two was okay. I finished 10th after dealing with both a yellow flag, penalty turns and losing 6 places Then came the second race. I was over the line at the start and received a BFD (Black Flag Disqualification). That immediately took away my discard and completely changed the scoreboard for me. In the final race that day, the wind died. I got trapped out to the right-hand side of the course and couldn’t recover, finishing 34th. That race was hard to handle. Carrying a 34 at a selection event is brutal, and suddenly I’d gone from leading the event to feeling like I had let myself down with unnecessary mistakes. Day Three — Another Black Flag Coming into Day Three, I knew I had to reset mentally and sail smart, most importantly not to push the line too hard. I tried to come in with an open mindset, knowing I needed strong races. But I pushed the line too hard again and got another black flag. I dont mind admitting that this was extremely emotional for me, I had minutes to pull myself together for the 3rd race. I managed it, gave everything I had a came first, another bullet. Still, at that point, most people probably thought my Worlds campaign was over. Honestly, statistically, it almost was. Carrying two black flags at a GB selection event and still making the Worlds Team was close to impossible. We worked out afterwards that my chances of recovering into the top five were tiny — almost non-existent. I was lying 12th overall and 56 points behind 5th place going into the final day. But I also knew the forecast for the last day was my kind of conditions: strong wind, where strategy, and confidence mattered. Final Day — Clawback Going into the final day, I knew exactly what I had to do. Top-five finishes weren’t enough anymore. I basically needed to win everything. The first race of the day went perfectly. I got off the line cleanly, sailed fast, and won the race. That gave me confidence immediately but I still had a mountain to climb. In the second race, I had another good start and led the race from the beginning all the way to the finish — another win. Suddenly the impossible started feeling possible. By the final race, the maths were simple: I needed to beat the sailor ahead of me by enough points to guarantee my Worlds Team spot. I went all in. I won the final race too. Four straight race wins under pressure to secure my place on the British Team heading to the World Championships. Lessons From the Week What I’ll probably remember most from this event isn’t actually the result — it’s the mindset. It’s easy to feel confident when things are going well. It’s much harder when everything starts going wrong. Carrying two black flags could have ended my week mentally. But instead, I tried to stay calm, reset each day, and trust my speed and training. One thing I’m proud of is that the comeback was significantly done by gathering my spirits and focus, not letting my emotions after the second black flag get the better of me, continuing to race as hard as I could, but without unnecessary risks, I That felt pretty special. The Team Around Me This result also definitely didn’t happen alone. I’m hugely grateful to everyone supporting me — my coach David, my family, my sponsor Rooster, and everyone who’s backed me through the hard years as well as the good ones. So to now be representing Great Britain at World Championship level for a second year means everything, it's my last year in the Optimist Class. Massive thanks to Rooster for supporting me throughout the journey. I’m incredibly proud to wear the kit and represent a brand that genuinely understands sailors and performance. Now… bring on Morocco.  

Blog submitted by Logan Bell, Rooster Rider   I describe my younger self as someone who really struggled with new environments, meeting new people, and changes in routine. When I first started sailing, it took me time to build trust and relationships with others in the sport. But one small step led to another, and within my first season I had already achieved far more than anyone expected of me. I found a sense of freedom, and something that no other sport or hobby had been able to give me. Sailing didn’t just give me a hobby. It gave me focus, helped me build friendships and relationships, allowed me to develop new skills, and most importantly, it became a real passion for me. Sailability gave me a sense of belonging, within a community that now stretches globally. I have just completed my 10th year of sailing, and my goals and hopes for future achievements continue to grow. What Sailability offers – a sport for everyone For me, the Sailability community has been transformative. It is a space where people meet without judgement, where tough days are understood, and where everyone is free to be themselves – mentally, physically, and emotionally. Whatever the need, it can be met, allowing freedom from life’s challenges. That sense of acceptance has become a foundation for me over the years. I have built confidence, passion, and drive not only to develop my own skills, but also to support others to achieve their goals and reach their potential. Through Sailability, I have had opportunities I could never have imagined. I have raced internationally across the globe, representing my country, growing, and developing both skills and qualifications along the way. I have naturally become a role model to other sailors, especially younger sailors who are facing similar challenges to those I have faced or am still working through. My message is simple: sailing is, and can be, for everyone. It is an inclusive sport. Sailing isn’t defined by background, ability, or circumstance. It is a sport that allows you to be yourself and take from it what you need. It gives you the opportunity to grow, explore, discover what you are capable of, and achieve things you may not have thought possible. For me, it has become both a lifeline and a passion. I have gained many qualifications, and I have been recognised for my achievements and for the difference I make to other people’s sailing journeys. I have received several awards and have been named a “Rising Star”. For someone else, sailing might be the beginning of an entirely new chapter. Giving back through sailing One of the most meaningful things to me now is watching newcomers take their first steps into the sport. I recognise the anxiety, uncertainty, and challenges that come with that moment, but I can also see the potential in what they could gain. Helping others find their own confidence and build their own journey is something I find humbling, and deeply rewarding to be part of.

Blog submitted by Amelie Ballantyne, Rooster Rider   Being a kid can be tough sometimes. There’s school, homework, friendships, and rules to follow. But when you’re a sailing kid, there’s another challenge: transitioning boat classes. At some point, the time will come to move on due to age, size, weight and this change can be tough too. For some people it’s exciting, but for others it can feel daunting. I want to share my experience of transitioning boat class and how it worked for me. I decided to make the move at the end of the summer, after the Topper Nationals. I had been sailing in the Topper class for a few years and chose to transition into the ILCA class due to my age. Looking back, I think the timing was right for me because it has given me the whole winter to train before the sailing season starts. Even so, I was still nervous. I worried about what the class would feel like, what the training would be like, would it be a massive step up, who I’d be sailing with, and knowing I would probably be nearer the back of the fleet at first. I had so many thoughts going through my head. I also spent a lot of time thinking about which class I should move into. I’m quite small and light, which would suit a double-handed boat best, but that also means dealing with a crew and I wanted to sail a single-handed boat so I could be my own boss. Naturally, as there are a lot around, I headed in the ILCA direction. I applied for the RYA ILCA 4 Transition Talent Academy and, after the selection process, I was on the program for the year alongside other sailors who were also transitioning to the class. I was happy to find out that two of my Topper friends, George and Charlie, were doing the same thing. That made the whole experience feel a lot less daunting. The RYA Talent Academy has been a great option for me, and the coaches have been fantastic. From the very first day however, training DID step up a level! One of the biggest differences I noticed straight away was the level of expectation on us. We were treated like youth sailors and expected to be much more independent, especially with our boat preparation and learning. Not long after starting the Talent Academy, our coach suggested that we sign up for the ILCA National Opens at WPNSA. Most of us decided to go for it, even though secretly none of us really felt ready for it. On the first day, I was extremely nervous. Looking around the dinghy park, I saw adults, Olympians, and sailors I’d always looked up to. The atmosphere felt very different from junior sailing; less chaotic, more chilled out and people just get on with their own thing. There was no pushing at the tally board queue and far less parents and siblings present. I definitely felt a bit of imposter syndrome creeping in and assumed I’d struggle. Sailing with around 70 boats on my rig on the start line, heading out past the harbour wall for the first time ever, was a huge step up. The waves, the pace, and the competition were intense. But when I came off the water, I felt absolutely buzzing. It was challenging for sure, but it was so amazing…..and I didn’t come last! The ILCA class has been very welcoming and helpful to new bees like me. Since then I have done several national events, including the RYA Youth Nationals on the ILCA 6 rig, which was awesome. My advice to anyone thinking about transitioning classes is to choose your timing carefully and not rush into it. It’s a big step up from junior sailing, but if you feel ready, it can be incredibly rewarding. For me, looking back, I feel that you naturally head in a certain direction, but don’t forget you can try out other classes if you are not sure, such as the WASZP and NACRA15 classes for example. They often run taster/demo days which are great fun. Think about what class would suit you carefully, and don’t be afraid to feel nervous because that’s completely normal. It’s all about enjoying yourself, so sail something you like with the people you want to hang out with.

Blog written by Kirsten Pollock, SKUD18 Sailor   Hansa are the largest manufacturer in the world of sail boats used by people with disabilities. The boats are designed to a Universal principle, with weighted keels, that allows anyone, whether young, old, able or with a disability to sail easily and safely, making sailing a very equal and inclusive sport. Every two years the five Hansa Classes come together for an International and World Championships. The boats are named by metric size, the smallest is the 2.3, then 303 divided into one and two-person fleets, the larger Liberty and finally the fast and powerful Paralympic SKUD18. The 2025 Hansa Worlds took place at Pittwater, near Sydney, Australia. Sixteen nations, with competitors from Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and USA took part and, representing Great Britain in the SKUD Class, was me, crewed with top local sailor Brett Pearce who was Australian Reserve Crew for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. Other illustrious names in the fleet were Dan Fitzgibbon, three times Paralympic Medallist, plus Asia Pacific SKUD Champion Neil Rowsthorne. The Rooster clothing was brilliant, especially the long sleeved UV top, UV neck sleeve and cap helped protect me and my crew from the sun. I have fair skin and burn very easily so having the right clothing especially in strong UV conditions makes all the difference. I could focus on sailing rather than having to contend with sunburn etc. After the regatta I went travelling and Rooster were with me every step or wheel of the way. I spent a few days in central Sydney. I then went to Uluru, from there I went to Port Douglas and went to the Barrier Reef, I wore Rooster kit in the water to protect me from the UV rays. I then went to Melbourne. My Rooster kit proved to be the ultimate travel companion — keeping me protected, comfortable, and ready for whatever came next. Whether I was sailing in high-performance conditions or exploring some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes, having reliable gear made all the difference. I genuinely wouldn’t travel — or sail — without it.

Blog submitted by Rooster Rider Scarlett Hadley from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Competing in the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile was something I never imagined would be possible so early in my sailing career. Here I was at 16 years old, representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines on one of the biggest stages in the sport. It was also my very first international competition which is crazy to look back on.    Coming from a small Caribbean Island where sailing is not as competitive or recognized, stepping into the competitive sailing world was surreal and inspirational. I was racing against Olympians that I had previously only seen online and looked up to. Suddenly, I was no longer watching them, I was racing against them.      It meant the world to be able to represent my country. To have our flag on my sail and to know I was opening doors for other young sailors at home was what really made every challenge worth it. It pushed me far out of my comfort zone but also showed me how far passion, hard work, and belief can take you.    This experience would've been impossible without the support of Rooster, whose gear made it possible for me to compete at the top level, where before our sailors had little knowledge about the gear needed to perform at the best, especially in the cold conditions in Chile. The support has kept me prepared, whether racing in tropical heat or chilly winds and I’m incredibly grateful. As I anticipate the Junior Pan American Games in August and the Youth World Championships in Portugal this coming December, I'm hoping to be ready with the right equipment, especially a jacket to help with those freezing temperatures between races!      The PanAm Games, which would usually be a later goal for most, was just the beginning for me. I’m excited to keep learning, growing, and hopefully inspiring the next generation of sailors in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 

Get an inside look at our keelboat & sports boat teams thrilling 2024 season - packed with intense racing, unforgettable moment, some import lessons and rigorous testing of our new gear. Sam Mabey The 2024 sailing season has been busy, full of learning, challenges, and plenty of fun. My two main focuses were the Cape 31 circuit and getting back into dinghy sailing with the Aero 6 after almost six years away from a boat! Alongside those, I took a trip to the south of France for some classic racing with Varuna, started match racing with the Cowes Match Racing Academy and headed to Greece/Valencia to deliver FINN an N53 trimaran.    In the Cape 31 fleet, I raced as bowman with Jiraffe. We had a solid season, achieving consistent results and finishing 4th in the standings, despite an eventful final race where a kite trawl at the last leeward mark dropped us from first to 15th sending the season out with a bang! My Aero journey was more of a learning curve. I began training in March and quickly realised it would be tougher than expected. I dedicated as much time as I could ahead of my first event in June, the RS 30th regatta, where I performed well in light conditions. However, I struggled at the European Championships in heavier winds, yet still finished with a result I felt good about and headed into the worlds more confident. Although the first few days were challenging with a few capsizes and some amateur hour moments, I found my rhythm later in the week, leaving with valuable experience and a smile, despite the result.   This season, I also had the opportunity to test Rooster’s upcoming yachting gear, including the inshore smock, SB1 gear, and new deck trainers. I typically prefer running shoes or gym trainers over sailing brand trainers for their grip, so I was pleasantly surprised by the Rooster trainers—they kept their grip throughout the season and endured the demands of bow. Testing the SB1 smock in wet and windy conditions on the Cape was a highlight and can't wait to get my hands on the final version. Having a hand in the development of these products was rewarding, especially as I've been hoping for a Rooster dry smock, a key item in my inshore sailing kit. It’s been a busy but fulfilling season, with the Cape Europeans and more match racing still ahead. I’m looking forward to building on all I’ve learned next season.   Liam Willis - RS21 Team Dark & Stormy As the 2024 season comes to a close I thought I would reflect on a fantastic season of sailing, flying the flag at the events and helping with product development, in particular the SB1 range. I have had a set of SB1 Inshore kit for a year or so and have been putting it through its paces and it has performed brilliant in every application. We started the season with a photoshoot with the Rooster team, sailing RS21s from Hamble, despite the lack of wind it was a fun day out and great to get some nice photos of us all in our kit. My racing season kick off in big style with my first regatta of the year being Antigua Classics week on board a Spirit 65 as tactician, we had a fantastic week of sailing in the warm weather and came away with a good result. Back in the UK with the RS21, the first event for us was Round 2 of the RS21 UK and Ireland Cup which was also the RS Sailing 30th Anniversary regatta held at Hayling Island. It was amazing to see so many boats out and such a large RS21 fleet, we were excited to crack out our new team kit for the year at this event. It was a tricky weekend with the light winds, but we were delighted to come away with the win. Next up was RS21 Cup Round 4 in our home town of Lymington, fantastic conditions all event with sunshine and big winds so was a lot of fun blasting around the Solent. Hard fort racing but bagged ourselves the win. I then hopped out to Guernsey for another regatta on the spirit were the SB1s were the perfect items of clothing for the week with it being chillier than it maybe should have been in June but warm enough that heavy weather waterproofs were too much. Another fun week of racing and socialising with the team. With the RS21 we then teamed up with fellow Rooster riders Team Rolfe to head to Ireland for the iconic Cork Week regatta. The event lived up to its reputation and put on an epic event both on and off the water. Despite the full range of conditions over the week, the team were on form and we managed to take 11 race wins out of the 12 races to win the class. The event we were leading up to all year was the RS21 Nationals which were held in Dartmouth, having had a great start to the year we were determined to continue. Despite the lower turnout for the event than hoped the racing so still incredibly close and we had to work very hard. We were very pleased to pull it of with a race to spare and become the national champions. The following week we began our European tour, again joining forces with Team Rolfe we packed up and made the drive south to Lake Garda for the RS21 Italian nationals. With a larger fleet of 40 boats and far higher standard of full professional sailors, we were unsure how we would fair. The fleet was very tight and mistakes were punished but Garda delivered and we had amazing conditions to enjoy. Not to mention the lovely scenary, food and drink off the water too. With some good results and some not so good, we took 10th place. Next up was the world championships in Spain, in L’Escala, with a similar high quality fleet from all around the world we knew we had a tough time to be near the front of the fleet, however day 1 couldn’t have been better as we took the race win in race 2, our first international race win in the RS21. A couple of not so good races over the next couple of days in harsh big winds and big waves drops a few places to finish 13th overall. It has for sure been a busy year of sailing, with some downs but that just makes the ups feel even better. Looking forward to the next one!   Nigel Rolfe - RS21 Team 5'o Clock Somewhere 2024 has been a standout year, with our focus on the UK series laying a strong foundation for future success. We saw new sailors join the ranks and seasoned veterans return, making for competitive and exhilarating races. We kicked off with midweek training in Hamble to shake off the winter rust. The first event was a breezy, cool regatta in Hamble, requiring full Rooster gear to keep warm. Lymington followed with intense competition, though we were reminded of the importance of tides a bit too late, costing us some results. We tested our new, lighter SB1 kit here—it was perfect for the warmer, wet conditions. Next up was Cork, where the opening day brought heavy winds and waves, even challenging the local mark layers! Racing was tight, especially among the top five boats, with rain gracing us only while sailing. Cork also topped the social calendar with lively club activities and reunions with old friends.   All this was great preparation for our big challenges—the Italian Nationals and the 2024 Worlds in Spain. Italy’s Lake Garda proved hot, teaching us not to skimp on accommodation without air conditioning. Doh! With early morning starts in breezy conditions, we debuted the new Vakaros compass, which added a strategic edge to our race starts with precise distance-to-line readings. The grand finale was the World Championships in L'Escala, Spain. With high winds and waves, it was a true test for both our gear and our teamwork. The conditions exposed the narrow margins for error, making it a humbling experience despite a year of progress together.   Reflecting on an unforgettable season, we’re ready for a winter break to reset and return even stronger next year. We’ll be back!

As one of the biggest sporting events of the year is right around the corner, we're excited to introduce to you our athletes heading to the Games, who have worked so hard to get there. Please join us in wishing our athletes all the best over the next few weeks! Monika Mikkola  ILCA 6 (Women's Dinghy) Finland We have been working with Monika for the last six years and have been proud to watch her grow and support her on her journey to the Games. It's been amazing to see her establish herself at the pointy end of the ILCA 6 fleet. Hernán Umpierre & Fernando Diz  49er (Men's Skiff) Uruguay New to the Rooster Team this year, with some very impressive results in the lead up to the games, we can't wait to cheer these guys on!  Elena Vorobeva ILCA 6 (Women's Dinghy) Croatia A long time Team Member of Rooster and heading for her third Games this year. She'll be one of the most experienced sailors on the start line - wishing her all the best for the competition. Ebru Bolat ILCA 6 (Women's Dinghy) Romania Another new Team Member and friend of Rooster heading to the Games, qualifying in style by taking the top spot at the Last Chance Regatta in April.  

I started my sailing journey at the age of 8, where I joined my local club, Felpham sailing club, after trying sailing on an open day. Over the next two years, I got involved in many training sessions in order to learn how to helm a boat, and sail with others who were a similar age to me. I joined in on Friday night youth sessions to build my skills and confidence more, quickly progressing on to taking other new sailors out and helming for them.  In 2018, during our youth week, I raced for the first time and haven’t looked back since. I started off racing my pico, however quickly realised that I loved racing and to continue this, I needed to leave my pico behind. With some help and advice, I moved into the RS Tera and completed my first event – the Regionals at Queen Mary sailing club.   In 2020, as I continued to learn about the Tera and progress with my racing knowledge, I joined the Rooster team and one of their ambassadors. Through this, I was supported with many opportunities to do new things, and was encouraged to sail at my best and enjoy the sport, wherever that may take me. I have continued to be part of the Rooster team as both an ambassador and a Rider since 2020, and I am proud to say that I am still part of the team now. Over the pandemic, I left the Tera class and moved onto Lasers, where I have been competing across the country for the last 4 years. I sailed mostly in the 4.7 fleet, due to my size and weight, joining the London and South East regional training group for two years, before moving onto different training events as I progressed. Throughout this time, I have continuously used kit from Rooster, including sails and ‘boat bits’, their 6mm Polilite mainsheet being a particular favourite of mine. Just recently, I have started to make my transition into the RS Aero class, where I hope to become more competitive in the 5 rig, with a good line up of events coming up over the summer. As always, I will be looking to improve the set-up of my boat with new Rooster parts, and the advice from the team.

I am currently transitioning from sailing a Topper to a 29er, and it's been an exciting and challenging journey so far. One of the biggest adjustments has been adapting to sailing with a crew and learning to manage two additional sails effectively. Sailing a double-handed boat requires coordination and teamwork, which has pushed me to become more organised. Additionally, we've joined a new sailing club, so I've had to familiarise myself with new race schedules and unfamiliar waters.  Communication has proven to be crucial for our success on the water. I've also discovered that 29ers are significantly more sensitive to weight distribution, which has led to a few unplanned swims as we refine our technique. Transitioning from handling a single sail to managing two or sometimes three sails has been a steep learning curve. Despite these challenges, I am thoroughly enjoying the process of mastering the 29er and navigating new waters. The experience has been both rewarding and educational, and I look forward to continuing to improve and grow as a sailor.  

The Middle Sea Race is the final big offshore of the season with a stunning 600nm course that starts in Malta, goes through the Messina Straights, round an active volcano and back to Valetta. This year we did it on a Banuls 53 trimaran called FINN, a custom GRP/Carbon multi hull with a canting/rotating mast but also a fairly comfortable interior, hydraulic winches and a strange looking but very cushy doghouse that fully protects anyone inside from the elements. Half our team flew in from the US and the other half were British and Swiss French (we quickly learnt how much Americans love to cheers at dinner much to the horror of us Europeans). After 5 intense days of training together, debriefing and race prep we felt we had bonded as a team and were ready to take on the race.   There was an area of light wind in-between 2 systems that had a lot of wind forecast for the start, unfortunately it was over Valetta for our start. Being the heaviest multihull in the fleet we struggled getting out of the harbour in the light airs but once we were clear, we could stretch our legs and make our way to the media mark. Almost immediately after rounding the mark the wind filled in and started clocking right putting us onto a windy reach, sending it towards Sicily at 20-26kts. When going this fast the 10 tonne bus becomes a dinghy and is amazingly fun to drive, unfortunately it was short lived as the wind kept clocking right and dropping leading to a number of peels during the evening until the wind built again to 25-30kts on the nose. Then it was time make some ground, the boat loves a windy upwind and can happily do 15-16kts. We were doing quick rotations on the helm to keep everyone fresh as we don’t have windshields so driving involves getting hosed by salt water traveling at 40mph for 45 mins. Well into the night I noticed Etienne tasting something off the floor and saying “its not olive oil” which meant it was hydraulic oil! He quickly took everything apart and found our hydraulics were leaking quite rapidly due to pressure build up causing the seals to fail on the filters. After a long discussion we decided to continue racing under manual power, this involved centring the mast and installing a make shift mainsheet leading to one of the cockpit winches. After 2-3 hours we were back on track.   The morning after in the Messina Straights it was flat calm and very light airs. We clawed our way long the East side trying to stay out of the strong tide. Once clear we were able to open up a bit and head straight for Stromboli with the gennaker up. This was a great time to rest as we had hardly slept the night before. The net offers many great places to nap on deck, we also brought bean bags which were a hit amongst the crew (sometimes too much so). I was down below about to go to sleep when I heard a huge bang followed by shouting. I ran up to find our gennaker in the water, after recovering it and unfurling the solent jib we inspected the damage and found that the actual bullet had sheared in half and half of it was still in the lock at the top of the mast. After lots of thinking and planning we came to the conclusion it was impossible to change out the gennaker lock for the staysail lock which is much bigger and again we considered retiring. I made the point that the rest of the race could be upwind we will be fine (I was reminded of that comment for the remainder of the race).   After Stromboli it was mostly light airs down wind until the end of Sicily which was extremely slow and frustrating. The hooded tech tops were a hit amongst the team, providing not only comfort but also excellent protection against UV during those extended hours under the sun. After Sicily we got about 6 hours of wind until it died and then after that it was just patchy spots under clouds pretty much all the way to Lampedusa. Just after Lampedusa the breeze started to fill in and we were reaching again at speed and finally we could use the boat how it was designed to be! It was too late though, we had cemented our place in the multihull fleet after missing multiple weather systems and spending hours and hours hardly moving. The goal now was to have as much fun as possible. We finished late in the evening crossing the line in darkness feeling broken by a 4 day race that was meant to take 2.5 days! We quickly got the boat fixed again and had a fantastic, fast and fun delivery all the way back to Valencia the following week.   In summary it was a fantastic adventure with an amazing and dedicated crew which allowed us to persevere when things got tough! Hopefully next season we can come back stronger without any breakages! Sam Mabey & team

Being Average, But Doing Amazing! I guess I regularly pinch myself and wonder, how did I get here? As a late in life sailor (I didn’t start sailing until I was 44), how did I just get nominated in the British Yachting Awards for “Sailor of the Year”? The strange journey to this moment in time started back in 2015 when I sailed my Laser dinghy around the Isle of Wight for 12 hours to raise money for Cancer Research and Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington. Having lost my father, mother-in-law and multiple other family members to the disease I wanted to help others facing cancer. Incredibly we raised £4000, and people immediately started asking me “What’s your next adventure?” – with sailing around the UK being the most touted suggestion. A full time job and family meant there was no way I could make that happen, but after some detailed research I came up with “Race To Scotland” – the challenge to sail my RS Aero from Lands End to John O Groats in 31 days – because that’s all the leave I could get from work! Being a far bigger challenge than the Isle of Wight sail, we set ourselves a massive fundraising target of £50,000. A challenge like this is not to be lightly undertaken and it took 17 months of physical, mental and logistical preparation before we were able to set sail from Lands End in 2017.  This epic adventure along the British coastline involved long open sea crossings, being becalmed in a fog bank for hours, unwittingly sailing into a nuclear submarine exercise areas plus some occasional assistance from the fabulous RNLI! That intense month of sailing took everything from me physically and mentally, but delivered the most wonderful memories packed with stunning places and fantastic people. Thanks to the most humbling generosity we raised £37,000. An amazing total, but still short of our target; we needed a new challenge to raise the missing £13,000. Inspired by all the islands I’d sailed past in Scotland and never seen the other side of, I wondered if I could sail around every island in England and Wales. This was something that no-one had done before and I soon realised why! After months of research I’d identified well over 200 islands and the Yodare (named after my RS Aero “Yoda”) adventure was born. The adventure took me from the wild Farne islands in the far North to the Caribbean azure waters of the Isles of Scilly in the South. From the largest island of Anglesey (103 nm) to the smallest 1nm sail around Ynys Y Castell. In total we rounded 262 islands, carried Yoda over roads, capsized it under bridges and had a few hectic surf beach landings! We sailed more than 20 nm off shore, navigated overfalls and sailed past a walrus, all in a 4m long dinghy! The most scary moments? Definitely disappearing in to a fog bank for 5 hours with ship fog horns sounding eerily all around you and capsizing in 8ft standing waves off Ramsey Island! Both events made me feel very small and vulnerable. The most wonderful moments? The unbelievable privilege of being able to sailing amongst the stunning wildlife that call our coastline home and stepping off my RS Aero after 13 hours and 113km of bottom numbing sailing, having finally rounded my 262nd and LAST island – The Isle of Wight. I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of Rooster throughout my adventures and I can safely say I’ve tested a lot of their kit to destruction in some very challenging locations! Their clothing layering system has been key to dealing with the varying conditions of long days on the water. Of all the great kit I most love my Pro Aquafleece. It’s comfort and warmth on long 13 hour days is irreplaceable and pulling that neck draw string tight feels like you are snuggling down in to a cosy sleeping bag ready to face the challenges of the day ahead.   So what have I learnt from all these adventures? Preparation is probably the biggest thing for me. Research the sailing conditions, get local’s advice, always have a safety plan and learn to bend with the conditions – sometimes the only right decision is not to sail! If people know where you are and what you are doing you are more likely to be rescued if things happen go wrong, so I always carry a means of communication such as a VHF radio, phone, emergency locator beacon and use the RYA SafeTrx or another form of tracker. Having completed these adventures I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that we’ve sailed a colossal 1336 nm around the islands of England and Wales. Add that to the 865nm of Race To Scotland and this 4m dinghy has now sailed the equivalent of a transatlantic crossing! The aim of all these adventures has always been to make a difference by using sailing to raise funds for two incredible charities. None of the challenges were long held personal desires, they just materialised and now have somehow resulted in me being nominated for “Sailor of the Year” in the British Yachting Awards. I doubt that I’ll win, but just being nominated feels a wonderful accolade for someone who is distinctly “average” – but being average doesn’t mean you can’t achieve incredible things! So never pigeon hole yourself as “average”, whatever sport or activity you are undertaking. Within us all there is the potential to achieve amazing things, be they small or large.  They are out there, you just need to go and look for them and enjoy where they will lead you to! Cheers Ken You can donate to the charities at www.yodare.co.uk And you can vote for “an average sailor” here https://www.britishyachtingawards.com/vote-now/

Hi, my name is Hannah. I’m a disabled competitive sailor and have been sailing now for about four years. I sail with Bolton Sailability Group at Bolton Sailing Club and compete in an access 303 double handed dingy sailing boat. I have severe Cerebral Palsy affecting all of my body and use a wheelchair full time and require 24-hour care support. My disability has also left me visually impaired. I have recently participated in the RYA Sailability Multi-Class Regatta. The event was held at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and was facilitated by the Chesil Beach Sailability Group. I am a sailor through and through. Sailing makes my heart sing, it’s what makes me happy! I’ve always loved sailing. I especially enjoy the challenge, speed and the adrenaline rush that I experience during competitions. This year was no exception! Usually, I sail in Belmont Reservoir at Bolton.....A relatively calm area of water. It is occasionally a challenge but after four years and many sails, I feel I can cope with everything Belmont has to throw at me. Being in Weymouth for the Multi-Class meant sailing in the much more open water of Weymouth Harbour. The Lead Up... To give a general overview let me explain the lead up prior to each event. My crew and I had to navigate out of the sailing academy, through the narrow channel and into the waters of Weymouth Harbour. It is approximately a two-mile sail before the competitions even began. It seems like I have been sailing forever just to get to the start line. Sailing on a harbour meant at times the water was very choppy. This is something I rarely experience, and being visually impaired I particularly enjoyed the sensation of being in these conditions. The motion of the boat, hearing the sound of the water, and the smell of the fresh salty sea air. I loved the wind blowing on my face and through my hair. On these occasions, it was just a good job I don't have a big breakfast. Thankfully I’m not a big breakfast person. Up and down and side to side went me and my crew in our little boat. The Event So, there I was giggling away while my crew was giving me auditory instructions to enable me to helm the boat. It was imperative those instructions were clear and concise and we both had to communicate really well. Once on the water, I have no idea of where I’m going, of course, direction or the positioning of the other boats. My crew tried his utmost to foresee what tactics and course the other sailors would take. He would have to use his very quick judgement to make split-second decisions and give me instructions. This can be very tricky as he had to account for the time delay between him giving the instructions and me carrying them out. Friday afternoon... ...and the first event was team racing. A reasonable course distance to sail and the winds were ideal for me. I came second in this event overall, and I was so happy with this result, especially as I had never experienced team racing before. Saturday was a much different story. The morning’s pursuit race was a long and hard sail. The weather was hot and sunny and the race took about two hours, so I struggled to keep my concentration. All boats from all classes competed in the pursuit race. My boat being a 303 was considerably slower than the other classes of boats that I was competing against. It would have been nearly impossible for my boat to outsail the many faster boats even with their handicap, like comparing a hare and a tortoise. I didn't come right at the bottom of the race but as expected ranked lower than most. I still feel I sailed well in this event. Saturday afternoon was the beginning of the fleet racing event. The wind speeds had picked up massively! The boat began to heel right over, and with the water being super choppy it started to gush in. I've had water in my boat many times before, but on this occasion, it became stronger and stronger. The more wind, the more water came splashing over the side of the boat. My crew asked the safety boat crew if they had a spare baler. By now I was just absolutely crying with laughter and squealing with excitement. The safety crew did not have a spare baler, so I was laughing more at the thought I may float off, thankful I had my trusty Rooster buoyancy aid on. My crew and I collectively decided it might be a good idea to retire from that afternoon's events. Aftermath Although I came in very wet, I thoroughly enjoyed the sail. I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie and like to push myself and my sailing abilities to the absolute limit. My poor care support workers had to remove my trainers and turn them upside down to drain all the water out. And there was lots of it! My bedroom and my wet clothes absolutely hummed of salty sea water. The fresh salty sea air didn't smell so fresh anymore. Never mind, let’s get showered, warm and changed ready for the event dinner. As a sailor, I have to work with the weather conditions as that's the nature of the sport. I am out in the natural elements, I rely on fair winds to power my boat and that's the challenge in itself. As a Rooster ambassador, I think it's fair to say that competing in the RYA Multiclass Regatta I was 'in my element'. Follow Hannah's Adventure's on Facebook

As a company that champions grass roots sailing and takes pride in sponsoring a diverse range of sailors of varying ability, we get inundated with sponsorship requests on a daily basis. Only a tiny percentage make a big enough impact to merit further consideration, so I thought it might help to write a blog on what Rooster looks for in a sponsorship application. Basic Do's & Don'ts; DO call the company and ask for the name of the person who deals with sponsorship requests so that you can address them directly. DON'T send a generic letter to every company you can think of with "To whom it may concern." DO make reference to the company you are applying to and say what you like about them and why you chose to write to them DON'T send a generic letter - yes, I've mentioned this before but it is important if you want to avoid your letter/ email being filed in the bin DO think very carefully about what you can offer the company in return for their investment in you - this is very important, more on this later DON'T list your results and achievements and ask if the company will consider sponsoring you off the back of them alone.   It's Business In a nutshell, you are asking a business to invest in a product. YOU are the product and you need to sell yourself convincingly. If you've enjoyed a lot of success in your chosen class and you're approaching a company in the marine industry, chances are they will know about it and they'll google you anyway to find out more. Ideally they'll find a few photos and race reports which corroborate your claims, but what would really impress them is if they found a personal blog or website that you've set up chronicling your journey. THAT would set you apart, even better, make sure you mention it in your application. Even if you're not the best sailor in the world and your results aren't quite up there yet, finding ways to raise your profile will always look good in the eyes of a potential sponsor. Video HERE Just listing your achievements and race results is not enough to secure sponsorship, you need to show a bit of personality and passion. Do you invest time and energy to give back to your sport? Take a look at Ben Ainslie for example, he doesn't just train, race and win. He devotes time to other projects like the BAR Academy, the 1875 Trust and 11th Hour Racing. He's an Ambassador for the sport due to the fact that he gives back to it over and over again. For a sponsor - this is gold. Perhaps look at how you could do the same, but on a smaller scale. Are their charities close to your heart that you can get involved with and raise money for? Could you organise a training day for younger members of your Club? Could you organise taster sessions at your Club for local schools that haven't tried sailing before? Worth a thought and all things a sponsor would like to be associated with. Return on Investment It's really bad form to ask for sponsorship and not explain what you will do in return for it. Putting stickers on your hull and sails doesn't really cut it I'm afraid. Brand awareness can spread rapidly online - blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - demonstrate how you would use these platforms to engage with your sponsor and promote them. How about offering the company some of your time? Visit them at their office and do a talk about your sailing, offer to take the staff out for a sail or if they're in the Marine Industry, work for them at a Boat Show. Offer to promote the company by asking for banners, brochures, posters and leaflets that you can give out at events or put up at your local club. If you have references from previous sponsors, no matter how big or small, they are worth including. Presentation An application for sponsorship needs to be colourful and engaging. Take time to edit it carefully to ensure that it reads well and include pictures. A great picture can sell anything - give the sponsor something they can imagine their logo on. Make sure your personality comes through, use humour and be memorable. It's a lot like applying for a job, except much harder. Video Here