2012 wrap up

Well what a year 2012 was. An Olympic Gold medal and World Sailor of the Year for Lijia Xu. For me it was both an honour and a privilege working with such a talented and hard working individual.
However now I feel it’s time to take a break from the sport I love. The UK season really kicks off with the Dinghy Exhibition at Alexandra Palace in March and I will be there in my capacity as the Training Officer for the UK class association to answer any questions people have about Lasers, the class or just for a quick chat with old friends. So this seems a good a time as any to get back into things.
So as not to have too long off the water I kept sailing right up to the end of the year. This gave me a good excuse to go to Sydney. I was really looking forward to going in 2011 with the Chinese team but we pulled out at the last minute.
Sail Sydney was a huge regatta with 491 entries (making it the largest regatta in Australia last year). The organisers are actually having a bet they can get over 500 entries in 2013.
I just loved the atmosphere in Sydney. I have never caught a ferry to go to the sailing club before. Although those said ferries did make the racing somewhat interesting at times and it was without doubt the choppiest waters I have ever sailed on, Stokes Bay doesn't even come close!
I was really pleased to win the regatta. Actually I thought I had won with a race to spare but I decided to stay out and do the last race as the conditions were idyllic and it was very lucky I did as it turns out that I was Black flagged in the penultimate race! Luckily I won the last race and the regatta.
It was great to be a tourist and I loved climbing the Sydney Bridge. I must also give a very special thank you to my good friends Mel and Heath Warman who looked after me tremendously well and helped me decompress after a very manic year.
I was back in the UK in time for Christmas and to spend much needed time with my family. I managed to sail at Weir Wood a couple of times and catch up with sailing friends and I also did the Grafham Grand Prix on December 30th where I finished second (scoring 1st and 2nd in a two race series), so I really did sail right up to the end of the year.
I am now decluttering my life and I sold my two older boats (I originally had four boats as I thought that I was chartering them out to the Chinese team before they realised that it would be cheaper for them to container their own equipment across). Although I couldn't help but take them out for one last sail, just to make sure everything was all working properly!
It makes me think ahead, about Rio and what it can bring. Certainly in the last campaign there were things that I would have liked to have changed and this is true of any campaign. Whether as a sailor or a coach we are all looking for that perfect regatta. This is also my time to recover both physically (I need to manage long term shoulder and back injuries for which I am having cortisone injections and visiting the Weymouth Pilates centre) as well as mentally (just having fun times with the people I love).
I look forward to 2013 and the new challenges that a new year will bring.

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