THE DREAM BEGINS IN PERTH ALRIGHT!
BY BELINDA STOWELL BRETT
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It was a busy dream too. A change of helm in early October needed confirmation, and to assess whether my dream of competing in a third Olympics with a shot at another medal was realistic. Balancing commitments with training and working but focusing on competing in the Perth 2011 ISAF Worlds was a dream coming true.
The Worlds was an amazing regatta from two different perspectives. Firstly, to see the event come alive after 7 years of planning. I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with a terrific team on the Board of Perth 2011. Seeing international and WA sailors compete here together at Fremantle was very special.
Secondly, as an athlete; I was pretty nervous and knew we had a big job ahead. Our first day was just like the weather - tumultuous! We were 5th around the first mark, got spooked a bit and managed to lose nearly the whole fleet and finished in the 20's. The second race followed suit whilst the thunder and lightning banged and flashed, we slowly sailed our way out of contention finishing in the 30's.
The challenge looked so much harder on the way back to the Yacht Club, and continued to all night! Re-grouping was an understatement! We went out to fight like mad for our spot on the Olympic Team and with a steely resolve; Elise and I put together a performance far more characteristic of our style, and continued to improve each day. Each day the challenges seemed bigger, but in familiar territory.
The last day of fleet racing was epic. It was a day to get every little bit of experience, hard work, team dynamics and game play all into the same package. The wind built and the Freo Doctor decided to pay us a long visit, and we had our best day, but we needed to. Two top 5's were essential if we were to make any team at all. The top 6 for automatic Olympic Selection was out of reach, with the first day’s results not helping one bit. Top 10 was Australian Sailing Team and a chance for discretionary selection.
Ecstatic! Top 10! To race in the medal race right on centre course, in front of a home crowd was spectacular. The race course is really tricky in there, with many obstacles but it is really intense racing and just what it should be like when racing for World Titles. We could not make the top 6 by this point, but raced hard and finishing 2nd was a good fight. The cheers and crowd were amazing. Thanks to Perth, to Perth 2011 for a wonderful event that changed how Olympic Sailing operates for the future! Olympic class sailing has made it into the lounge room and onto the TV!
Elise and I have since had many discussions with the team at Yachting Australia and we have not been selected for the Olympic Games. This news was tough, but finishing outside the top 6 was always handing the decision to selectors. The trials have been extended to May where we will race in another World Championship and need to finish top 6. Selector’s discretion can also be put into effect after 31 May.
I have had a wonderful few weeks coaching the youth of WA and the WAIS sailors in the 420 women and Laser radial men are off to the Youth World Championships, and we have budding talent in the youth in Laser standard, 420 men and in the girl’s windsurfer classes. An exciting future for all of them in their sailing. It inspires me!
Now, onwards and upwards for Elise and I. We are working with Dan Smith, our new coach and planning the campaign through to London 2012, with Olympics starting on 27 July through to 13 August.
We need many hours on the water training and racing so will be out on the water in Perth until the end of January, head to New Zealand for 3 weeks in Feb, Canberra then back home early March before heading to Europe. We will compete in 2 World Cups before racing in Barcelona for the 2012 470 World Championships.
Many thanks to so many for all the texts, cheers and well-wishing for our short, intense but really exciting Olympic Campaign where the dream really began in Perth, and we are keeping it alive!
Fond regards to you all, and we are excited to have you all along on our journey to London.