What
motivated you to begin sailing?
Well,
my dad used to sail a lot with me as a kid. Just for fun, because he loves
the water. My family used to go on boat trips to Captiva and Sanibel
Island. I really liked doing that, so I took a beginning sailing course to
get knowledge of the water, and then from there I wanted to get into real
sailing so I took the Opti course at Miami Yacht Club and just took it
from there. I started sailing at Miami Yacht Club when I was in 4th
grade, when I was about 10. I started sailing Optis (Optimist dinghies)
and entered into the Optimist dinghy racing. Now I am sailing out of Coral
Reef Yacht Club, and I sail Laser Radials, Europes and 420, 429 ers but I
focus on Laser Radials right now.
Now
I am on the team that is going to be representing the USA at the
International Sailing Federation World Games. They name a qualifier early
on in the year, then they hold a regatta. They have to place the top
sailor in the regatta, within the requirements.
What
is the most important thing you need to focus on when you are out sailing?
When
it is for sport, I have to focus on being aggressive and keeping the boat
going as fast as it can, pushing it all the way to the limit. When its for
pleasure, just enjoying the water and the sun. You’re boat is kind of
like a car, and you work on it, and you make it as fast as it can go. You
are completely in control of where you go. You’re trying to go as fast
as you can, and of course, you’re on the water so it’s beautiful.
What
is the prize that you could possibly win at the World Games?
It’s
kind of set up just like the Olympics, there’s a gold, a silver and a
bronze.
If
you win the gold, the silver or even the bronze, what do you think would
be the next step for you?
Well,
the Laser Radial isn’t a women’s Olympic Class so I can sail it and
race it as a youth sailor, but if wanted to go to the next step which
probably would be the Olympics or something like that, I would start
working with the Europe. I sail a Europe, but I don’t train seriously
and I haven’t really considered trying to go to the Olympics yet.
What
are some of the boats that you would consider sailing in to be able to be
in the Olympics?
For
women there’s only three boats. There’s the single handed boat, which
is the Europe, which is kind of like a radial, only a lot more technical.
Then there’s the 470 which is a two-person boat, like the big brother of
the 420, and then there’s the Yngling, which is a three person boat.
What
other sports do you like besides sailing?
I
play soccer and volleyball.
How
has sailing helped you in other areas of your life?
You
have to be in good shape to sail the boats that I sail [as a sport].
That’s helped me in playing sports & stuff at school. It also helps
at problem solving. For example, if someone is going to the right [of your
boat], what’s going to be the fastest way to the mark, if there’s a
current going this way and there’s a channel halfway through our course?
And just the process of getting the sail in, and going to lots of sailing
events helps you with everyday planning and everything.
How
has it helped your studies at school?
Being
on the water a lot, you pick up a lot of stuff that is unique to boats,
the ocean, and currents, you could say. In science when we do friction
stuff with pulleys and levers. When you’re working on a boat with a
three to one pulley, if you put a pulley on it will be easier to pull, and
if you take a pulley off, it will be a lot harder.
What’s
your favorite subject in school?
My
favorite subject in school is History.
What’s
your least favorite subject? Math
Do
you have a special diet that you follow?
Well
I used to work out with a trainer, and then I got sick for a while, so I
took off. I am have been working out three days a week, but I’m going to
put that up a little more. I just eat a lot of protein, and stay away from
cokes and fats. It’s hard though, you know? Especially now that I have
qualified, I’ve been a lot stricter.
What’s
a typical day like for you?
On
the weekdays I usually sail three days a week and work out two. On
weekdays I go to school until 3:20 pm and then my sister and I drive to
sailing at Coral Reef Yacht Club. We sail until it gets dark. We usually
come in in the dark. We de-rig and hurry home, and then we do homework and
stuff like that. On the weekends, I usually go sailing around 9 o’clock,
either sailing on a different type of boat, or work on my boat. At 11
o’clock we rig, because we sail the Radials every afternoon. I’m out
from 11 to 5 pm., then we de-rig and I am home by 6 pm, and it’s the
same thing on Sunday.
Among the
100 nations expected to be represented at the World Sailing Games, the
U.S. will send two entries in the Formula Windsurfer (men and women), 470
(men and women), Laser (men), Laser Radial (women), Hobie 16 (men and
women), J/22 (women) and J/80 (men). |
