Embracing Change: Transitioning to the 7.3m Sail & Preparing for the 2025 Season
The start of 2025 brought a major shift in the IQ Foil class, with new rules mandating that women now sail on a redesigned 7.3m sail. I was fortunate to test one of the prototypes back in April, just before my injury, so I had an early insight into how the new sail might feel. However, we only received our official sails on January 20th, thanks to the incredible support from Neil Pryde and Ian at Starboard, who worked hard to get them to Australia as quickly as possible.
Women's Training Camp in Brisbane
In a historic moment for Australian Sailing, we held a five-day women's training camp in Brisbane—one of the first of its kind. The camp was led by Mitch Pearson and supported by the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). It was an incredible opportunity to test the new sails, train together, and push each other to improve. Adjusting to the 7.3m sail has been fascinating—it feels great but will take some time to master fully.
Returning to Full Training Load
After the camp, I spent a week at home training solo, focusing on refining my tacks and gradually increasing my training volume. Entering the return-to-sport phase of my recovery means I can now spend more hours on the water, but I’m still carefully managing my shoulder load to prevent setbacks. It’s a delicate balance, but I’m feeling stronger with each session.
Training in New Zealand & Upcoming Nationals
On January 29th, I flew to Auckland, New Zealand, where I’m staying with one of the local sailors. We are working through two training blocks of three days on, one day off, leading up to Nationals starting on February 7th. This camp is being coached by Tom Squires and is supported by the Australian Sailing Pathways Program. Training conditions have been tricky so far, with light and shifty winds, but it’s been fantastic to experience a new venue, train with new people, and get more time on the new sail.
This regatta is a big process event for me. My focus is on getting comfortable racing again and sticking to the annual training plan we’ve set up, with the European Championships in November as the major goal.
Looking Ahead: First European Campaign of 2025
Alongside my training and racing in New Zealand, I’m also in the middle of organizing my first European trip for the year. I’ll be competing in Palma and Hyères, spending just over a month overseas from March to the end of April. There’s a lot to coordinate, but I’m excited to get back into high-level international competition.
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of change and progress. With a new sail, increased training volume, and exciting events on the horizon, I’m more motivated than ever to push forward and see what 2025 has in store!