2014 summary

Well I was a little embarrassed when I realised that the last time I wrote a blog I was wondering what 2014 might bring! The year has certainly flown by and whilst I miss coaching the Chinese girls (Lijia Xu and Dongshuang Zhang, pictured above) I have had a great time with the Israel girls (Oren Jacob and Danielle Maman, pictured below). It is fair to say that I cannot imagine two more different cultures.

This year I have also had the chance to do a little bit more of my own sailing: defending my Apprentice Masters World title and the UK National Championships plus adding the Apprentice Masters European Championships. No doubt as we get closer to the Olympics it will be harder for me to race myself but I have always felt that competing in major international regattas has helped me to be a better coach; it has certainly helped me understand my sailors better. Indeed it seems ironic that all the match racing practice I did with Lijia Xu in preparation for the 2012 Olympics was not necessary for her but both the UK Nationals and Apprentice Masters Worlds came down to a match race this year... so it certainly helped me!

The end of the UK season is marked with the Inland Championships, which I have always enjoyed and shortly after this I will return to Israel for my last coaching camp before Christmas. So I wish you happy holidays and another busy season in 2015; time always flies when you are having fun.

Hello 2014

Well who knows what 2014 will bring! It was nice to stay with Lily (Lijia Xu) until the end of her sailing career in 2013 and also it was good to do a bit of my own sailing again. I managed to attend the UK Nationals Championships for the first time since the Olympics and I was very pleased to win it. I also ended the year by winning the (Apprentice) Masters Worlds. However to be honest I still have mixed feelings about this - it is quite hard to accept that you are now middle aged!!!

It is impossible to underestimate the level of commitment required for Olympic success. 2 1/2 years is a long time and if I choose to work with younger sailors then maybe I am making a 6 1/2 year commitment. So I will take any decision I make extremely seriously...

Watch this space...