2025 TROFEO PRINCESA SOFIA REGATTA

Location: Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Dates: March 31 - April 5, 2025

The first major event of the 2028 quad is now behind us. Now part of the new Sailing Grand Slam Series, Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta or “Palma” took place this year from March 31st to April 5th. 

The regatta follows the format of 2 days of qualifying followed by 3 days of final series and a medal race with just the top 10 boats on the final day. Qualifying fleets are randomized by world ranking making each of the three fleets approximately of equal quality. After qualifying is over the fleets are split for the rest of the regatta, locking the top ⅓ in gold fleet, middle ⅓ in silver fleet and bottom ⅓ in bronze fleet.

This year I successfully qualified for my first senior gold fleet at a major regatta. With finishes of 4 and 11 in the 2 races on Tuesday I secured my place. This was a major breakthrough for myself to put together two quality races in qualifying under pressure.

In the finals series I really struggled to successfully execute starts and as a result first beats. I found it challenging once you were a little bit behind to find clear air. Adding to the challenge was the switch of conditions from seabreeze in qualifying to off-shore and more shifty conditions. In the final race of finals with the seabreeze filling back in I had a successful start, rounding the windward in 6th place. Making the same mistake on both downwinds, moving to the inside too early with more pressure on the outside, I finished the race in 14th place. 

This was another breakthrough for me to race at the front of the gold fleet - filled with the best in the world. I finished the regatta in 53rd position out of 174 entries. 

Next up are the 2025 ILCA World Championships where I will look to build on this momentum. In the meantime I am currently in Dublin, joining the Irish team and some international sparring partners to prepare for the event with light winds and current on offer.

2024 TROFEO PRINCESA SOFIA REGATTA - OLYMPIC TRIALS COMPLETED

This year, the 53rd edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta took place from April 1st to 6th. I traveled to Spain on March 24th to get situated for my 3rd time attending this event. In the lead-up to the event, we saw various conditions, including several days in a row with big wind from the south straight into the bay. This brought massive waves, making the beach launch dangerous and forcing us to launch from the harbour. A number of ILCAs and one coach boat flipped on the way out, but once out there, the huge waves made for some epic training as they were skewed 60 degrees to the left of the wind, allowing for surfing upwind on port.

These high winds stuck around for the first day of the event, with winds of 20-29 knots. After a good start in the first race towards the pin, I found myself on the correct side of the racecourse in around 15th place. Unfortunately, feeling the fatigue of the strenuous upwind, I annoyingly missed my hiking strap tacking at the windward mark. This cost me significantly, and I finished that race 51st out of 66. I again had a good start in the second race and sailed a clean race, finishing in 18th. The second day brought lighter winds, around 8 knots. I had some excellent downwinds but didn’t get off the line as well as the previous day, finishing with races of 29 and 22. With only two days of qualifying, this left me in the silver fleet, 14 points short of my goal of making gold and mathematically eliminated from the Olympic trials for Paris 2024. 

I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who has been a part of my journey these last four years: my sponsors and donors, Port Credit Yacht Club, Sail Canada, the Governments of Canada and Ontario, and my parents. Your unwavering support and belief in me have not only allowed me to represent Canada on the world stage but have also been the driving force behind my every success. I also want to extend a special thank you to my coaches, Larry, Ken, Wil, and Andrew, for their invaluable guidance and mentorship in this sport. 

While this quad has not ended as I had initially envisioned, I am proud of the significant progress I have made in sailing year after year. This journey has only strengthened my resolve to compete in the Los Angeles 2028 games. I am fully committed to this goal and believe that with continued effort and support, I can achieve further mastery in this sport. 

I will take some time this summer and fall to work on my university degree and give back to the sailing community. I will be coaching this summer where I can share my experiences and insights with aspiring sailors. My next event will be the ILCA North Americans, June 6-9.

2023 TROFEO PRINCESA SOFIA REGATTA

Location: Mallorca, Spain
Dates: April 3-8, 2023

In April, I had the incredible opportunity to proudly represent Port Credit Yacht Club and Canada at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta in Mallorca, Spain. This World Cup event in the ILCA 7 class gathered the finest sailors worldwide, and I was honoured to be part of it. The regatta, doubling as the Canadian qualifier for the upcoming World Sailing Championships, was thrilling.

Despite some unpredictable conditions, both the race committee and sailors faced the challenge head-on. The initial day's light air allowed only one fleet to race, and unfortunately, I wasn't part of that lucky group. A top 10 position in our race was cut short by a flag and a subsequent abandoned race due to disappearing winds. The following day brought a marathon on the water with three races over 7.5 hours, showcasing the adaptability of sailors as the wind shifted. The last day of qualifying had us eagerly watching as the yellow fleet caught up on a race before re-splitting into new groups—the sea breeze built up for the final qualifying day, creating a challenging yet exhilarating series.

52 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía Mallorca, © Sailing Energy / Princesa Sofía Mallorca

Throughout the regatta, my starts posed a challenge, and navigating through dense fleets in moderate to light conditions proved tricky in the ILCA 7. Second-beat decision-making added another layer of difficulty, causing a few slides in the fleet.

In the overall standings, I landed in the 119th position out of 184 sailors. While it wasn't the placement I had aimed for, missing the fourth and final Canadian spot for the Worlds by 13 places, the experience was invaluable. The regatta tested me physically, mentally, and emotionally, pushing me to my limits and providing immense learning opportunities.

Despite the challenges, I am genuinely grateful for the chance to represent my country on the global stage and compete among the best in the sport. The experience has only strengthened my determination to improve, refine my skills, and gear up for the upcoming Olympic trials starting in January 2024. I am sincerely grateful for the unwavering support that made this incredible journey possible. Here's to the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the exciting journey ahead!

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