Ambassador Blogs

Blog submitted by Laszlo Drummond, Rooster Rider - 6659 Optimist GBR Team  - 3rd August 2025   Hi, I am Laszlo, and I am thrilled to be a Rooster Rider, sailing optimists for Great Britian. In recent months I have been training in UK, Venice, Lake Garda, Valencia, Palamos and Portoroz in Slovenia, where I competed in the Optimist World Championship. My most recent competition was the British National Championships in Weymouth, a good but tough event, and I am now packing up for Hayling Island Youth Week in a RS Feva for some fun.  Some of the most recent major events I have attended include The World Championships in Slovenia; it was really challenging sailing with lots of wind shifts and light conditions which was very tough as the wind often move 20 degrees each way without warning. The level was also super high, with very short start lines so the races were often won and lost on the line. There were almost 300 boats with 4 flights which is very different to England as there are never so many boats. The great thing about all of these international events is they are great for learning and improving your skills, as so many of the sailors are of very high standard.   Going back to the British Nationals in Weymouth we had steady wind of 8- 17 knots every day, it would be light in the morning and build throughout the day there was also a lot of shifts, but I managed to stay on top of them and found it a lot better than at the Worlds.   I finished up with Podium as 3rd Senior and 4th Overall, despite having a UFD and a DSQ which I was luckily able to discard but I had to count a 32! My favourite moment was in the last race, which I led all the way, and I won by 50ms - It was windy which are my favourite conditions, and I love sailing and am looking forward to another great year with Rooster. Rooster has really helped me to push my sailing to new levels by supplying me with excellent kit and great advice from their team. One of my favourite items of kit is their Thermaflex 1.5 mm long john and top as they are super comfortable, durable and warm with lots of movement. Due to its amazing quality this is the only wetsuit I wear but when it gets too cold, I wear the Supertherm 4mm long john as it is very thick. I have been wearing these wetsuits as a Rooster Rider for the past 3 years alongside with the Pro Aquafleece spray-top, the kit is so dependable and high quality it allows me to really focus on my sailing and not worry about my kit.

Blog submitted by Rooster Rider Amelie Ballantyne, Devon UK As a keen dinghy sailor, there is nothing I like better than getting in my (Rooster) wetsuit and jumping on my boat- it’s the best feeling in the world! However, over the past year, I have started to realise the effects that humans are having on the waters we use and the oceans in general. The statistics around pollution, climate change and habitat destruction are quite shocking, and unfortunately, the evidence of these statistics can be seen rather close to home sometimes- I often see dead wildlife/sea creatures, plastic pollution and sewage where I sail, and it’s not pleasant. As someone who loves using the water, this concerned me, and I wanted to help bring about change. However, I am only a 15-year-old dinghy sailor from Devon, so what can I possibly do to change this global environmental problem? So, to start with, I did my research and created a list of the simple things I could promote at my club (Starcross Yacht Club). Then, earlier this year, I became a Clean Sailors Ambassador and joined a community of international sailors who all want to raise awareness of ocean conservation and sustainable practices in the marine industry. I also joined the US SailGP Climate Action Academy that links students with A-list sustainable experts to learn about global matters. Using social media has been a great platform, and I have organised old sails and wetsuit collections, as well as helping to raise awareness about key issues. Thank you, ITCA Topper community, for your kind sail and wetsuit donations at NS5 Paignton. Who are Clean Sailors and what do they do? Clean Sailors is a non-profit organisation that strives to promote awareness around ocean conservation, amongst other things. Set up in 2020 by Holly Manvell, Clean Sailors share stories, research and campaign for environmental change in the marine industry. One of their big areas of focus is demonstrating what to do with old sails. Currently 97% of sails end up in landfills each year, which is approximately 2000 tons. This is a shocking statistic! Clean Sailors help direct people to local/global businesses that will take your old sails for recycling and repurposing to keep them out of landfills. Many innovative things can be done with old sails, from clothing and accessories, community shelters for schools and villages, to deckchair covers for the beach; creating a better great circular economy. What can sailors do to help? As sailors, most of us love the seas and rivers we use and would hate to think we are adding to a large-scale environmental problem, but unfortunately, the reality is that there are things that sailors do that have an impact on the environment around them. When it comes to change, even the small steps can make a difference if we ALL start to do them and work together. Think of the times you may have lost a sweet wrapper while doing a race or dropped your sunnies overboard never to be seen again, or that time you used electrical tape and a bit blows away. Well, if every sailor did this, even by accident, the environmental impact would begin to be a big problem for waterways and communities that use them. Here are my top six very easy tips for being a more environmentally conscious sailor: The obvious one – use a reusable drinking bottle and not a single-use plastic bottle. Rooster sells great bottles, and most venues have refill facilities – easy! Recycle your old kit: Don’t dump sails and wetsuits, and buy second-hand where and when you can. Save water. After a sail, you don’t need to shower for hours, have a water fight or spend eternity washing your boat – turn taps off! Use eco-friendly products. There are great boat cleaning products out there, as well as countless products for your body. Take your rubbish home – use the correct bins – maybe have a snack that is not in a fiddly wrapper -Rule 55 guys!  …use a sunglasses strap/retainer to keep your sunnies on your eyes and not on bottom of the seabed. I am very proud to be a Clean Sailors Ambassador and to be involved in helping with sustainability and change for our future and the longevity of water sports. In my opinion, educating people about the need to be sustainable and the impact each one of us has while doing the sport we love is important; creating new habits and making changes that benefit our whole environment. We all have a role to play; we all live here. It is great to see that even our top sailors in SailGP are getting on board with becoming clean, green sailors and leading the way with sustainability. I am also very proud to be a Rooster Rider, as Rooster is committed to ethical and sustainable business practices, which is important to me.

Get an inside look at our keelboat & sports boat teams thrilling 2024 season - packed with intense racing, unforgettable moment, some import lessons and rigorous testing of our new gear. Sam Mabey The 2024 sailing season has been busy, full of learning, challenges, and plenty of fun. My two main focuses were the Cape 31 circuit and getting back into dinghy sailing with the Aero 6 after almost six years away from a boat! Alongside those, I took a trip to the south of France for some classic racing with Varuna, started match racing with the Cowes Match Racing Academy and headed to Greece/Valencia to deliver FINN an N53 trimaran.    In the Cape 31 fleet, I raced as bowman with Jiraffe. We had a solid season, achieving consistent results and finishing 4th in the standings, despite an eventful final race where a kite trawl at the last leeward mark dropped us from first to 15th sending the season out with a bang! My Aero journey was more of a learning curve. I began training in March and quickly realised it would be tougher than expected. I dedicated as much time as I could ahead of my first event in June, the RS 30th regatta, where I performed well in light conditions. However, I struggled at the European Championships in heavier winds, yet still finished with a result I felt good about and headed into the worlds more confident. Although the first few days were challenging with a few capsizes and some amateur hour moments, I found my rhythm later in the week, leaving with valuable experience and a smile, despite the result.   This season, I also had the opportunity to test Rooster’s upcoming yachting gear, including the inshore smock, SB1 gear, and new deck trainers. I typically prefer running shoes or gym trainers over sailing brand trainers for their grip, so I was pleasantly surprised by the Rooster trainers—they kept their grip throughout the season and endured the demands of bow. Testing the SB1 smock in wet and windy conditions on the Cape was a highlight and can't wait to get my hands on the final version. Having a hand in the development of these products was rewarding, especially as I've been hoping for a Rooster dry smock, a key item in my inshore sailing kit. It’s been a busy but fulfilling season, with the Cape Europeans and more match racing still ahead. I’m looking forward to building on all I’ve learned next season.   Liam Willis - RS21 Team Dark & Stormy As the 2024 season comes to a close I thought I would reflect on a fantastic season of sailing, flying the flag at the events and helping with product development, in particular the SB1 range. I have had a set of SB1 Inshore kit for a year or so and have been putting it through its paces and it has performed brilliant in every application. We started the season with a photoshoot with the Rooster team, sailing RS21s from Hamble, despite the lack of wind it was a fun day out and great to get some nice photos of us all in our kit. My racing season kick off in big style with my first regatta of the year being Antigua Classics week on board a Spirit 65 as tactician, we had a fantastic week of sailing in the warm weather and came away with a good result. Back in the UK with the RS21, the first event for us was Round 2 of the RS21 UK and Ireland Cup which was also the RS Sailing 30th Anniversary regatta held at Hayling Island. It was amazing to see so many boats out and such a large RS21 fleet, we were excited to crack out our new team kit for the year at this event. It was a tricky weekend with the light winds, but we were delighted to come away with the win. Next up was RS21 Cup Round 4 in our home town of Lymington, fantastic conditions all event with sunshine and big winds so was a lot of fun blasting around the Solent. Hard fort racing but bagged ourselves the win. I then hopped out to Guernsey for another regatta on the spirit were the SB1s were the perfect items of clothing for the week with it being chillier than it maybe should have been in June but warm enough that heavy weather waterproofs were too much. Another fun week of racing and socialising with the team. With the RS21 we then teamed up with fellow Rooster riders Team Rolfe to head to Ireland for the iconic Cork Week regatta. The event lived up to its reputation and put on an epic event both on and off the water. Despite the full range of conditions over the week, the team were on form and we managed to take 11 race wins out of the 12 races to win the class. The event we were leading up to all year was the RS21 Nationals which were held in Dartmouth, having had a great start to the year we were determined to continue. Despite the lower turnout for the event than hoped the racing so still incredibly close and we had to work very hard. We were very pleased to pull it of with a race to spare and become the national champions. The following week we began our European tour, again joining forces with Team Rolfe we packed up and made the drive south to Lake Garda for the RS21 Italian nationals. With a larger fleet of 40 boats and far higher standard of full professional sailors, we were unsure how we would fair. The fleet was very tight and mistakes were punished but Garda delivered and we had amazing conditions to enjoy. Not to mention the lovely scenary, food and drink off the water too. With some good results and some not so good, we took 10th place. Next up was the world championships in Spain, in L’Escala, with a similar high quality fleet from all around the world we knew we had a tough time to be near the front of the fleet, however day 1 couldn’t have been better as we took the race win in race 2, our first international race win in the RS21. A couple of not so good races over the next couple of days in harsh big winds and big waves drops a few places to finish 13th overall. It has for sure been a busy year of sailing, with some downs but that just makes the ups feel even better. Looking forward to the next one!   Nigel Rolfe - RS21 Team 5'o Clock Somewhere 2024 has been a standout year, with our focus on the UK series laying a strong foundation for future success. We saw new sailors join the ranks and seasoned veterans return, making for competitive and exhilarating races. We kicked off with midweek training in Hamble to shake off the winter rust. The first event was a breezy, cool regatta in Hamble, requiring full Rooster gear to keep warm. Lymington followed with intense competition, though we were reminded of the importance of tides a bit too late, costing us some results. We tested our new, lighter SB1 kit here—it was perfect for the warmer, wet conditions. Next up was Cork, where the opening day brought heavy winds and waves, even challenging the local mark layers! Racing was tight, especially among the top five boats, with rain gracing us only while sailing. Cork also topped the social calendar with lively club activities and reunions with old friends.   All this was great preparation for our big challenges—the Italian Nationals and the 2024 Worlds in Spain. Italy’s Lake Garda proved hot, teaching us not to skimp on accommodation without air conditioning. Doh! With early morning starts in breezy conditions, we debuted the new Vakaros compass, which added a strategic edge to our race starts with precise distance-to-line readings. The grand finale was the World Championships in L'Escala, Spain. With high winds and waves, it was a true test for both our gear and our teamwork. The conditions exposed the narrow margins for error, making it a humbling experience despite a year of progress together.   Reflecting on an unforgettable season, we’re ready for a winter break to reset and return even stronger next year. We’ll be back!

Want to hear what our Rooster Riders got up to this summer? It was action-packed! From hot competition in Spain to breezy races back home, they’ve been enjoying time with friends and meeting new faces. As we gear up for a more relaxed winter sailing season, let’s see what the Riders have been up to over the Summer. Topper TeamSix of our Topper riders jetted off to the sunny shores of Mar Menor, Spain, to compete in the Topper World Championships. They battled scorching heat and fierce competition, going head-to-head with 178 sailors from 8 different nations. Our team didn’t disappoint! Jess Powell snagged 10th place overall and 2nd female, followed closely by Jake Davies (11th), Harry Mills (13th), and Holly Norton (18th & 3rd female). Barely catching their breath, they headed straight to WPNSA for their Nationals. With many riders bidding farewell to their Toppers after this event, they pushed hard to finish strong. Jess Powell clinched the top spot for the second year running, just ahead of fellow rider Harry Mills in 2nd! Shout-out to Jake Davies for finishing his Topper journey in 10th and Ethan Rhodes in 20th. ILCAsNo rest for the wicked! Many of our Topper riders transitioned straight into the ILCA 4 Nationals, also at WPNSA. Talk about dedication! Joining them were our ILCA 4  team riders Alex Jones, Josie Kelly, and Eva Hardie who flew in all the way from the UAE. The competition was fierce, with Jess Powell securing 3rd overall, followed closely by newcomer to the Rooster team Alex Jones. In the ILCA 7 class, seasoned Riders Nick Welbourn and James Curtis landed in 12th and 24th respectively. RS Aero'sApparently, hiking is the name of the game! James Curtis and Josie Kelly weren’t done just yet—they headed down to HISC to take on the RS Aero Worlds. With a mixture of conditions all week, they navigated the races alongside fellow Aero sailors and Riders Sammy I-J and Sam Mabey. Sammy finished strong with a fantastic 4th overall in the Aero 5 fleet! Loyal to the FoilIn between the 29er Worlds and Nationals, Imogen Green decided to switch things up and take her foiling game to the next level down in Weymouth, showing off her skills in her Waszp. Meanwhile, across the ocean—and then a bit more—team rider Aaron Tsuchitori was living the dream at the Waszp Americans, carving up the bluest waters of his home territory: Hawaii!  KeelboatsWhile our Waszp Riders were zipping around, our keelboat teams were proving that slow and steady can still bring plenty of success. In the RS21, Team Dark n Stormy, led by Liam Willis, took the top spot at the Nationals in Dartmouth. They were joined by Team 5 O'Clock Somewhere, led by Nigel Rolfe, for a fun trip to Ireland’s Cork Week, where Dark n Stormy sailed to victory once again, with 5 O'Clock Somewhere finishing 4th. Meanwhile, team rider Henry Martin took his talents down to Devon for the Dartmouth Regatta, competing in a J109. He and his crew looked sharp and ready in their team UVF hoodies! Other Rider News Elsewhere Sitara Bartle Davies has been enjoying wakeboarding in Windermere getting to grips with a slightly different watersport than sailing. Meanwhile Jenna Snedker has been mastering wingfoiling on holiday in Turkey. Jack Moule performed at the Southampton International Boat Show this week, with The Princess Royal in attendance. In short, it’s been a wild, exciting ride for our riders this summer—but we wouldn’t have it any other way! Here’s hoping they catch a breath before the winter training.

As one of the biggest sporting events of the year is right around the corner, we're excited to introduce to you our athletes heading to the Games, who have worked so hard to get there. Please join us in wishing our athletes all the best over the next few weeks! Monika Mikkola  ILCA 6 (Women's Dinghy) Finland We have been working with Monika for the last six years and have been proud to watch her grow and support her on her journey to the Games. It's been amazing to see her establish herself at the pointy end of the ILCA 6 fleet. Hernán Umpierre & Fernando Diz  49er (Men's Skiff) Uruguay New to the Rooster Team this year, with some very impressive results in the lead up to the games, we can't wait to cheer these guys on!  Elena Vorobeva ILCA 6 (Women's Dinghy) Croatia A long time Team Member of Rooster and heading for her third Games this year. She'll be one of the most experienced sailors on the start line - wishing her all the best for the competition. Ebru Bolat ILCA 6 (Women's Dinghy) Romania Another new Team Member and friend of Rooster heading to the Games, qualifying in style by taking the top spot at the Last Chance Regatta in April.  

I started my sailing journey at the age of 8, where I joined my local club, Felpham sailing club, after trying sailing on an open day. Over the next two years, I got involved in many training sessions in order to learn how to helm a boat, and sail with others who were a similar age to me. I joined in on Friday night youth sessions to build my skills and confidence more, quickly progressing on to taking other new sailors out and helming for them.  In 2018, during our youth week, I raced for the first time and haven’t looked back since. I started off racing my pico, however quickly realised that I loved racing and to continue this, I needed to leave my pico behind. With some help and advice, I moved into the RS Tera and completed my first event – the Regionals at Queen Mary sailing club.   In 2020, as I continued to learn about the Tera and progress with my racing knowledge, I joined the Rooster team and one of their ambassadors. Through this, I was supported with many opportunities to do new things, and was encouraged to sail at my best and enjoy the sport, wherever that may take me. I have continued to be part of the Rooster team as both an ambassador and a Rider since 2020, and I am proud to say that I am still part of the team now. Over the pandemic, I left the Tera class and moved onto Lasers, where I have been competing across the country for the last 4 years. I sailed mostly in the 4.7 fleet, due to my size and weight, joining the London and South East regional training group for two years, before moving onto different training events as I progressed. Throughout this time, I have continuously used kit from Rooster, including sails and ‘boat bits’, their 6mm Polilite mainsheet being a particular favourite of mine. Just recently, I have started to make my transition into the RS Aero class, where I hope to become more competitive in the 5 rig, with a good line up of events coming up over the summer. As always, I will be looking to improve the set-up of my boat with new Rooster parts, and the advice from the team.  

I am currently transitioning from sailing a Topper to a 29er, and it's been an exciting and challenging journey so far. One of the biggest adjustments has been adapting to sailing with a crew and learning to manage two additional sails effectively. Sailing a double-handed boat requires coordination and teamwork, which has pushed me to become more organised. Additionally, we've joined a new sailing club, so I've had to familiarise myself with new race schedules and unfamiliar waters.  Communication has proven to be crucial for our success on the water. I've also discovered that 29ers are significantly more sensitive to weight distribution, which has led to a few unplanned swims as we refine our technique. Transitioning from handling a single sail to managing two or sometimes three sails has been a steep learning curve. Despite these challenges, I am thoroughly enjoying the process of mastering the 29er and navigating new waters. The experience has been both rewarding and educational, and I look forward to continuing to improve and grow as a sailor.  

The Middle Sea Race is the final big offshore of the season with a stunning 600nm course that starts in Malta, goes through the Messina Straights, round an active volcano and back to Valetta. This year we did it on a Banuls 53 trimaran called FINN, a custom GRP/Carbon multi hull with a canting/rotating mast but also a fairly comfortable interior, hydraulic winches and a strange looking but very cushy doghouse that fully protects anyone inside from the elements. Half our team flew in from the US and the other half were British and Swiss French (we quickly learnt how much Americans love to cheers at dinner much to the horror of us Europeans). After 5 intense days of training together, debriefing and race prep we felt we had bonded as a team and were ready to take on the race.   There was an area of light wind in-between 2 systems that had a lot of wind forecast for the start, unfortunately it was over Valetta for our start. Being the heaviest multihull in the fleet we struggled getting out of the harbour in the light airs but once we were clear, we could stretch our legs and make our way to the media mark. Almost immediately after rounding the mark the wind filled in and started clocking right putting us onto a windy reach, sending it towards Sicily at 20-26kts. When going this fast the 10 tonne bus becomes a dinghy and is amazingly fun to drive, unfortunately it was short lived as the wind kept clocking right and dropping leading to a number of peels during the evening until the wind built again to 25-30kts on the nose. Then it was time make some ground, the boat loves a windy upwind and can happily do 15-16kts. We were doing quick rotations on the helm to keep everyone fresh as we don’t have windshields so driving involves getting hosed by salt water traveling at 40mph for 45 mins. Well into the night I noticed Etienne tasting something off the floor and saying “its not olive oil” which meant it was hydraulic oil! He quickly took everything apart and found our hydraulics were leaking quite rapidly due to pressure build up causing the seals to fail on the filters. After a long discussion we decided to continue racing under manual power, this involved centring the mast and installing a make shift mainsheet leading to one of the cockpit winches. After 2-3 hours we were back on track.   The morning after in the Messina Straights it was flat calm and very light airs. We clawed our way long the East side trying to stay out of the strong tide. Once clear we were able to open up a bit and head straight for Stromboli with the gennaker up. This was a great time to rest as we had hardly slept the night before. The net offers many great places to nap on deck, we also brought bean bags which were a hit amongst the crew (sometimes too much so). I was down below about to go to sleep when I heard a huge bang followed by shouting. I ran up to find our gennaker in the water, after recovering it and unfurling the solent jib we inspected the damage and found that the actual bullet had sheared in half and half of it was still in the lock at the top of the mast. After lots of thinking and planning we came to the conclusion it was impossible to change out the gennaker lock for the staysail lock which is much bigger and again we considered retiring. I made the point that the rest of the race could be upwind we will be fine (I was reminded of that comment for the remainder of the race).   After Stromboli it was mostly light airs down wind until the end of Sicily which was extremely slow and frustrating. The hooded tech tops were a hit amongst the team, providing not only comfort but also excellent protection against UV during those extended hours under the sun. After Sicily we got about 6 hours of wind until it died and then after that it was just patchy spots under clouds pretty much all the way to Lampedusa. Just after Lampedusa the breeze started to fill in and we were reaching again at speed and finally we could use the boat how it was designed to be! It was too late though, we had cemented our place in the multihull fleet after missing multiple weather systems and spending hours and hours hardly moving. The goal now was to have as much fun as possible. We finished late in the evening crossing the line in darkness feeling broken by a 4 day race that was meant to take 2.5 days! We quickly got the boat fixed again and had a fantastic, fast and fun delivery all the way back to Valencia the following week.   In summary it was a fantastic adventure with an amazing and dedicated crew which allowed us to persevere when things got tough! Hopefully next season we can come back stronger without any breakages! Sam Mabey & team  

Being Average, But Doing Amazing! I guess I regularly pinch myself and wonder, how did I get here? As a late in life sailor (I didn’t start sailing until I was 44), how did I just get nominated in the British Yachting Awards for “Sailor of the Year”? The strange journey to this moment in time started back in 2015 when I sailed my Laser dinghy around the Isle of Wight for 12 hours to raise money for Cancer Research and Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington. Having lost my father, mother-in-law and multiple other family members to the disease I wanted to help others facing cancer. Incredibly we raised £4000, and people immediately started asking me “What’s your next adventure?” – with sailing around the UK being the most touted suggestion. A full time job and family meant there was no way I could make that happen, but after some detailed research I came up with “Race To Scotland” – the challenge to sail my RS Aero from Lands End to John O Groats in 31 days – because that’s all the leave I could get from work! Being a far bigger challenge than the Isle of Wight sail, we set ourselves a massive fundraising target of £50,000. A challenge like this is not to be lightly undertaken and it took 17 months of physical, mental and logistical preparation before we were able to set sail from Lands End in 2017.  This epic adventure along the British coastline involved long open sea crossings, being becalmed in a fog bank for hours, unwittingly sailing into a nuclear submarine exercise areas plus some occasional assistance from the fabulous RNLI! That intense month of sailing took everything from me physically and mentally, but delivered the most wonderful memories packed with stunning places and fantastic people. Thanks to the most humbling generosity we raised £37,000. An amazing total, but still short of our target; we needed a new challenge to raise the missing £13,000. Inspired by all the islands I’d sailed past in Scotland and never seen the other side of, I wondered if I could sail around every island in England and Wales. This was something that no-one had done before and I soon realised why! After months of research I’d identified well over 200 islands and the Yodare (named after my RS Aero “Yoda”) adventure was born. The adventure took me from the wild Farne islands in the far North to the Caribbean azure waters of the Isles of Scilly in the South. From the largest island of Anglesey (103 nm) to the smallest 1nm sail around Ynys Y Castell. In total we rounded 262 islands, carried Yoda over roads, capsized it under bridges and had a few hectic surf beach landings! We sailed more than 20 nm off shore, navigated overfalls and sailed past a walrus, all in a 4m long dinghy! The most scary moments? Definitely disappearing in to a fog bank for 5 hours with ship fog horns sounding eerily all around you and capsizing in 8ft standing waves off Ramsey Island! Both events made me feel very small and vulnerable. The most wonderful moments? The unbelievable privilege of being able to sailing amongst the stunning wildlife that call our coastline home and stepping off my RS Aero after 13 hours and 113km of bottom numbing sailing, having finally rounded my 262nd and LAST island – The Isle of Wight. I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of Rooster throughout my adventures and I can safely say I’ve tested a lot of their kit to destruction in some very challenging locations! Their clothing layering system has been key to dealing with the varying conditions of long days on the water. Of all the great kit I most love my Pro Aquafleece. It’s comfort and warmth on long 13 hour days is irreplaceable and pulling that neck draw string tight feels like you are snuggling down in to a cosy sleeping bag ready to face the challenges of the day ahead.   So what have I learnt from all these adventures? Preparation is probably the biggest thing for me. Research the sailing conditions, get local’s advice, always have a safety plan and learn to bend with the conditions – sometimes the only right decision is not to sail! If people know where you are and what you are doing you are more likely to be rescued if things happen go wrong, so I always carry a means of communication such as a VHF radio, phone, emergency locator beacon and use the RYA SafeTrx or another form of tracker. Having completed these adventures I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that we’ve sailed a colossal 1336 nm around the islands of England and Wales. Add that to the 865nm of Race To Scotland and this 4m dinghy has now sailed the equivalent of a transatlantic crossing! The aim of all these adventures has always been to make a difference by using sailing to raise funds for two incredible charities. None of the challenges were long held personal desires, they just materialised and now have somehow resulted in me being nominated for “Sailor of the Year” in the British Yachting Awards. I doubt that I’ll win, but just being nominated feels a wonderful accolade for someone who is distinctly “average” – but being average doesn’t mean you can’t achieve incredible things! So never pigeon hole yourself as “average”, whatever sport or activity you are undertaking. Within us all there is the potential to achieve amazing things, be they small or large.  They are out there, you just need to go and look for them and enjoy where they will lead you to! Cheers Ken You can donate to the charities at www.yodare.co.uk And you can vote for “an average sailor” here https://www.britishyachtingawards.com/vote-now/

Sailing, like any sport, has a busy summer season for racing, with numerous events taking place all over the UK and beyond. For me, sailing an RS200 in the North West leads me to the RS200 Northern Tour alongside the Rooster Championship Tour which will include the National Championships taking place at East Lothian Yacht Club. Chinese general and military strategist, Sun Tzu, once said: “Every battle is won before it is fought”. In other words, you need to manage resources and preparation effectively before you enter battle…or in dinghy terms, any racing event. Whether it is a club, regional, national or international event, it is useful for us to consider the appropriate preparation and ensure that mentally, physically and emotionally we are as strong as possible. Whilst I was at university and learnt team racing, I always found it useful to keep focused in the moments leading up to the race and then to maintain a present state of mind when racing. As a result of the covid-19 pandemic, racing events were fewer and far between over the last couple of years. Nevertheless, I managed to participate in a first major RS200 event in late 2021. Sailing in at Royal Torbay Yacht Club for Summer Championships in August 2021 demonstrated to me how quickly coastal areas can change in relation to wind and weather conditions and the appropriate attire also changed, so a dry bag with extra kit is essential! These are some of my favourite pieces of kit which I feel are very important in contributing to a positive day of dinghy racing. The supertherm range is great for cold Winter training and racing – Women's SuperTherm 4mm Wetsuit |Rooster Sailing & Watersports – ROOSTER UK I tend to bring out the Thermaflex for the summer months - Women's ThermaFlex 1.5mm Wetsuit | Rooster Watersports UK – ROOSTER UK (roostersailing.com) The Essentials range is great for majority of the year, if you wear layers underneath and on top - Essentials 2mm Full Wetsuit – ROOSTER UK (roostersailing.com) Plus I would highly recommend the Aquafleece for wetter and often coastal days, particularly when competing in a racing series and you are sat in between races - Women's Aquafleece Spray Tops | Rooster Sailing & Watersports – ROOSTER UK     Since I had a major life event taking place in 2022, I decided not to commit to any major racing events but concentrated on my overall fitness and strength. Wakeboarding regularly ensured that my strength and stamina was maintained and you can read more about my wakeboarding experiences via the link: https://www.roostersailing.com/blogs/ambassadors/wagers-with-wakeboarding-where-to-start-what-to-wear-and-what-to-expect I also sailed regularly to train and worked on my sailing posture and adaptation to wind conditions, which I hope will be of great help in the upcoming racing season for 2023. I am regularly competing in club races at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club and look forward to the challenges that will be faced in the other sailing events.     Whilst considering a return back to dinghy racing, I created the below acrostic which reads “Whatever The Weather, Be There”. I hope this provides some useful inspiration and tips ahead of the dinghy racing season, and motivates you to enter the next dinghy racing event. Always remember Benjamin Franklin’s words: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”.     Whether the weather be fine, Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold, Or whether the weather be hot, We'll weather the weather Whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not! - be disciplined no matter what and make the start line…   Have goals - build up your schedule to reflect what performance you hope to achieve…   Aim high - it never hurts to be optimistic as one day you may win that race…   Train consistently - if that means only once or twice a week in the gym, stick to a regular pattern…   Exercise in a way that suits your body - if you prefer mornings, start early or if you are a night owl, finish the day in a positive way…   Vary your training - water drills, land sessions, strength and conditioning, yoga or Pilates: all help to strengthen the body in different ways    Eat a balanced diet - your body needs fuel to keep going and sailing is a strenuous sport   Read your rules - make sure you’re up to date with all the racing rules that apply to your class of boat    Tune your boat - make sure that every part of your boat is in tip top shape    Height and weight are important - know the measurements of helm (and /) or crew to ensure boat is tuned well     Expected weather conditions should be in your mind at all times - watch the weather forecast with great interest and ensure that you have the appropriate clothing to match (I would recommend using supertherm for the very cold weather, thermaflex for moderate weather and essentials for medium – warm weather and remember that coastal sailing involves wind and tide and therefore, will probably result in wetter conditions overall)    Work smarter, not harder - ensure that you know the race course    Examine your sails regularly - check for any damages and ensure you have emergency tape on you at all times is important    Arrange lines in advance - tangled spinnaker sheets are less than ideal!    Tune rig for expected conditions - you can adapt them as you go    Have an open mind - weather conditions, travel, boat breakages, a faster competition…all these factors can throw you off pre/during/post racing so try to keep open to changes as they inevitably come along…   Embrace the challenge - try racing at coastal and inland environments to observe the different wind and tidal conditions    Remember your own limits - always wear safety equipment, including a buoyancy aid and safety nice, and don’t go out on the water if you’re unsure about the conditions…   Be disciplined on implementing a watch system - ensure you have a high quality timer for the start   Eliminate your competitors by first identifying them - during the pre-race sailing and during the race, make sure you watch your speed in relation to others sailing around you    Take the time to evaluate yourself and your habits at the start of a new year - is there anything more that you could do to help yourself feel better prepared (ie. more light wind boat handling, roll tacks, boat bimbling)    Hydrate - make sure you have spare bottles of water / homemade energy drinks (ie. squash accompanied by the appropriate amount of sugar - speak to your coach if you’re unsure)   Energise - whatever helps you feel most ready for training ie. starting the day with a brisk walk, a jog or some yoga to get yourself into the best mindset    Re-hydrate - remember that you need to continue taking in fluids after your training / practice racing    Even when you have doubts about your performance, just give it a go!     “Proper preparation and planning prevents poor performance”   Enjoy your sailing!   Sitara 😊

Wakeboarding, like other watersports, can be uncompromising.Waves, wind, weather…all completely out of a human being’s control.I think a statement which best epitomises the experience of learning to wakeboard is as follows: “Going with the flow means something new and unpredictable, but always be positive”This year, I have decided to develop my wakeboarding skills, taking advantage of the lovely sunny weather and a wake-park which is quite nearby. I have enjoyed the sport, having learnt a couple of years ago, but decided to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the challenges which the sport offers. I have also found it to be a great way of increasing my strength and stamina, key qualities which have found to be essential when competing in dinghy racing and training out on the water. Just like sailing, wakeboarding is a sport which requires mental perseverance, dedication and a keen sense of ambition. Just like sailing, wakeboarding is a sport which can change at any moment, depending on any number of factors such as weather, wind, and personal fatigue. Someone once said: “Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction” and I think this is very pertinent when you learn the sport. You have to accept that it willtake time and effort to be able to adapt yourself and your riding to whatever situation you find yourself in. The day may begin sunny and warm with a gentle breeze, and may end with a rain or thunder storm with waves and less visibility. Sometimes, you have to accept that the conditions are not manageable and are beyond your ability. Furthermore, just like sailing, wakeboarding is a great sport in that it enables you to travel around and see different places, spending time with friends and family. Whether you are behind a boat where there can be encouragement and guidance from loved ones who are sitting in the boat, or you are on a cable where there can be encouragement and guidance given from the shore, there are multiple opportunities to share great memories and have a laugh when you (at some point, probably inevitably, especially if you are a beginner) fallinto the water. Wakeboarding brings you closer to the water in so many ways, and often literally, but it is a great way to connect with nature and the elements. I have found that wakeboarding has taught me a lot about flowing rather than rushing, taking time to feel the contact between the board and the water, and relaxing on the cable or rope behind the boat. A quote from ancient Chinese text Zhuangzi says: “Do not struggle. Go with the flow of things, and you will find yourself at one with the mysterious unity of the Universe”, and I have found thisconcept of unity to be very helpful, especially when learning how to ride and land obstacles on cable. If I think too much about what I am going to do, I have found that on regular occasions, the body simply moves the board and I completely miss the obstacle altogether.This was a very interesting experience when it first happened, but one which demonstrated to me how much power your body does have. Often I find it best to let go of thoughts and worries about riding, and simply trust my instincts. Wakeboarding is a sport which has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone many times, and still continues to, which I have found to be a useful challenge in daily life. I take a moment to consider what author Roy T Bennett once said: “It’s only after you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow and transform”. I agree wholeheartedly with these words, as your thoughtswhilst out on the water quickly demonstrate your mindset. If I’m not concentrating or focused, it’s more likely that I will end up forgetting to keep looking ahead, or catch my toe-edge whilst riding…wakeboarding is a sport which demands single-mindedness and it is ruthless until you find that inner stillness and calm. As with any watersport, being prepared for the weather and general conditions is essential, especially as you are regularly and often abruptly submerged into the water, particularly when you are a beginner. I find that the Rash Top paired with the 1.5mm Top and Longjohn are necessary, as well as the Wet Socks, and are very comfortable products when you are riding. When the weather conditions start getting colder, the Supertherm Longjohn set isreally useful as the 8mm of warmth sits around the middle of your body, and is comforting when you are dunked in and out of the water during the wintry months. During those wintry months - wakeboarding sometimes with two wetsuits and thick gloves - there is often a completely different level of exhilaration experienced…I will never forget wakeboarding through a snow blizzard…and it gives you extra encouragement to practise your balance, given the inevitable water temperature…and it gives you increased respect and enjoyment for the summer months when the cold water is less of a shock… As I’m sure many people would agree, wakeboarding is worth the wager.

The Rooster® Sportsmanship Award is an accolade awarded to an individual that displays qualities that embody the Rooster® Core values to Inspire, educate and facilitate access to the freedom of being on the water #InYourElement This could be any person at any level within their sport or even an individual who simply goes above and beyond for their sports community at certain world sporting events: The RS Games and SailGP Inspire. The individual winner is decided by the event organisers and referrals from any of the event attendees. This year we launched the award at the RS Games 2022. We spoke to class associations, RS Sailing, organisers, sailors and competitors and this year the award has gone to Sasha Tydeman. Sasha was the most stand-out candidate for the award at the games, referred to us but the RS Aero class, she is proactive in caring for and helping her fellow sailors, she greets everyone and is a real credit to the class. On one occasion during the Games the morning yoga instructor had let down the event last minute so Sasha stepped in to help and take a session as a yoga fan familiar with the basic moves and principles. It was very clear we made the right decision, many sailors came to the Rooster stand at the event to say how brilliant it was that she won and how incredibly warm and inviting and proactive she is in the RS Aero class. Sasha will be fully Rooster kitted out and supported by us for a year and we will work with her to continue to support her sport and her proactive ethic. Sasha is currently Publicity Officer for the RS Aero Class. She has shared some details with us to get to know what she is currently up to: "I study English Literature at UEA, just going into my second year and I’m a bit of a bookworm, I love being outdoors and I do a lot of sport! Mainly yoga, sailing, running and rock climbing currently. I’ve always been quite an all rounder, so I also love art and playing the guitar but I do find time runs out for a lot of things! I was a competitive middle distance runner for most of my teens so though I did Oppie’s when I was little I did sailing for fun for the most part. In the last 2 years, I’ve now switched to focusing on sailing a lot more and running’s taken a back step. I did the university team racing circuit this year, where my team won many events and we came 5th at the BUSA finals and were invited to the Wilson Trophy. Over the summer, I’ve gotten into the Etchells circuit which I’ve really enjoyed. I’ve done the Southerns, Red Funnel Regatta and Nationals where I was part of the team that came top Corinthian and youth. I’ve sailed Aeros for 4 years and I love the class, i was part of the youth squad a few years ago and I’m hoping to try and improve within it over the next few years now that I’m focusing a lot more on sailing. I’ve definitely already improved this year with a good result at the nationals and the Europeans being my best result ever achieved. I’ve also set up my own Match Racing team which I’m skippering and taking to 3 events in September; Youth MR, Womens MR and Summer MR 2 so hopefully that will go well! I had my first event early July and it felt a bit like throwing myself into the deep end so learnt a lot and hopefully will have improved for them! I’m planning on applying for the BKA this year (maybe the Etchells youth academy as well) and really just enjoying training on the Aero and competing in that circuit but for the most part mainly focusing on my degree. Anyway, hope that’s a little bit helpful! Thanks so much again for all of this. It’s feeling very amazing!"

Sailing is a sport that requires motivation. Motivation to maintain your fitness levels. Motivation to rig and de-rig a boat. Motivation to get out on the water, irrespective of wind and weather conditions. And many other water-sports are similar, requiring extra kit and determination to work with the elements to achieve your potential. Fluidity with decision-making and training are also required, reflecting the nature of water itself. When sailing, either at inland or coastal venues, we have to accept the power of the water, wind and weather conditions. Water makes up over 70% of the Earth’s surface, and therefore, it seems reasonable to honour it and give it the respect it deserves. Water-sports require a great deal of acceptance, particularly when competitions and regattas can be delayed, postponed and even cancelled if there are not adequate conditions. Consequently, sometimes motivation may not be the expected get-up-and-go attitude which you need to turn up to events and race well. Motivation may be found in the form of patience – waiting for the wind to fill in or die down – and keeping a calm mind while decisions are being made. When pondering on the essence of motivation and how we can harness it to train and perform at our best, I was encouraged to think about my own water-sports adventures, and particularly in 2022 so far. We have seen everything grind to a halt during 2020/2021, and water-sports was hit especially hard, as restrictions meant that many of us couldn’t train on the water, and had to resort to alternative methods for training. Just before lockdown, I had completed my penultimate term at university for my undergraduate study, and was looking forward to sailing events after finals. Every weekend, we had university team sailing training and this was a welcome release of energy. I continued to feel motivated to spend the required hours in the library, surrounded by books and research, knowing that I would be able to get out onto the water and focus solely on drills, tactics and developing my understanding of team racing. Team racing was a new form of racing at that time, and I was keen to learn more about it, to improve my own fleet racing for the future. During this time, I started to build up my bag of sailing kit, as the harsh weather during the winter season meant that polypro, aquafleece headband, neck gaiter, and hikers were a necessity. My aquafleece has remained a staple, and I often found myself wearing it onshore when cycling to lectures and societies in the rain and wind. When I didn’t return back to university for our finals and had to complete everything online, including a 10,000 word dissertation, motivation became an important quality of everyday life. Knowing that there was just me, zoom calls with my tutor and the screen in between me and my degree created a very strange scenario. From the beginning, I set myself daily tasks alongside my academic study, to ensure I took advantage of the time spent at home before starting a Masters in September 2021. Like many of the global population, I experimented with baking and cooking, set up foodie social media accounts, did online workouts, and went out walking with picnics and a hot drink. During this time, I also bought an RS200 and worked on the rigging with my helm, enjoying very varied weather conditions during the time periods when the club was open for sailing and racing. I was delighted to be able to go to Torquay last summer for the Summer Regatta 2021 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club. This was a great opportunity to test the boat in a coastal location and compete against others in the class. It was also a test of motivation as the second day saw huge gusts and dramatic weather conditions, meaning that we had to wait and watch with our rigging gear to see if the wind would lessen. Since then, I have continued to train at various clubs, and my motivation has been consistently tested, often with a lack of wind leading to onshore training and various hikes in brightly coloured sports leggings around the Peak District. I have enjoyed paddle-boarding in the sunshine, and look forward to more opportunities to wear shorts and sunglasses out on the water during the summer months. Throughout this time, I have also built up my skills in wake-boarding which requires a different kind of motivation for me – namely, that your mind has power over your body, and sometimes you have to ‘take the plunge’. Facing physical obstacles and the power of my wake means that I often consciously move my body and trust the outcome – always making sure I have the right kit helps too…Rooster hot hands and rash tops are a must in winter! Overall, this year has been full of unexpected situations, both on and off the water, but I think motivation and finding out what are the reasons behind my motivation or lack of it have been extremely useful and rewarding. Planning, setting myself a goal, positive self-affirmations and even imagining results are all techniques which I have found to be vital in learning more about myself and my motivation. I hope these thoughts are helpful. I finish with some of my favourite motivational quotes: “Push yourself because no-one else is going to do it for you” - Author Unknown “Don’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you get” - Michael Phelps “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” - Pierre de Coubertin “To uncover your true potential you must first find your own limits, and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.” - Picabo Street To read more from our Ambassador Sitara Bartle, head to https://sitarabartle.wixsite.com/shiningbright/blog

  As Events & Sponsorship Coordinator at Rooster, I control the flow of requests from an array of individuals, teams, associations and clubs every week.With every request I receive it is always really hard to say no. But as you can imagine we simply cannot say yes to everyone which is why I am about to share some hints and tips that often make my head turn. So listen up, because what I am about to share with you is all you need to know about getting supported this season: Be modest! A fatal mistake people often make is to show off, which is really not what Rooster is about. Please don’t list all the times you have won at an event, or even worse, a list of all your rankings since day dot! You should know us by now…we’re not all about winning. If you’re doing particularly well then that’s great and we are super excited to hear more, but don’t make it your focus pitch point. Tip: Keep your achievements to a minimum of one of your best or favourite moments so far Don’t be generic! We know…you have probably tried to contact all your favourite brands for an opportunity to be sponsored. But we have seen many a pitch in our time and we can tell from the first sentence that the same email has been fired off to everyone. Tip: make your email personal. Address either me (Flo) or Rooster, tell us something that you align with Rooster on a personal level, or name your favourite product of the moment and we will know that it’s Rooster that you really want to work with Tell us something we don’t know. We love surprises, and you’ll be glad to know not all of our partners and ambassadors are avid water sports enthusiasts . Most of the partnerships we form have something else going on too. So don’t be shy, tell us what else you get up too. Are you a budding photographer, or a keen weekend cyclist? Does your club do anything out of the ordinary, are you doing anything for a charity? The more we know about you the better. Hint: Tell us more than just your sailing or watersports interests, we want to know all about you, so do share. What’s in it for us? In order for us to understand your intentions from the get go and to be blown away with your ideas, you’ll need to let us know what you can do to help us, after all that is what forms the ultimate partnership. If you have a great idea, something you haven’t seen us try before that we can work on together, then let us know! If you're a member of a club and you want us to be involved in an event then guide us to how we can get involved. Tip: Leave plenty of time for ideas so we can give our absolute all into it, leaving things too last minute will result in it not happening or not being all it could be. Come up with something unique and we will be sure to read on We want to know all about you. Tell us where you’re from, where you do your sport, how long have you been doing it for, where you’re based and if you have anything coming up that we can help with. This is a great time saver and avoids us playing email tennis getting to know each other. Hint: pitches are not like job interviews, but you should try your best to let us know why we should work with you. Getting to know you is so important and first impressions certainly last What should you expect from Rooster? We know you love the kit, it’s the reason you’ve bothered to get in touch, right? Freebies are great but they are not always possible, so please be understanding that when we offer a great deal, we are doing our best to meet your needs fairly. We can also provide you with event collateral such as feather flags, table cloths, stickers and customised event merch!  Hint: Don’t be surprised if we offer you a discount in order to support you It’s cool to be kind. If you're doing something in your community to make a difference to people's lives then we want to hear about it. Are you helping disadvantaged or disabled people get on the water? Are you volunteering to coach at your club or using your spare time to help others achieve? Let us know what you’ve been up to. Don’t worry if you are not in a position where you can help, there are plenty of other ways you’re helping your community such as in your school or other hobby clubs. Hint: We want to be involved with good eggs that represent Rooster in all walks of their lives. Attachments are always fun. We love seeing you in your element, so if you can, attach an image or video doing the thing you love- bonus points if you’re wearing Rooster! Tip: Not only can we now see you doing what you love, it livens up your introduction and we can put a face to a name. Or send a link to your website and social media pages for us to check out and find out more Don’t be late to the party. Please give us time to process the request. 2 weeks is ideal for a prize scheme requests and one month is ideal for any custom requests. If you need any more support than that, then please leave a good few months for us to support you Tip: General rule of thumb is to give us plenty of time to help fulfil your needs. The more time we have the better we can help you! Remember to tag us! Whether it’s an Instagram story or a main feed post, if you don’t tag us, we can’t see it! We love to see what you have been up to whilst sporting your favourite Rooster products, but we will miss it if we don’t get that tag. Tagging Rooster also leads people to our page, so you will do your bit to share the love of your favourite kit- and that is a great return! Tip: You’ve got your Rooster kit on and a great shot for the gram?! Upload and tag and we will certainly give you a like…and if it’s really great we may even reshare it ourselves! So if you’re searching for Rooster support and you never knew how to play it, the secrets out! For all sponsorship requests please fill out our form which can be located in our Discover section under ‘Sponsorship’. We look forward to hearing from you!

I'm Rory Ferrier, a 14 year old Scottish Rooster ambassador honoured to be part of the team. This summer I competed in my first ILCA Nationals. It has been on the calendar since the early start of this year hence my excitement. Because of COVID the whole of the Scotland team going down were buzzing to get a glimpse of Weymouth's riches for the first time in over a year and for me it was a first. Thankfully I was well equipped and ready to go with Rooster's kit. My never ending hole of a bag consisted of; Pro Laced ankle strap boot, Pro Hikers 4/3mm Fixed Battens, 2018 Supertherm Top, Aquafleece, Diamond Overhead Buoyancy Aid 50n in blue and last but not least the blue Aeromesh cap. I have only had the Rooster Pro Hikers for the Nationals and have loved wearing them every second up the brutal beat on the Lasers torturing side decks. They really make the boat a joy to sail even downwind. I thought the pads might irritate me downwind but they don't compromise my technique in the slightest. As a result, I can see them sticking in the top of my bag for a while. To go with the hikers, on top I wear the 2018 Supertherm top. This is a great piece of kit that I have been wearing for a while now. It is an all round great accessory that can be interchanged depending on the conditions. One of the reasons that I am in love with this product so much is that it is like having a spray top on but much more manoeuvrable and can be used in the winter with an Aquafleece, when wearing all of these its feels like a warm hug which is more than enough to stay warm in Scotland's less than warm waters. When sailing on the second last day of the event it was gusting 30 knots and it was a big sea in Weymouth bay, I was screaming downwind on the last leg before the finish in the top 30% of the fleet but sadly capsized to windward. Luckily I had my Rooster buoyancy aid on, it's small which is great for tacking and gybing as you cant even tell you're wearing it but it's also big enough (50nt) that it will keep you afloat with ease. In the past couple of months I have had some ankle/knee problems and wanted a really supporting boot for sailing as I knew when the nationals would come I'd be out for hours sailing and that I'd have to have a good boot or else I'd be in agony. I bought the Rooster pro laced ankle strap boot and it has failed to disappoint. It has been a godsend! I could sail for hours on end and feel no pain in that area. And last but not least, again, the aeromesh blue cap. I love this cap. I never go sailing without it. Apart from it keeping the sun off my face I think it looks really cool and I feel proud to wear it in sun rain and potentially snow. In conclusion I came first in the silver fleet in the nationals and wow… What an amazing time I had. I couldn't have got that result without my Rooster kit.

Hi, my name is Hannah. I’m a disabled competitive sailor and have been sailing now for about four years. I sail with Bolton Sailability Group at Bolton Sailing Club and compete in an access 303 double handed dingy sailing boat. I have severe Cerebral Palsy affecting all of my body and use a wheelchair full time and require 24-hour care support. My disability has also left me visually impaired. I have recently participated in the RYA Sailability Multi-Class Regatta. The event was held at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and was facilitated by the Chesil Beach Sailability Group. I am a sailor through and through. Sailing makes my heart sing, it’s what makes me happy! I’ve always loved sailing. I especially enjoy the challenge, speed and the adrenaline rush that I experience during competitions. This year was no exception! Usually, I sail in Belmont Reservoir at Bolton..... A relatively calm area of water. It is occasionally a challenge but after four years and many sails, I feel I can cope with everything Belmont has to throw at me. Being in Weymouth for the Multi-Class meant sailing in the much more open water of Weymouth Harbour. The Lead Up... To give a general overview let me explain the lead up prior to each event. My crew and I had to navigate out of the sailing academy, through the narrow channel and into the waters of Weymouth Harbour. It is approximately a two-mile sail before the competitions even began. It seems like I have been sailing forever just to get to the start line. Sailing on a harbour meant at times the water was very choppy. This is something I rarely experience, and being visually impaired I particularly enjoyed the sensation of being in these conditions. The motion of the boat, hearing the sound of the water, and the smell of the fresh salty sea air. I loved the wind blowing on my face and through my hair. On these occasions, it was just a good job I don't have a big breakfast. Thankfully I’m not a big breakfast person. Up and down and side to side went me and my crew in our little boat. The Event So, there I was giggling away while my crew was giving me auditory instructions to enable me to helm the boat. It was imperative those instructions were clear and concise and we both had to communicate really well. Once on the water, I have no idea of where I’m going, of course, direction or the positioning of the other boats. My crew tried his utmost to foresee what tactics and course the other sailors would take. He would have to use his very quick judgement to make split-second decisions and give me instructions. This can be very tricky as he had to account for the time delay between him giving the instructions and me carrying them out. Friday afternoon... ...and the first event was team racing. A reasonable course distance to sail and the winds were ideal for me. I came second in this event overall, and I was so happy with this result, especially as I had never experienced team racing before. Saturday was a much different story. The morning’s pursuit race was a long and hard sail. The weather was hot and sunny and the race took about two hours, so I struggled to keep my concentration. All boats from all classes competed in the pursuit race. My boat being a 303 was considerably slower than the other classes of boats that I was competing against. It would have been nearly impossible for my boat to outsail the many faster boats even with their handicap, like comparing a hare and a tortoise. I didn't come right at the bottom of the race but as expected ranked lower than most. I still feel I sailed well in this event. Saturday afternoon was the beginning of the fleet racing event. The wind speeds had picked up massively! The boat began to heel right over, and with the water being super choppy it started to gush in. I've had water in my boat many times before, but on this occasion, it became stronger and stronger. The more wind, the more water came splashing over the side of the boat. My crew asked the safety boat crew if they had a spare baler. By now I was just absolutely crying with laughter and squealing with excitement. The safety crew did not have a spare baler, so I was laughing more at the thought I may float off, thankful I had my trusty Rooster buoyancy aid on. My crew and I collectively decided it might be a good idea to retire from that afternoon's events. Aftermath Although I came in very wet, I thoroughly enjoyed the sail. I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie and like to push myself and my sailing abilities to the absolute limit. My poor care support workers had to remove my trainers and turn them upside down to drain all the water out. And there was lots of it! My bedroom and my wet clothes absolutely hummed of salty sea water. The fresh salty sea air didn't smell so fresh anymore. Never mind, let’s get showered, warm and changed ready for the event dinner. As a sailor, I have to work with the weather conditions as that's the nature of the sport. I am out in the natural elements, I rely on fair winds to power my boat and that's the challenge in itself. As a Rooster ambassador, I think it's fair to say that competing in the RYA Multiclass Regatta I was 'in my element'. Follow Hannah's Adventure's on Facebook

As a company that champions grass roots sailing and takes pride in sponsoring a diverse range of sailors of varying ability, we get inundated with sponsorship requests on a daily basis. Only a tiny percentage make a big enough impact to merit further consideration, so I thought it might help to write a blog on what Rooster looks for in a sponsorship application. Basic Do's & Don'ts; DO call the company and ask for the name of the person who deals with sponsorship requests so that you can address them directly. DON'T send a generic letter to every company you can think of with "To whom it may concern." DO make reference to the company you are applying to and say what you like about them and why you chose to write to them DON'T send a generic letter - yes, I've mentioned this before but it is important if you want to avoid your letter/ email being filed in the bin DO think very carefully about what you can offer the company in return for their investment in you - this is very important, more on this later DON'T list your results and achievements and ask if the company will consider sponsoring you off the back of them alone. Video HERE It's Business In a nutshell, you are asking a business to invest in a product. YOU are the product and you need to sell yourself convincingly. If you've enjoyed a lot of success in your chosen class and you're approaching a company in the marine industry, chances are they will know about it and they'll google you anyway to find out more. Ideally they'll find a few photos and race reports which corroborate your claims, but what would really impress them is if they found a personal blog or website that you've set up chronicling your journey. THAT would set you apart, even better, make sure you mention it in your application. Even if you're not the best sailor in the world and your results aren't quite up there yet, finding ways to raise your profile will always look good in the eyes of a potential sponsor. Just listing your achievements and race results is not enough to secure sponsorship, you need to show a bit of personality and passion. Do you invest time and energy to give back to your sport? Take a look at Ben Ainslie for example, he doesn't just train, race and win. He devotes time to other projects like the BAR Academy, the 1875 Trust and 11th Hour Racing. He's an Ambassador for the sport due to the fact that he gives back to it over and over again. For a sponsor - this is Gold. Perhaps look at how you could do the same, but on a smaller scale. Are their charities close to your heart that you can get involved with and raise money for? Could you organise a training day for younger members of your Club? Could you organise taster sessions at your Club for local schools that haven't tried sailing before? Worth a thought and all things a sponsor would like to be associated with. Return on Investment It's really bad form to ask for sponsorship and not explain what you will do in return for it. Putting stickers on your hull and sails doesn't really cut it I'm afraid. Brand awareness can spread rapidly online - blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - demonstrate how you would use these platforms to engage with your sponsor and promote them. How about offering the company some of your time? Visit them at their office and do a talk about your sailing, offer to take the staff out for a sail or if they're in the Marine Industry, work for them at a Boat Show. Offer to promote the company by asking for banners, brochures, posters and leaflets that you can give out at events or put up at your local club. If you have references from previous sponsors, no matter how big or small, they are worth including. Presentation An application for sponsorship needs to be colourful and engaging. Take time to edit it carefully to ensure that it reads well and include pictures. A great picture can sell anything - give the sponsor something they can imagine their logo on. Make sure your personality comes through, use humour and be memorable. It's a lot like applying for a job, except much harder. Video Here