Marstrand, Sweden, put on a beautiful stage for the European Championships, with its rocky islands scattered across the course and a fleet full of the world’s best. Unfortunately, I came down with a cold right after the first day of training and spent most of the lead-up in bed. Aside from a short 30-minute session a couple of days before racing, I went in underprepared—and the illness stuck with me all week.
Even so, the racing had plenty of highlights. On the first two days the breeze started strong on the way out, only to fade during the races, making things tricky and unpredictable. I managed to stay consistent through qualifying, which earned me a spot in the gold fleet finals. When racing was cancelled on day four it gave me an unexpected chance to rest, which I definitely needed.
Looking back, I’m proud that even at less than full strength I was able to meet the goal we set at the start of the year: making a gold fleet at every event. It’s a great reminder of the progress I’ve made, and also a sign of the potential that’s there when everything lines up.
Off the water, life was a little different to the usual regatta routine. I was squeezed into a small camping cabin with three others—it was tight, but it made for plenty of laughs and memories, especially when it came time for the dishes. The venue itself was something special: small harbours tucked between rocky outcrops. After the regatta I jumped in the AST van with Patrick Scally to drive the trailer down to Barcelona, which turned into its own adventure and gave me a chance to recharge.
All in all, this trip reinforced just how far I’ve come, and gave me plenty of motivation for the next leg of the journey.