We caught up with our 2024 PASS recipients, Flo Tovey, Harry Mills, Wilbur Palmer-Ward, and Thomas Semmens, to find out how their 2024 season has gone so far.
Through the PASS programme, we provide unparalleled opportunities for young athletes to hone their skills and reach their full performance potential. This includes top-notch coaching tailored to their individual needs, event support to navigate the competitive racing circuit, invaluable mentoring from seasoned professionals, and essential kit to gear them up for success on the water.
Here’s what Thomas had to say!
Reflect on this summer, how do you think you have progressed?
I think I have progressed well over the summer after doing lots of event. I have definitely improved on big fleet management and starts in national and especially international events. I also just started sailing an ILCA 4 and I think I have also improved my ILCA sailing drastically. I recently did ILCA skills week which was my first time in an ILCA with the Performance Academy which has helped me improve boat handling and manoeuvres considerably. Plenty of people and coaches have helped me along the way but this summer I have to thank my PASS coach Charlie Linsell who has helped me focus on achieving my goals.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next sailing season, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My dreams and aspiration for next year is to do a lot more ILCA sailing and try and go to some major events. I also plan to do some training with the Performance Academy and get some quality training ready for events in spring and summer. I am really excited about this new chapter of my sailing journey and hope to have a good season of training and racing.
What was the most memorable moment of the summer season for you, and why?
The most memorable moments of the summer was on the last day of Topper Worlds going into the final day in 8th or 9th position. In conditions I would not usually like as it picked up to more around 14-15 knots so had slightly low expectations. I went into the first race being a little cautious and just trying to do my best and took a bit of a gamble. During the week a few boats gained from starting near the pin, and I decided to roll the dice and try to start at the pin for the first time at that event. A couple other boats also started at the pin but soon tacked. I went far left when the traditional way most of the week was to go right and I when I came back on the port lay line, I found myself in the top 10 and had an amazing downwind leg and got up to 4th. I repeated this in the second race and in the third. Unfortunately, I dropped down on the final outer loop upwind leg and finished 7th. I thought it wasn’t enough and that I had dropped outside of the top 10. Once ashore I realised many of the boats ahead of me overall had a weaker day, and I finished 5th overall and top British sailor. I was so happy and couldn’t believe it! That evening I really enjoyed spending time with my friends and competitors and sharing our overall success and stories, in the beautiful setting of Mar Menor.
