In 2024, four sailors across the youth and junior pathways have been selected to have subsidised access to our Performance Academy group training, a mentoring programme and team kit through our Performance Academy Sailing Scholarships. We are proud to announce that one of these sailors is Thomas Semmens!

Hi I’m Tom and I am really excited to be part of the Andrew Simpson PASS program.

I am currently a Topper sailor from Torbay and have been sailing for around 6 years. I started sailing with my Dad in a Mirror and was at first terrified, but over time got more used to it and moved into a Topper in Paignton. I remember launching in a 4.2 in about 2kn with a mast float and still being petrified! I did a lot of coaching at local clubs and was lucky enough to join the SW RTG. In 2022 I sailed in the 4.2 World Championships in Lake Garda which was a dream coming 4th followed by my first Nationals in the 4.2 which I won.

In 2023 moved into the 5.3 rig and it was a bit like starting all over again but still got to go to the Worlds, my goal was to make Gold fleet but I exceeded that and came 26th out of 198, and 2 weeks later the came 4th overall out of 168 at the Nationals in Plas Heli.

For 2024, I will continue my Topper, campaigning towards this year’s Worlds in Spain and the Nationals in Portland. I am very excited that the PASS scheme will help me this year and hopefully towards transitioning to my next class for 2025.