Name: Amelie Ballantyne

Age: 15

Sails: ILCA 4

What first sparked your passion for sailing, and how did you get started?

Mum always said sailing was in my genes, as we've got several generations of sailors in our family, and growing up by the coast in Devon, it was always going to happen. We had an old Enterprise when I was very little, and my parents used to take me out on that. When I wasn't on the boat, I'd be in the sea learning to surf.

From my first solo sail on an Oppie, I was hooked. I just loved the fact I was in control of a little boat, making it go where I wanted it to, and I loved capsizing it too, which I now know is not really the idea!

I joined my local sailing club, Starcross Yacht Club, on their Friday junior nights when I was 10 years old, sailing a Topper, and it was the best; friends, boats, and getting on the water. This is where I learnt how to race, and my competitive side came out, which made sailing even more fun. I started racing properly when I was 12 years. 

What has been your most memorable experience on the water?

When I was younger and just starting out, I was sailing an Optimist at my local club. It was a very windy day, and I was still quite inexperienced. I accidentally gybed, and the boom swung across and struck me hard on my face, knocking me out of the boat and in to the water. There was an unbelievable amount of blood, I was completely covered in it. I had a large gash on my face, right near my eye. I was rescued and rushed back to shore, still covered in blood. Later, I was told that if the cut had been just 2 millimetres closer to my eye, I might have lost my sight. Even so, it didn't stop me from wanting to sail.

How do you hope this scholarship will help you achieve your sailing goals?

Let's face it, sailing is an expensive sport, especially if you want to compete at a high level. It's not just the cost of training and boat parts; it's also the petrol, accommodation, entry fees, and all the additional expenses that quickly add up and puts a strain on families.

This scholarship will give me access to the high-level training and coaching I need to progress in my ILCA that I otherwise wouldn't have had. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been awarded this scholarship, as it gives me the opportunity to personalise my training programme, improve my performance, and push my results to the next level. With the right support, I'll be able to fine-tune my sailing and ensure I'm heading in the right direction.

Having such a strong sponsor involved in the programme, such as Sailing Chandlery, will also make a huge difference. Their support will help me upgrade essential boat equipment and stay competitive.

I'm truly grateful for this opportunity and excited about what it will allow me to achieve.

When you're not sailing, what are some of your other hobbies or interests?

I'm an active person and take part in a lot of sport at school when I'm not sailing, and I enjoy playing tennis and netball. I also go to the gym with my friends. I also love skiing and surfing.

This year is my GCSE year, so alongside my training and competitions, I also have a lot of homework and revision to focus on. Balancing my school work with my sport is challenging at times, but I'm committed to working hard in both areas.

Who or what inspires you most in your sailing journey and why?

I've been incredibly fortunate to meet many well-known sailors over the past couple of years, which has been hugely inspiring in itself.

One of the highlights was spending time with the United States SailGP Team at their team base in Southampton. This was very early in the team's SailGP campaign, and it was fascinating to hear about their motivations and ambitions.

What stood out most was how humble and honest they were about being new to the league, wanting to improve, and focusing on learning. As a dinghy sailor who isn't always at the top of the results table, it was incredibly encouraging to hear elite athletes speak so openly about development, setbacks, and growth. It reinforced for me that progress is a journey, and even the best sailors are constantly learning.

If you could sail anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I don't have one particular location I dream of sailing in, as my ultimate goal is to take part in the Clipper Race one day. This incredible race would see me sailing to many countries and across multiple oceans.

The Clipper Race looks like an amazing adventure that would truly push me to my absolute limits. The boats are incredible, and after meeting the legendary Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, my determination to make this dream a reality has only grown stronger. It's a challenge I hope to take on someday, testing both my skills and resilience to the fullest.

Do you have any funny or embarrassing sailing moments you'd like to share? 

My most embarrassing moment happened during the Exe Regatta when I was helming our RS200. I thought it would look cool to dry my wetsuit at the top of the mast by tying it to the halyard. Up it went, flying in the sunshine, looking quite impressive… at least in my head!

About ten minutes before launch, I tried to get it down, and it was completely stuck. I was blocking the slipway too, while a crowd of people tried to rescue my wetsuit to get on with the regatta. People were using brooms and poles, and eventually several people had to tip the whole boat over just to get it down.

Since then, I've learned my lesson, I haven't tried to 'be cool' with my kit since!

If you could have any sailing-related superpower, what would it be?

My sailing superpower would be the ability to change boat types at the click of a finger. One second I could be in a little dinghy, the next I could be flying over the water on a foiling boat! It would be all about the adventure and thrill, speed, waves, and feeling totally unstoppable. I could try every kind of sailing boat in a single day with this sailing superpower!