Excited For Winter
Written by Nick Dempsey | 10 December 2010
After an end of season break it was time to get back into training and what better way, than to head to Perth, Australia the venue of the 2011 Worlds.
It was to be a family affair with Sarah, Thomas and Peggy (our nanny). Pretty nervous about the flight but rather surprised about Tommy being a little angle and sleeping almost the whole way, nice!
The sailing, I can honestly say I am more excited about this winters training program than ever before. For the first time in my life I will be training within a different training group. My new training partners are Brazil’s Ricardo Santos, Portugal’s Joao Rodrigues and Spain’s Ivan Pastor. These 3 guys are good friends of mine, all of whom sailing at the front of the fleet. Perth was our first training camp together. I learn’t more in those 3 weeks than I have for years.
Sailing with such good sailors really pushes every session to the max and with such talent within our group there is always one of us pushing the limits of what’s possible, making the four of us better.
I’d been told to expect 20 knots every day from the Freo Doctor and for the first two weeks I wasn’t disappointed. We trained hard together, enjoying the collaboration and pushed each other hard until someone broke, it’s not usually me but on this occasion I was knackered, pushed to the limit by my training partners is something I’ve been missing for years.
By the time the event arrived we were all pretty tired but it had been worth it. As usual by the regatta the big breeze and regular weather conditions we were getting use to changed but did provide us with some rare conditions which for the purpose of learning about the venue were perfect.
I was in Perth to research the venue so I was racing with the mindset of learning and taking risks so the results weren’t great but I really feel positive about how the trip went. I now have 5 weeks at home to get back into the gym and work on the fitness.
We recently moved house so I’m sure Sarah will have the whip out on the DIY projects. A balance of gym, painting and looking after little Tommy will keep me pretty busy until the first trip of 2011, Miami on the 3rd January.
2011 will be a big year and I am more focused than ever, I’m loving my training and enjoying the challenge of balancing family life with a pretty hectic program.
Nick Dempsey