Competing in any sport has its ups and downs, and windsurfing is no exception. June was a disappointing month for me as I caught a virus just before flying out to compete at the 2007 RS:X European Championships in Limmasol, Cyprus. But looking at the positives, it has given me the chance to get some extra training at Cascais, Portugal, which is where the 2007 ISAF World Championships will be held (12-20 July).

Off the back of winning the Grade 1 event in France, I was confident that at the RS:X Europeans I could improve on my silver medal from last year in Turkey. I was excited about the prospect of competing in a high quality fleet of women and gaining the experience to help me in future races. Also it would have been a good opportunity for me to guarantee my B level funding for another year. So after catching the virus I tried my hardest to rest before the event, knowing I was too ill to go training, in an attempt to shake off the bug. But after racing on Day One it was clear that if I continued to compete it would worsen my symptoms and potentially damage my chance of recovery before the World Championships which was only three weeks away. I attempted to race on Day Two, but it only clarified the fact that I needed to go home and recover.

When I train and race throughout the year and I continually attempt to improve my fitness level, it is very hard to avoid illness. Athletes are more susceptible to catch a cold or virus or get food poisoning because they push their body to its limits. Surprisingly they are more fragile than most. With so much flying and traveling to various venues around the world airplanes are the worst places to catch infections. To attempt to avoid this I make sure I get good rest and recovery. I also take diet supplements like vitamins to help my body fight infections. This was the first time this year that illness has got in the way of training or competition, but it’s a good job for me that I am recovered now and on track for the Worlds.

Training out in Portugal has been really beneficial. I have had some great training partners; Richard Hamilton and Elliot Carney, Britain’s top two youth boys and our next generation to fill Nick Dempsey’s shoes. It is particularly helpful because they compete on the same size sail as me, and they have so much energy that it motivates me for training on the water and in the gym. I learn a lot from them especially in planing conditions. It is important that I become an expert at sailing in Cascais so that I can be fast in all conditions before the racing starts, so this extra time out here has been a blessing in disguise. After my other visits to train in Cascais in February and May, I am certain that this venue can produce a variety of challenging conditions, and I am looking forward for my chance to set myself above the rest.

Wish me luck!

Bryony

The RS:X Worlds is part of the ISAF Worlds and begins on 12 th July in Portugal. Look for the daily updates on the Boardseeker home page.