Behind the Scenes: What It Really Takes to Get to an International Event (as an Aussie Athlete)
People see the regatta photos—sunsets, turquoise water, boats flying. But what they don’t see is the 24-hour flight, the rain, the ferry carpark sandwich, or the fact that I had to drive a manual van (jet-lagged) on the wrong side of the road. So here’s the real story of what it took to get to my first international regatta back after injury. No filters, just the chaos, the caffeine, and the good bits too.
Leaving Brisbane: The Start of the Chaos
This whole mission started with a two-week training camp in Sydney, then just three days back home in Brisbane before flying out again. Not much time to breathe, let alone pack properly.
And yep, I spent the day of my flight working—trying to earn a little extra so I’d have more money for food while I was overseas. Because elite sport and international travel? Not exactly a budget-friendly combo.
The flight itself was a full 24-hour haul to Barcelona via Doha, with the usual suspects: foil bag, sail tubes, and my gear bag somehow all making it to check-in. I was ridiculously lucky—thanks to my Silver status with Qatar Airways, I just made it through without any excess baggage fees (a rare and beautiful moment).
We stopped in Doha, and I got into the lounge for a proper meal and a chance to start decompressing after the madness of the last few weeks. I used the time to debrief my Sydney training block, which was a huge piece of prep heading into this event.
Sydney Training Camp: The Final Push
I spent two solid weeks at Australian Sailing’s National Training Centre in Sydney, doing everything I could to get confident, sharp, and settled before Europe.
The goal of the camp was broad—“boost performance, confidence and comfort”—and looking back, probably too vague. But still, it did what it needed to do:
Upwind speed was feeling good after speed testing with Anna.
I worked on pumping onto the foil and opening up shoulder range with Tom.
Got more dialed in with pre-start routines, decision making, and just simplifying my racing mindset.
We trained mostly in Balmoral and Middle Harbour, with a few days outside the heads in swell. Conditions were classic Sydney: puffy, 8–14 knots, lots of geographic influence. Drills ranged from full race simulations and slalom pre-starts to technique sessions in waves, one-tack upwinds, and downwind modding.
We went hard. I pushed the limits. Two back-to-back double session days toward the end left me wrecked, and while the gym sessions fell off a bit, I kept up with recovery, nutrition, and even found time for some life outside sailing—SUP, snorkeling, trivia nights, crochet, op shops.
Biggest reminder to self:
Don’t try so hard. Be present. Keep chipping away. That’s where progress lives.
Travelling With the Squad
I wasn’t doing the trip solo—two other sailors from my home club, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, were heading over too. Having mates around for the flight and gear juggle made the whole thing way more bearable.
Landing in Barcelona: Manual Vans and Rain
After all that, we finally landed in Barcelona, picked up a manual van, and I jumped straight into driving (on the other side of the road, jet-lagged, and running mostly on plane snacks). Barcelona traffic didn’t help.
We headed to Renting Ribs, where my European gear had been sitting since my injury—nearly a year ago. It was surreal opening it all up again. A weird mix of excitement, nostalgia, and that “I hope nothing’s mouldy” kind of energy.
Of course, it was raining. So I unpacked and repacked the van soaked and exhausted. Standard.
Next stop: Barcelona port, to catch the overnight ferry to Palma.
We left at 11pm, and I had a sandwich in the carpark for dinner—the ultimate athlete fuel.
We arrived at 7am, drove straight to the boat park, and started unpacking (again). No hotel check-in until 2pm, so we spent the morning jet-lagged and floating through tasks, trying not to fall asleep on the rigging.
Settling In: Getting the Body Right
The first few days in Palma weren’t about pushing. They were about getting the body moving again, flushing out jet lag, and avoiding that dreaded post-travel sickness.
I eased in with light gym sessions, gear checks, and some easy sailing. Then I linked up with Emily, who was coaching me for the regatta. I was sharing her with Anna and Alicia, and while splitting a coach always has its challenges, having that support was non-negotiable—especially for my first event back after injury.
Wrapping It Up
It’s hard work. It’s tiring. The travel’s long, the days are full, and sometimes you’re just hanging on by snacks and stubbornness.
But we wouldn’t be doing it if we didn’t think it was worth it.
And I definitely wouldn’t be out here doing it without the support of my sponsors—this kind of campaign just isn’t possible without that backing. From helping cover the flights to making sure there’s food on the table (or ferry carpark), it all adds up and makes a massive difference.
So while the photos might look glamorous, there’s a whole lot going on behind the scenes—and I’m grateful to be here doing it.