Recently, Sienna and Ellis travelled to the Royal Brighton Yacht Club to compete in the Sail Melbourne Regatta, racing in the mixed 470 Olympic dinghy class. This event has always attracted a high standard of competition, and this year was no exception, with talented sailors from across the country gathering for a challenging week on the water.

Across the regatta, we were met with a wide spectrum of conditions, ranging from wild storm cells to consistently strong breezes that pushed both our physical and technical skills. These weather systems rolled through unpredictably, creating demanding racecourses and forcing teams to adapt quickly to rapid shifts in pressure and direction. Each day brought new lessons and reinforced the importance of communication, teamwork, and resilience.

We are incredibly proud to say that our efforts resulted in a 2nd-place finish overall. It highlighted the significant growth we’ve made this year, both individually and as a team. Our handling, tactical decisions, and consistency throughout the regatta reflected the countless hours we have spent training and refining our performance.

None of this progress would have been possible without the guidance of our coaches, whose support has pushed us to expand our capabilities and approach racing with greater confidence. We are also extremely grateful for the backing of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, whose encouragement and resources have played a vital role in helping us develop into stronger competitors.

Looking back on the week, we feel encouraged by how far we’ve come and energised by what lies ahead. Sail Melbourne was a reminder that our hard work is paying off, and it has left us eager to continue building momentum. We are excited for the upcoming season and optimistic about the opportunities and successes still to come. This regatta was just one step in our journey, and we can’t wait to see where the next one leads.

From,
Sienna Brown