Firstly, I’d like to start by saying a huge thank you to my family, friends, sponsors, and supporters for making the first season of Oceana Vivo a success. This incredible journey wouldn't have been possible without your support, and it turned out better than I ever could have imagined.
Looking back, it's amazing to see how much we have created and achieved in just a year. Only a year and a half ago, the idea of creating a high-performance sailing team with a broader mission was just that - an idea. It’s safe to say that I've learned a lot personally and that Oceana Vivo has grown beyond what I had initially envisioned.
The journey began with the goal of creating a team of like-minded individuals who could align with our mission of being a high-performance sailing team with a positive impact on both the environment and inclusivity in sailing. Last February I brought Cas Van Dongen into the team as our head coach. Bringing an experienced coach on board was a crucial first step, but I hadn’t yet found the right sailors. This was a challenge, but throughout the season the team evolved. By the end, our core group consisted of Hebe Hemming, Sophie Otter, Cas Van Dongen, Scipio Houtman, and me, Zac Blomeley. I must mention that we had some other awesome sailors join us throughout the season, including Ross Banham, Filippo Binetti, Quentin Bes-Green, Bella Fellows and Robin Becker. With our core group settled in, we slowly found our rhythm at training and events.
The season was filled with countless high points but winning the YFGC Torbole event stood out to all of us as the best moment. Winning really was a surprise for us, especially considering the high standard of competition at the event with Youth America’s Cup teams taking part. With Scipio onboard for the first time, Hebe and Sophie still relatively new to the boat, and me back on the helm, we showcased our capabilities through our consistency. Over such a successful event we made sure that we took the time to celebrate those big moments, embrace our victories, and feel proud, even though the season was far from over.
Cas, Hebe, Sophie, and I naturally formed a strong unit driven by our goal to excel in the YFGC Grand Final. Over time, we experimented with a different team configuration: me trimming and Cas helming. Despite facing challenging conditions, the team came together and put in some impressive performances with some near perfect manoeuvres. The grand final was unique with the fleet only getting two days of racing due to a large storm in Barcelona. It was frustrating but we all understand that it’s just the nature of sailing - Mother Nature governs our actions and we must respect that.
Despite being busy with our campaign, we all made sure to make the most of time away from the team and the 69F. Between events I took the opportunity to slip back into a teaching role, both at home and abroad. At home in North Wales, I collaborated with the RYA Cymru Wales charity All Afloat to run sessions for local school groups, teaching them how to sail. This experience reminded me of the joy and personal reward that comes from helping others discover the magic of sailing. Regardless of racing, sailing is a unique way to build character, express feelings, process thoughts, and connect with nature.
I also spent time back in Italy doing some coaching. I want to express my gratitude to Dede De Luca for providing me with the incredible opportunity to coach and umpire at the first 69F European Dream Cup in Lake Garda. Those three weeks turned out to be a fantastic event, not only allowing me to share my knowledge but also helping me solidify my own learning from the season so far. Moreover, it gave me the chance to connect with an inspiring group of young sailors.
As we foil into the 2024 season, I'm filled with anticipation. The team is more than ready to bring a new level of energy and competition to the 69F. The experiences of the previous season have strengthened our team, honed our skills, and fuelled our determination to win.
Everything happens for a reason. - Cas Van Dongen, 2023
See you on the starting line.
Zac
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