Sailing Through Crisis

Young sailing gun Will Sargent has been able to continue training during the lockdown, but it has been quite a bumpy ride. With the 2028 Olympics in his sights, as well as sailing professionally in bigger ocean races like the Volvo Ocean Race and Sydney to Hobart, he’s had to adapt a lot of his routines. The former Australian Youth Match Racing Champion and Friends School student tells how things have been going.

Training in isolation has been a bit of an up and down experience for me. I was lucky enough to get my last event for the season (the SB20 National Championships) finished a week before the COVID-19 restrictions started to come into place. Winning this championship did give me a sense of assurance and confidence going into these difficult times.

Unfortunately, I was in Queensland preparing for an Australian Laser Squad camp at the time that the border restriction and self-isolation rules were introduced. This meant the camp was cancelled, so I flew home and had to spend the next 14 days in self-isolation at home!  However, after that unfortunate experience, I have found this time to be really beneficial for me. With work currently on hold, and doing part time university study online, it has given me the capacity to knuckle down and really push my strength and fitness levels.

My backyard has been turned into a gym so that I can complete my set programs with as little interruption as possible.

Whilst sailing has not been an option until recently, I have taken the opportunity to do some great cross training, both on the road bike and paddling my surf ski.

My training during the first two months of this isolation period was about developing a really strong base fitness level. I am now moving into a hypertrophy phase, including three strength sessions a week, a one three hour base endurance session, and three or four intensive endurance sessions a week.

Motivation has been really tough to find at certain points during this period as I am not with my Laser training squad in Queensland or in the TIS gym. Being away from a squad environment has been difficult as I do not have athletes around me at my level to help push the intensity of my training. On top of this, not having any events to aim for has been really challenging.  The future is currently really uncertain as to when we can start competing again. Taking it one day at a time has been really crucial for me to not over think things that I clearly cannot control.

Whilst it is a tough time for everyone, not just athletes, I have enjoyed having the extra time to train hard and make the most I can out of these difficult circumstances. With the easing of restrictions coming into effect I can now get on the water and, within the next couple of months, potentially start training with the Laser squad in Queensland again – I can’t wait!

Athlete copy and image courtesy TIS.