March has been something of a rarity for me. I’ve actually spent most of it at home. In fact, it’s the first time in over a year that I’ve been in the UK for this long, and I’ve really appreciated the chance to pause, reset, and catch up with friends and family. It’s also given me the space to deal with a few lingering injury niggles, focus on recovery, and start building back into training again.
Being around has meant I could fully step back into my roles across various committees too. After a period of being away, it’s been good to be back in the room, so to speak, contributing to conversations around governance and the development of the sport I care so much about. Using my experience to help shape the future of sailing is something I take a lot of pride in.
I’ve also had some different opportunities to share stories from my most recent adventures. One highlight was speaking at a conference in Warsaw, joining 450 European leaders to explore how we “Raise the Bar” and navigate challenging headwinds. It was a fantastic platform to bring my experiences to life and connect them to leadership beyond sailing.
Back on home soil, I spent an inspiring evening with The Magenta Project at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, alongside Abby Ehler and Josie Glidden, with Victoria Low moderating. We shared insights on leadership, resilience, and the importance of mentorship, which was well received by a really engaged and positive audience.
Another interesting day took me to the Island Sailing Club in Cowes to celebrate 70 years of B&G technology. Standing alongside Dame Ellen MacArthur, Pip Hare, Simon Fisher, and Sailing Florence, we each shared how innovation has helped us push boundaries on the water. It was a special way to reflect on how far the sport has come, but even better was catching up with people I hadn’t seen for some length of time.
Perhaps the most valuable part of the month has simply been time. Catching up with friends I’ve known for over forty years and picking up exactly where we left off, was so much fun. I also celebrated a close friend’s birthday over a long lunch. We’ve worked together for nearly two decades, so it felt like marking a shared journey as much as a milestone. Family time has been just as important, including meeting Casper, my sister’s new four-legged addition, who has certainly made his presence known!
With British Summer Time returning, there’s also been a chance to reconnect with home in a different way. The garden is waking up, the days are stretching out, and I’ve managed to spend a few quiet moments getting things in order before heading back out to sea.
It’s been a month of balance, a rare one, and a reminder of how important it is to reset before the next chapter begins.