Arwen Fflur's French Adventure
Being part of a Match sailing racing team currently ranked eighth in the women’s world rankings isn’t bad for a 15-year-old. Arwen takes it all in her stride but admits with a smile that “it’s pretty cool”.
The Year 10 pupil has been racing since she was just six years old after she fell in love with sailing after joining a regatta in Bala during her birthday party.
She sails for Pwllheli, Port Dinorwic, and West Kirby Sailing Clubs and currently trains with Alan Williams and members of the British Sailing Squad. Arwen is the current ILCA 4 British National Female Champion and is also the current Welsh ILCA Champion. Her ambition is to join the British Sailing Youth Squad and ultimately make the main squad.
A few weeks ago, she was invited to join Team Athena an all-girls British Match Racing team in Cherbourg France. Everyone else in the team is aged 20 or 21 but the age difference doesn’t faze Arwen.
“I was really quite tough as it was very, very windy but I absolutely loved the experience,” said Arwen, who lives near Caernarfon.
She continued: “We were against other teams from Sweden, France and Finland and so on and we came eighth.
“I’m used to racing in Laser Class dinghy’s and the Match Racing boats are much bigger with more people.
“I enjoyed it because of the teamwork we had to do, all working together and working out our tactics.”
She added: “It was also really nice to not get so wet and cold as you do on the Laser’s, although I love it no matter what as there’s nothing quite like sailing along at speed in a race.”
“Ultimately I’d like to become a professional sailor and experiences like this will help me achieve my dream,” said Arwen.
She added: “St David’s has been really supportive by giving me time off to do the races and so on.
“Also doing Strength and Conditioning helped me gain a bit more strength.”
