I am sure everyone can agree that 2021 hasn’t started as well as we had hoped. I guess last year I naively believed that come this year the virus would be long gone, with life almost back to normal.

This past year has been an exceedingly difficult year to be a professional sailor. In normal times we are usually constantly outside training, as well as travelling extensively – two things which have taken a big hit over the past year. With our income, livelihoods and ultimately our survival in the sport based on these sailing events that have been cancelled or postponed, it has been a horrific year of uncertainty. Suddenly a 9-5 remote office job looks quite appealing!

Over the first lockdown in 2020 we all were stuck inside, unable to train on the water, with everyone stuck in the same boat. It was a tricky period, but one which I personally found quite invigorating as I invested myself into eSailing and saw a great sailing community pull together to keep everyone’s skills sharp over lockdown.

Unfortunately, this latest lockdown has been quite different. As a team we have been very lucky to have elite sporting exemptions, alongside all the football F1 teams. Whilst this has been great to allow us to get on the water, it honestly is not nearly as fun without being able to share our experiences and tales with all of you guys.

With tougher rules also coming into play we have also been forced to make some difficult campaign decisions. Travel has suddenly become a risky and expensive option and at the start of this year I knew I had to base myself somewhere I would be happy to stay for a few months. The UK climate is
extremely harsh in these winter times and with this in mind I packed my bags and relocated to Vilamoura, Portugal, along with BST members Ali Young, Elliot Hanson, Michael Beckett and Dan Whiteley.

I am not going to lie, life here over the past month has been brilliant. It feels very safe here in the Algarve, and the more temperate climate allows me to train, on and off the water, to much greater lengths and really push my sailing level to new levels. I feel incredibly lucky to be out here doing what I
love, although I still am reluctant to post much online about it. Just feels a bit disrespectful to me.

It now looks like we might be stuck here for the foreseeable future, as Portugal has suddenly been put on the UK red list and returning home now involves quarantining in the hotel for almost £2000.

Understandable and completely right as to why it was implemented, but it is a bit of a shame that I cannot even return home without declaring bankruptcy! Might have to start washing some cars out here to pay for the hotel quarantine costs haha.

I do miss home a lot already so fingers crossed these travel restrictions might open up as soon as safe to do so.

Keep up to date with all our latest training on my blog over at www.samwhaley.com

Cheers

Sam