Dolphins join sailors on intense final day

By junior reporter Rebecca Hind

With less than a year of experience on the ILCA 7 boats, Shetland’s sailor James Morris has relished the opportunity to hone his skills.

A visit by dolphins early on set spirits high, but with wind conditions gusting up to 15 knots (28 km/h), “windier than what we ever try to sail in the Shetlands”, Morris had to overcome new challenges throughout the race. Despite his inexperience in this weather, by the third lap of the trapezoid course, he had started to close the distance between himself and the other sailors. The intense competition had the boats racing around the course with a tight-knit group leading the pack.

When out on the water, it is obvious the joy that the sailors get out of the sport and the dedication required to get to this level. In the true spirit of the Games, Morris says that he hopes he’s “learnt something to go home and try to work on”, adding that “it was tough, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it”. He will aim to return to future Island Games with more experience and knowledge.

Sailing’s speed is exciting, and he says, “There is no better feeling than the wind rushing through your hair”. It is not just the adrenaline and the feeling that keeps these sailors returning to the boats; it is the satisfaction of seeing their hard work pay off on the water.
Impressed at the facilities for sailing on Guernsey, he hopes that it “keeps going here for a long time” and was equally amazed by the friendliness of everyone supporting the event.

This experience has been hopefully the first of many, with Guernsey being "a brilliant place to come to". He can only hope to return home as a better sailor.