MOVING ON UP
When friends Emily Mueller and Flo Brellisford did a simultaneous leap out of their Optimist dinghies at the end of the 2018 national championships in Pwllheli, it was far from the end of an era. Yes, the two had reached the upper age limit of 15 for the class. And they finished that regatta with little left to achieve in Optimists – Emily was national champion and the pair were first and second girls overall in the 154-boat senior fleet. But as they came ashore side-by-side, celebrating in the sunshine, they had already decided their next move would be into a 29er together.
It would take them from the very top of one fleet, to the bottom of another. Ahead lay a steep learning curve involving teamwork, three sails and lots of swimming.
It’s the kind of challenge that can make or break a team. But for Emily and Flo, their background of training and racing together in Optimists nationally and internationally, plus an ability to keep smiling amid the ups and downs, has stood them in good stead.
Emily says: “Transitioning with a friend has been so much fun because we can laugh about any mistakes we make, there is a good atmosphere in the boat and we don’t need to learn how to communicate with each other because we already know how.”
BOAT HANDLING
Both wanted to stay in the RYA Pathway for
