Top-three sailing accomplishments
1st girls 420 at the 2023 NZ youth championships and 2nd overall.
1st girl NZ Optimist national championships twice.
1st girls team at 2023 NZ 29er national championships and 7th overall.
How did you get into sailing?
I went sailing with Alex Maloney and Molly Meech in the 49erFX when I was 3. They were helping to develop the new rig for the class with my dad and asked if I wanted to go for a sail. Luckily Mum didn’t know until I got home!
What is your favourite food after a long day on the water?
Nachos.
Where is your favourite place to sail?
Anywhere in the Hauraki Gulf.
What is your favourite thing to do when not sailing?
Holiday with my family.
Who are your role models?
Mum, Dad, Alex, Molly, Jo Aleh and Liv Mackay.
What is the best thing about sailing in your youth class?
Always learning, and then racing to see how much I am improving.
What was the proudest moment of your sailing to date?
Winning top girls at 29er nationals after only being in the boat for a month and winning races against the top boys in that regatta.
What do you hope to achieve in sailing in the next 12 months?
Represent my country to get the best result I can.
How will you prepare for the 2023 youth sailing world championships?
Lots of sailing, plus off-the-water training. We have a busy few weeks planned with a range of coaches and lots of training with the 420 boys team.
What are your sailing career goals?
I want to keep sailing to the highest international levels. Representing New Zealand at the Olympics is something I aspire to, and I also want to follow other NZL women sailors into some of the other exciting foiling sailing.
Tessa Clinton and Nicola Hume at the 2023 NZ 29er national championships. Photo / Eduan Roos