WHY CAMPAIGN?
This website is all about how to organize a great sailing campaign, whether you are trying to win a national championship or an Olympic gold medal. But before we talk about the how of campaigning, an important question is why? Why would anyone want to get involved in something that requires such hard work, costs so much money and is incredibly challenging? The reason is all the intangible benefits and the skills you learn. You have to view a campaign as a long-term learning process rather than just something you do for a momentary result. If you can maintain that perspective, you may find that, in the long run, the rewards are worth the effort.
Top 10 Reasons to organize a sailing campaign:
10. It’s better than getting a real job (though it might be more work!).
9. You can be your own boss.
8. Being on the water every day will give you a great tan.
7. You might even go to the Olympics!
6. You will learn useful life skills such as planning, strategizing and pursuing goals.
5. It will be a lot of fun to go sailing and racing almost every day.
4. You’ll meet lots of new people and make good friends.
3. It will teach you valuable business skills like asking for money, marketing yourself and budgeting.
2. You will get to travel and see the world.
1. You’ll come away with memories that last a lifetime. |
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Here’s a great recollection from a former Olympic campaigner:
“Twenty years ago my Olympic bid finished, yet it seems like yesterday. Memories of trips across America, South America, Europe and Asia are vivid and pleasing. And many of the great people we met I still call friends.
Few memories are of individual regattas (except the ones we won of course). Most are of moments like a Danish border guard telling us, “You are not taking that piece of junk into my country,” referring to the rusted-out American station wagon we had just shipped to Europe; or a teammate being dragged around Hyeres, France, in celebration of his 21st birthday; or the day the US team first arrived at the sailing venue in Korea for the 1987 Pre-Olympics. We had been told it was a light-air venue but when they opened the bus door, we all got blown back inside. Oops! There are hundreds more stories!
While making our bid back in the 80s, it was all very noble – we were doing it for our country. Indeed we were, but little did we know that those four years would shape our lives and our identities for a long, long time. With all that said, it was also the hardest four years of my life – both physically and emotionally. But to anyone with Olympic or world-level aspirations, I say go for it. The experience will forever define who you are.”
Once you decide that a sailing campaign is something you want to do, give it everything you’ve got! That’s what this website is all about.
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