Behind every young athlete is a family supporting their dream

I didn't grow up sailing. I played netball, softball and cross country. I loved sport, but I never imagined what it would take to pursue a world stage dream. Then one day my son told me he wanted to become a world class athlete and everything changed.

At his first regatta, my son had been sailing an optimist, a small bath tub like boat for a few months. He did quite well given he had not come through the stages of sailing in a club.

At the end of the regatta he announced to his Father and I that if 'he was going to be the best he had to train with the best. '

That started our journey down the highway every Saturday and sometimes Sunday. Week by week he improved. We became tired from the driving and he became excited for what he could see as possible for his sailing.

Fast forward a year. Conversations continued with a need/ desire for more time on the water and a need to change boat sizes to an ILCA (LASER) so we made the difficult decision to relocate.

In the first year of us moving he had almost weekly access to a world class coach. His technical skill created a solid foundation for our sons sailing.

His passion and love for sailing grew as his skills grew.

All the while I was so excited he found something he loved and I was fearful of hearing my teen say "I want to be a world class sailor"

What if we uproot our lives and it does not work?

Am I encouraging him enough or am I putting too much pressure on him?

How do you support a dream that has no guarantee. How does a child have no plan B?

How do you balance letting your child dream while still protecting them?

How do I support from the side without pushing from behind?

I still don't know where this journey will lead. None of us do.

What I have realised is that supporting a dream isn't about knowing the outcome. Its about the courage and faith as a family, to believe in it long before anyone else can see what's possible... Keep believing Cx