SAILING HANNAH

A few weekends ago, I had the privilege of being invited to Coach a Weekend of offshore sailing for the Magenta Project x RORC.

We got the full British summer special: fruity breeze, sideways rain, and a boat that demanded respect. Perfect. Because coaching isn’t about waiting for “ideal”; it’s about learning to thrive in whatever turns up on the start line – and that’s exactly what The Magenta Project crew did at RORC.

My goals going in were simple and unapologetically practical:

1. No one dies.
2. We bring the boat back usable.
3. Everyone leaves better than they arrived – more confident, more curious, more connected.
   We hit all three.

What made it click wasn’t magic, it was discipline. Clear roles. Short, sharp briefings. Even shorter, sharper debriefs. We focused on communication under pressure and decision-making when the picture gets messy – because that’s the pointy end of performance. And yes, we don’t shout on my boats. That’s the first rule I lead with when starting with any new team, it’s only acceptable to shout at people if they are going to die. Volume doesn’t equal clarity. Calm, concise calls beat barked orders every time, and they create space for everyone to contribute. When people feel valued, they speak up sooner, spot risk earlier, and learn faster.

We stripped it back to fundamentals: halyard tension that matches the mode, sheets eased before you ask the boat to accelerate, travellers used with intent, and vang in the right place so the main talks rather than screams. No “hero trim”, just repeatable shapes you can hit under load and reproduce after a mistake. The payoff showed up quickly: smoother lanes, fewer unforced errors, better VMG, and the ladies curious and ready to take it all onboard.

Massive thanks to our owner’s rep Cal for keeping the boat together, jumping in with smart, digestible trim sessions, and being an all-round supportive good guy on and off the dock. He’s also sending it at the moment at the Double-Handed Offshore World Championships  – Sail fast and safe!

We built an environment where it’s genuinely safe to try things. People rotated through jobs with support and accountability, not apologies. Mistakes were data, not drama. That psychological safety is what turns a crew into a team, and it’s how you keep people in the sport.

The Magenta Project’s mission is straightforward: get more women into performance roles and keep them there. That means time on the helm, time making calls, time leading. Confidence comes from competence – and competence comes from opportunity.

I’m grateful for all the coaches and organisers who made it work. Nikki and Jimbo did a mountain of behind-the-scenes graft to keep the show on the road, and it showed on the water. Thank you. And to the sailors: you were brave enough to try, humble enough to listen, and stubborn enough to go again. That’s the stuff.

Here’s the honest bit: this isn’t a one-and-done.

If we want durable change – not just cameo appearances, we need more blocks like this. The Magenta Project and volunteering for things like this matter. We all rise by lifting each other. Support each other. Create environments where people can thrive, not just survive. Do that consistently and the results follow.

I had a great time as a coach – and yes, I love bringing my mad energy to the boat.

Boats back in one piece, nobody died, and a team that finished stronger than it started. I’ll take that every time.

Happy Sailing,

Hannah