Young gun takes youth sailor title

ONE of Geelong’s own has taken out the title for Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s Youth Sailor of the Year.

Will Farrell was recognised with the award for his contribution and participation in ocean racing.

The young sailor got into racing at an early age, starting in the dinghy and in the keelboats with his Pa.

“My Pa has sailed for a long time; he’s sailed since he moved to Geelong. Then he got Dad into sailing. They build Dad’s boat and then my sister got into sailing.

“Because I was always hanging around, then I started sailing.”

For Farrell, the award is an acknowledgment for all his hard work.

“Lots of people sail, but I do heaps of stuff in the bay with the dinghies, but the award’s for the ocean racing in the keelboats, so it’s a recognition of both,” he said.

The 16-year-old said he enjoys the racing and competitive side of the sport.

Farrell is also juggling his sailing commitments with schooling demands, as a Year 10 student, and when daylight savings rolls around, his time on the water will increase.

“It’s normally five days a week, so three days after school and then the weekend; most of the weekend is on the water.

“I’ve got a pretty good routine. Normally I get up just before 6am and do some homework in the morning, then sail and then try to fit a bit more school stuff in after.”

Since falling in love with the sport, Farrell has taken to the waters in competitions around the country and further abroad, including two world championships in the dinghy, one in England last year and in Poland in 2019.

In the future, he hopes to take his racing to a professional level.

“I’m not as interested in the Olympics, it’s going to Europe and doing the regattas and races there,” he said.