Sam Whaley Interview
Rising Tide: Sam Whaley's Journey Through the British Sailing Team's System
In this exclusive interview, I caught up with Sam Whaley as he was finishing up a training block in Weymouth, helping his teammate Mickey Beckett prepare for the Olympic regatta next month in Marseille, France. At just 26 years old, Whaley has already achieved remarkable success, including a personal best 11th place finish at the 2022 ILCA 7 World Championships in Vallarta, Mexico. A prominent member of the British Sailing Team, Whaley's journey from a young sailor to a world-class competitor offers a compelling narrative of perseverance and passion for the sport. Join us as we delve into the life of this dedicated ILCA 7 sailor, exploring his insights, challenges, and aspirations for the future.
Interview with Sam Whaley
John: Please provide an introduction to my readers.
Sam: Sure! I'm Sam Whaley, an ILCA 7 sailor and a member of the British Sailing Team. I've been involved in sailing for quite a few years now. I started racing in 2011, so it's still fresh in my memory what it felt like to learn and progress in the sport. I believe one of my biggest assets is my ability to learn quickly and not get stale. I still love being on the water every day.
John: When was the first time you stepped into a boat?
Sam: My dad sailed around the world when my mom was pregnant with me, so sailing has always been part of the family. I can't remember the exact first time I stepped into a boat, but I used to really despise it until I was about 14. My younger brother got quite good at it, took it more seriously than me, and started beating me. That's when the brotherly competitive spirit kicked in, and I started to take sailing seriously.
John: What boat did you sail as a youth?
Sam: My first boat was a Laser Pico, which I sailed with my brother. It was very unconventional, not your typical racing start. We sailed at Swanage Sailing Club, which is on the sea but has very sheltered, flat water sailing.
John: Did you participate in other sports growing up?
Sam: Not a huge amount, just the usual school sports. I was more into technology and programming computers from a young age.
John: How did you progress into the ILCA (Laser) class?
Sam: My brother and I had a Laser Pico and wanted to race. We moved on to the Laser 4.7 because it suited our size. We started showing up at local regattas in Dorset and eventually progressed to training programs. At 15, I got into my first squad, the Laser 4.7 squad.
John: How was the British development program organized?
Sam: We had qualifying events to get into the development squad, and the top sailors were selected for six months (a summer and winter squad). The development program organized training weekends and international events with coach support. It was well-structured, and you always had to fight for your spot every six months.
John: How did you progress through the program?
Sam: I sailed outside of official training as much as possible, which helped me improve quickly. I consistently qualified for squads and focused on long-term goals, like aiming for the Olympics. The idea of competing in the Olympics really kicked in around the time of the London 2012 Games.
Interviewer: How does the Laser ILCA Association fit into the whole picture?
Sam Whaley: We have a really active association. There are events pretty much every weekend, mostly regional ones. The key ones are the qualifying events for Worlds, with six of them a year. Anyone can enter, and it's a great way to experience different conditions and sail against top competitors.
John: How did you balance sailing with school?
Sam: I was in full-time education and sailed during evenings and weekends. After finishing school, I got an apprenticeship at Microsoft, which was a great experience. However, I realized that I could achieve more if I put the same effort into sailing.
John: How did you officially join the British Sailing Team (BST)?
Sam: I knew that achieving certain results could qualify me for the BST. I moved to Weymouth, where the national training center for the British Sailing Team is located, to take advantage of the on- and off-the-water support—a big advantage.
Weymouth has great facilities, including a really great gym. We do a lot of cycling, especially in the summer. Personally, I've historically been underweight, so I've done a lot of gym work compared to my peers. Now, I'm focusing more on cycling. I spend about three days a week on the water and the rest in the gym.
John: How did funding work for you in the early stages and as you progressed?
Sam: I had no financial support from the team. It was tough, and I had to rely on personal and family resources until I reached a suitable funding level for the British Sailing Team.
The funding levels go from F to A, with A being the highest. I was on the F level for about four years. At the F level, you get coaching support but no financial funding. Having access to training and coaching was crucial.
Once I started achieving better results, like placing in the top 30 in Europe, I began to qualify for financial support. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to move up the levels and secure financial support. Now, being at C level, I receive enough funding to cover most of my expenses, which makes a huge difference.
John: How do you and your teammates support each other?
Sam: We have a strong squad culture and get on really well. We recognize the strength of the squad and support each other. There are occasional squabbles, but we know we are nothing without each other.
John: What is the coaching situation for the squad?
Sam: We have a joint coach structure now. Chris Gowers and Matt Howard share the coaching duties. It's working quite nicely. Chris, the long-time Laser coach who coached Paul Goodison, the 2008 Laser (ILCA 7) Gold medalist, and Matt coached Giles Scott, a two-time Olympic Finn Gold medallist.
John: What are some of the highlights of your ILCA 7 career to this point?
Sam: Definitely, for sure. My best results have been finishing 11th at the Worlds and 5th at the Europeans. Those are my biggest milestones, but I've now had three World finishes in the top 15. In my personal development, I'm now looking to break from the top 15 into the top 10 and higher. But the 11th was definitely the highlight.
John: What are your future goals?
Sam: For next year, the goal is a top-five finish at the Worlds. I think I'm on the right trajectory to have another breakthrough. I aim to qualify for the 2028 Olympics and continue competing at a high level. Our team is focused on winning and supporting each other. I see a path to winning the trials for the next quad and beyond. We have a competitive team, and we train together regularly. The goal is to continue progressing and achieving top results.
John: How do you plan to achieve that breakthrough? Is it just doing what you're doing a little bit better?
Sam: It's a mix of technique and speed, particularly downwind. Last year, I worked with Mickey to improve my downwind speed. Now, I'm at a level where it's getting exciting. My upwind is my super strength, and now it's about converting that into better overall results by improving my downwind.
John: Thanks for sharing your journey and insights, Sam. Any final thoughts?
Sam: Sail as much as possible and be dedicated. Don't be afraid to be passionate about it. Many people either pretend they're not interested or genuinely aren't, and it's like, why are they still in the program? Dedicate yourself fully and be passionate about your goals.