Chasing the Sailing Dream (and Surviving the Struggles Along the Way)

So, we did it. Ollie (my co-skipper) and I packed up our lives, left behind everything familiar, and moved to Lorient, France, to chase this sailing dream. Sounds cool, right? And don’t get me wrong—it is cool. Lorient is basically the mecca of offshore racing, home to some of the best sailors, top-tier training, and a community that lives and breathes the sport.   

But here’s the thing no one really talks about: moving countries is hard. Sure, you expect the sailing to be intense (and it is), but the day-to-day reality of starting over somewhere new? That’s a whole different challenge.   

French: The Language of Confusion  

Let’s start with the biggest struggle – the language barrier.  Neither of us arrived fluent in French, which made literally everything an adventure. Ordering a coffee? Potentially a disaster. Trying to understand a fast-paced briefing before a training session? Good luck.   

Sailing itself is already full of technical terms, so add in a language you’re still learning, and it’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube with a blind fold on. Conversations fly past us, and half the time, we just nod and hope for the best. Eventually, you pick up the key phrases, and people are (mostly) patient. But there are still plenty of moments where we just look at each other, wide-eyed, thinking, “What on earth did they just say?” 

Far from Home, Far from Easy 

I knew moving away would be tough, but I underestimated just how much I’d miss the simple things. Back home, if you have a bad day, you call a friend and meet up. Here, bad days sometimes just mean sitting in a tiny apartment. 

It’s weird not having family close by, not being able to drop in for a Sunday roast or call someone to rant about the day. Thankfully Ollie and I at least have each other.  

There are days when it hits hard—the distance, the unfamiliarity, the fact that everything takes so much effort. But then there are other days when we’re out on the water, racing alongside some of the best sailors in the world, and it all feels worth it.   

Learning to Survive (And Maybe Even Thrive?)

The biggest adjustment has been realizing that you have to build a new support system from scratch. Back home, if I needed something, I knew exactly who to call. Here, we’ve had to figure out everything—from where to buy food to how to deal with French bureaucracy (which is a sport in itself).   

At first, it felt like we were just fumbling through, making mistakes left and right. But over time, things started clicking. We found the local sailors who were willing to help, started making connections, and learned that sometimes you just have to laugh at the chaos.   

The best part? The sailing is unreal. Being surrounded by people who live and breathe offshore racing pushes us to be better every day. And even on the hardest days, when the language is frustrating and home feels far away, we remind ourselves why we came here—to learn, to grow, and to chase the dream.   

Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY. Would I recommend it to anyone else? Only if you’re ready for an adventure, some serious struggles, and the best sailing of your life.