Communication key as Billany makes Sailing World Championships debut with Wright

Adam Billany insists communication was key when testing himself among the world’s best at the Allianz Sailing World Championships, writes Sportsbeat's Oli Dickson-Jefford.

Newton Aycliffe’s Billany, 23, was competing alongside new partner Emily Wright in the RS venture connect classification in The Hague, the first time para events have been incorporated into the Championships.

Billany and Wright had limited time together in the boat before action got underway on the Dutch coast, and he was pleased to see their partnership develop despite just missing out on a top ten finish.

He said: “It was an amazing experience to be up against all the other countries. The standard was really high, so I felt with us being a new pairing, we developed quite a lot throughout the week.

“We were sailing really well by the end of it. We were slightly disappointed to drop out of the top ten on the last day and finish 11th, but we only had three practice sessions before we went and we are a new pairing - so it was always going to be hard.

“With Emily being visually impaired, having that extra step of communication, it works both ways. She had to describe what she needed from me and I needed to work out how to tell her the information she needed, so she could have an input during the racing. That was good that we developed that by the end.

“It was disappointing that we dropped out, but the standard was really high. Every race there was only three or four boat lengths between second and seventh, so it really was down to the shifts.”

With the partnership still young, Billany admits that there are plenty of creases that still need to be ironed out as they look to progress.

But that is a challenge the 23-year-old is ready to take on, in what he believes is an incredibly exciting time for para sailing.

“Initially before this event we were exploring the possibility of Emily being helm and me crew,” added Billany.

“Because of the lack of practice we swapped it around. We might go back to that original plan and see if that works out.

“The para scene looks like it’s really starting to develop again. There were lots of entries from lots of different countries.

“Everyone was really tight in the venue and looking to set up training camps, that was really nice to see.”

Follow the British Sailing Team after the Sailing World Championships in The Hague, Netherlands, on Instagram at @britishsailing