Kai sailing to success
Posted on: March 16th 2022School News
Yr 13 pupil Kai Wolgram is continuing to follow his nautical aspirations, despite the difficulties of training during the past two years.
Recently, when sailing events were able to resume, he has had successes in the UKLA ILCA 6 National Championships at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy achieving 1st Welsh sailor in the U17 category and placing 6th place overall, and achieving 3rd place overall as the first 17 year old in the ILCA Inlands at Rutland Sailing Club.
Kai has had a truly remarkable start in the sport of sailing, as he became the youngest ever sailor to be selected for the British Youth Laser Radial Team.
Kai then moved up a class from the Junior Class (Under-16s) to the Youth Class (Under-19), and despite being aged just 15-years-old and competing against much older sailors, competed at the RYA Youth Nationals in the Laser Radial Class in 2019. His performance earned him fifth spot in the rankings, and a spot on the British Youth Laser Radial Team. He then represented Britain at the Laser Radial European Championships in Greece and also the Laser Radial World Championships in Canada.
Kai commented: “One of my most memorable moments as a sailor was when I was given the privilege last summer to compete as part of the GB National Team at the U21 ILCA7 World Championships in Gdynia, Poland. I was the youngest member of the team and among the youngest competitors, finishing 2nd in my age group and 41st overall. To achieve this result I had to significantly adapt my training regimen around the rules of the covid-19 pandemic”.
He added: “For me personally, this involved travelling abroad during periods of online schooling, allowing me to work during the days and sail in the evenings. A great deal of physical preparation and training was required for me to keep up technically with my older peers who compete full-time at the sport. Over the coming years I have aspirations of reaching the podium at the 2024 U21 ILCA7 worlds as I transition into a professional sailing career and join my peers as full-time athletes.”
Best of luck to Kai for all his upcoming competitions and the start of a fantastic sailing career!
