Grace Poole has become a familiar name in Canadian sailing circles, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down. Earlier this month, Poole claimed her third consecutive national championship title at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in Halifax. Racing from Oct. 10 to 12, the 21-year-old topped the Core (U21 to U29) category of the Waszp Canadian Nationals, finishing with 406 points for a score of 67. She placed sixth overall in the 12-boat field, which featured competitors from across the country. “It was a tricky regatta in Halifax,” Poole said. “We had offshore winds for the whole event, so it was a whole game of trying to sail into the puffs. Strategy was really important.” Poole said training out of Oak Bay has been a major advantage when it comes to preparing for events across the country. “Victoria is a really great place to be foiling,” said the 2021 Glenlyon Norfolk School graduate. “We get similar conditions here and also lots of flat water, so my training here is key to how I did in Halifax.” Waszps, high-speed hydrofoiling sailboats that can reach up to 40 km/h, have exploded in popularity in recent years, largely thanks to their inclusion as a stepping stone into professional sailing through SailGP. The strict one-design format means sailors can jump into any event around the world with identical equipment. That proved especially helpful for Poole, who borrowed a boat from a Halifax sailor rather than shipping her own across the country. “It’s a really close-knit community,” she said. “I just reached out to someone I knew there and was able to find a boat through connections. I was really grateful to be lent one because charter boats can be quite expensive.” Poole, who trains out of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, said the Waszp community on the Island is starting to grow, helped in part by her twin brother, Kelley, who now coaches a local group. “In the beginning, I didn’t really have anyone to sail against,” she said. “Now there’s a little group in Victoria, and it’s fantastic to have that.” With another national title secured, Poole now shifts her focus to her first world championship in Pensacola, Florida this March. “It’s ambitious, but I’m trying to make the podium in the women’s fleet,” she said. “It’ll be my first worlds, and there are some equipment changes to figure out, but I have big goals.” Between training, working in a local marine canvas shop, and mentoring young sailors, Poole’s schedule is packed, but her motivation hasn’t wavered. “I just really want to keep improving my own sailing,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
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