For Amber Ly, the appeal of sailing is the freedom she feels when she is on the water. The 16-year-old Sea Cadet from Prince Rupert says it is a place with no restrictions or limitations, and the only challenge is managing her boat and going as fast as she can.
“It’s just the thrill you get from it, going on the starting line and then soon as the starting signal goes off, you’re just in a rush to pull in your sheets and accelerate,” she said. “Then you just get a rush of adrenaline, and it’s amazing because there is so much freedom to use your boat.”
Ly, who is a member of the Prince Rupert Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, competed in the Provincial Qualifying Regatta from Oct. 6 - 9 in Victoria, B.C. It is only the third sailing competition Ly has competed in, but her passion for the sport and participation in the cadets has helped her progress quickly, and is providing her with opportunities to sail at higher and higher levels.
Ly joined the Prince Rupert Sea Cadets in 2013. One of her friend’s brothers was already a member, and the local chapter were recruiting people for the new season.
“Me and a bunch of friends were like, ‘Hey, let’s check this out,’” she said. “It seemed pretty cool, and it gave us something new to learn about.”
Attending her first camp in Comox, Ly said she was a little intimidated at first by the new environment and atmosphere. She was not used to wearing the uniforms, or listening to her superior officers.
“It was a lot of new faces, and you’re put in a place where you don’t know anyone,” she said. “It’s a completely different environment, but at the same time it’s like a small family.”
Eventually, however, Ly became more comfortable, and took her first, three week sailing course. There she learned basics of how to move and steer in a boat, the equipment used and how to work as a team with her crew. She even took part in a small regatta which was her first exposure to sailboat racing. Ly said she enjoyed the camaraderie of working on a boat and learning from her instructors.
“Throughout sailing, you have so many coaches who help you and inspire you to be a better sailor,” she said. “And then in the other courses you just make friends and you keep talking.”
Over the next few years, Ly continued as a sea cadet, attending different summer camps and trying different courses. While she enjoyed learning new things, it was the community of cadets that meant the most to her.
“I’ve been able to meet people from Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C.,” she said. “And it’s amazing because you can have friends from all over the country, and you can still see them every summer and get to do what we love.”
This past summer, Ly took a six week intermediate sail course, where she was introduced to more advanced concepts such as spinnaker and trapezing. She also got to do a lot more racing, and spent more time on the water. At the end of the course, Ly participated in another, more competitive regatta called the Comox Cup. She said it was a challenging set of races with changing wind conditions. Even though it was only her second competitiong, Ly came in first place, and her love for the sport was cemented.
“I thought, ‘Hey, this isn’t too bad,’” she said. “It was a good introduction to regattas and racing, and it showed me what I need to work on.”
Ly was one of a few cadets selected to compete in the Provincial Qualifying Regatta based on her skills and potential. The top four sailors at the provincial competition will be selected to go to the national qualifiers. While she is hopeful she can continue to progress, Ly said she is happy to have found a passion she loves and that she can compete with. She says that she has developed a love for the ocean having lived in Prince Rupert, and wants to continue enjoying that thrill.
“I’d definitely like to keep sailing for the rest of my life,” she said. “You’re always having fun, you’re out on the water and there’s always something new to learn.”
matthew.allen@thenorthernview.com
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