A new pairing for 2024, Justen Bersin-Taylor and Emily Wright join forces for the RS Venture Connect World Championships 2024. Emily is part of the GBR Para Team and has represented Great Britain at multiple events including European Blind Match Racing, the under 25s Para Team in the RS Venture Connect Worlds 2022 and the Allianz Sailing World Championships 2023. Justen is a keen keelboat sailor and the Worlds will be his first para event. The new team talk to us ahead of their first championship together.
Why did you sign-up to the RS Venture Connect World Championship?
Emily: “I am keen to further my skills and sail competitively against incredible athletes from all over the world. It is also a bonus that this is a brilliant opportunity to bring Justen back into the sailing world since his injury.”
Justen: “I was injured in January 2023, before then keelboat sailing was a big part of my life. These days rehab is my full time job and part of my rehab is getting back (as much as possible) to the things I used to do. When my friend Hannah Stodel (Para World Sailing Manager) heard about my aims, she suggested this as a way to ease me back into sailing!”
What’s your sailing background?
Emily: “I was introduced to sailing by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust when I was 13 and fell in love with the sport. I then continued to sail casually until I began training with GBR Blind Sailing in 2021 and was national champion in 2022/23. In 2022 I began sailing with the British Para Sailing Team competing at the RS Venture Connect Worlds in Oman placing 15th, and last year at the Combined World Championships in the Hague placing 11th. I also love yachting and am beginning my journey into the world of offshore sailing.”
Justen: “I’ve been sailing regularly since I came to the UK in 2010. I established myself as an experienced bowman around the Solent, offshore and in the Caribbean. I’ve raced one design classes from Sigma 38s to J111s, competed in foru Fastnets and raced IRC boats in the UK, France, Antigua and Grenada. I’ve developed my skills through the RYA schemes from landlubber to a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore.”
How did you meet your teammate? What’s your favourite thing about sailing together?
Emily: “Justen and I only met for the first time in May this year after being put in contact by Hannah Stodel – my previous coach and now Para World Sailing Manager. She knew Justen from his competitive sailing days pre-accident and was keen to introduce him to the world of para sailing. I have really enjoyed the time Justen and I have sailed together so far as we can play to each others strengths and draw on each others experiences. I am also so pleased to have brought someone new into the para sailing community and helped Justen get back to what he loves – sailing.”
Justen: “As Emily said, Hannah has taken a decisive role in easing me back into sailing (to the other teams, it’s her fault!). No pressure and all that. While one can say ‘sailing is sailing’ there are significant differences between a fully crewed 40ft yacht and a two-person keelboat. One of the strengths I learned from big boats is effective communication, that’s where Emily and I really connect, I lean on her experience with the boat but we keep an open dialogue of what the situations are and what we plan to do.”
Why do you choose to sail the RS Venture Connect?
Emily: “Being visually impaired, having a sailing partner who can see where we are going tends to help (although you may be surprised to hear that I also sail with GBR Blind sailing in the Match Racing which is made up of an entirely visually impaired crew who use sound buoys to navigate). The RS Venture Connect levels the playing field so that everyone can sail against each other no matter their access needs and I think this is a lovely way for making our sport accessible and inclusive. I am also a huge fan of the technical aspect of the RS Venture Connect – specifically using spinnakers.”
Justen: “The RS Venture Connect is the first adaptive boat I have sailed. I’m impressed by its versatility and reliability.”
What are you most looking forward to at the World Championships?
Emily: “I am mainly looking forward to getting stuck into some highly competitive sailing against fellow sailors from all over the world. This will be special being a home championships – I am so pleased to see such a big GBR turnout this year! It is always exciting to see our sport grow and introduce new faces onto the world stage. This is going to be a brilliant showcase of the World Sailing Para Inclusive Strategy.”
Justen: “I’m looking to connect with the para sailing community and have some fun while about it. It’s remarkable to see how sailing is so inclusive and that a wide range of people with a huge range of differing abilities are able to come compete on a level playing field. With that being said I may have a slight competitive streak which can come out on the race course!”
Thanks to Emily and Justen for the interview. Click here to find out more about the RS Venture Connect World Championship 2024.