Sarah Gosling, a two-time Olympic gold medalist sailor, has left an indelible mark on the world of sailing. But her accomplishments extend far beyond the competitive arena. As the previous Chair of the International Optimist Class Association (IOCA), Gosling has dedicated herself to nurturing the next generation of sailing talent.
In this exclusive interview, we delve into Sarah’s journey from young optimist sailor to Olympic champion and her role as a champion for youth development within sailing. Discover how the IOCA plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the sport.
Could you describe your sailing background?
I used to be an optimist sailor. I started when I was six and went to the Europeans twice. My mother was the chair of the IOCA when I was in optimist. So, it feels like it was history for me to come back and do the same role again. My sailing career finished with two Olympic gold medals in Athens and in Beijing in the Yngling class.
Sarah Gosling (middle) pictured with Team GB teammates Pippa Wilson and Sarah Ayton.
What is your role as IOCA chair?
As IOCA chair, we have three directors who are responsible for the company. So, myself, the vice chair and the secretary. We are responsible for everything that happens within IOCA and the sailing for the children. And my role was really to manage it from an overall view.
We have amazing volunteers within teams and sailing, in all sorts of different areas. I was chairing a committee to make sure that we were doing the best for the children, to help make as many of them get out on the water as easily and as safely as possible.
Could you describe your experience in the IOCA as a young sailor?
So as an optimist sailor, when I was little, it was incredible. We had a cohort of sailors, all of whom have gone on to win Olympic medals. And we were we were a gang. We learned to sail together. We traveled around this country, we traveled around Europe, and later in life we traveled around the world sailing. It all started in optimist.
Can you describe the role the IOCA plays in the development of youth sailing?
For me, optimist is the pinnacle of junior sailing. It’s the place where the children have the most fun. They race really, really hard both nationally and internationally, and they gain experience that you can’t get in any other class. They make friends for life, and they love sailing, for life, through the optimist.
What is one of your fondest memories of your time in the IOCA?
I think one of my fondest memories I’ll take away from being the chair of the Optimist Association was the Nationals in Pwllheli. It was so windy, with such massive waves. It was really epic, and I was lucky enough to be on the safety boat, so I was close to the action. I was seeing the sailors really struggle in the conditions, but all of them with a smile on their face, all of them going down the waves like it was Christmas. I will take that away from me forever. It was a lot of work for all the volunteers to make sure it was safe, and it was safe, and it was great fun.
And then the icing on the cake would be for my son to actually win. So really great!
Are there any other IOCA memories that stand out to you?
I went to the Europeans twice as an optimist. One was in Denmark, and one was in Germany. And ironically, the other day I had to take my son’s boat up to the winner factory in Denmark. And I did a pilgrimage to my two European venues. It was a long time ago, but the people I went with are still friends now, I look back on it fondly, and I’m grateful for the opportunity of sailing and racing around the world with friends.
Could you explain the importance of the IOCA volunteer network?
We couldn’t run this event without volunteers. The committee are all volunteers. But when we get to a venue, we need a countless number of people, whether it’s on the water, in safety crews, whether it’s measurement, whether it’s launching tallies, helping the children do all sorts of different jobs. The volunteers are key for us. And I thank every single one of them for giving their time to making sure that all our optimist events are safe and fun for all the children.