Nicole Stovell ‘Excited’ For Island Games
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Nicole Stovell admits she will be entering “uncharted waters” when she represents Bermuda in sailing at the NatWest International Island Games in Guernsey, the Channel Islands.
Stovell will make her debut at the biennial multi-sport event, competing in the Women’s Laser Radial class.
She heads to the Games full of confidence, having helped the Royal Hospital School Sailing Academy Blue team win the Firefly team competition at the British Schools Dinghy Association National Finals at the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club in Wroxham last week.
The 18-year-old also captained the Suffolk school to the Silver League title at the Under-19 Women’s Team Racing National Championships at Rutland Sailing Club in Oakham, East Midlands, in January.
“I’m not sure what I should expect in Guernsey,” Stovell told Bernews. “I expect to do well and place in at least the top ten or five based on my experiences in the last few years. Hopefully, it pays off. I don’t expect this to come easy. It will take hard work and focus.
“Representing Bermuda at a multi-sport event isn’t something I’ve done before, so it’s a bit of uncharted territory.
“Of course, I’m excited because I love sailing. It seems like I’ll love this competition.”
Stovell, who started sailing aged seven at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, will join Ahzai Smith in Bermuda’s sailing team in Guernsey.
The pair competed together at the Optimist North American Championships in 2017 and the Optimist South American Championships in 2018.
Stovell, a former Mount Saint Agnes Academy student, said she intends to focus on her education in the coming years.
“I’ve relaxed recently regarding sailing and focused on school and will be for the next few years,” she added.
“I’ve just finished my A-level examinations and awaiting results for psychology, biology, and chemistry.”
Sailing team
Ahzai Smith, Nicole Stovell.
