overcast & 12°c
It all started 12 years ago on a holiday to La Reserve – back when Rockley offered family camping holidays and was affectionately known as Sail France! Sat in a little yellow Mango, being towed along the shoreline by Mini, having a great time - with no idea that she would grow to love the sport of sailing!
“I’ve literally just spent an hour with my mum and brother looking at old photos from back then,” she laughs! I have so many amazing memories of our holidays in France. I made so many friends – some of whom I’m still in touch with. The best thing was the freedom - I was so young and yet all of us kids could go off down to the beach, take out a boat with an instructor, and just go for a sail. Or, we would take a kayak or paddleboard out without our parents hanging around!”
Many years of Sail France holidays cemented a love of sailing for Daisy. “It was the perfect holiday for a young family. Not only did it give Daisy the freedom to explore, it sparked friendships, created fantastic memories and ensured a lasting love of the water,” reflects her mum, Cassy. “We’ve never had a holiday like it since.”
With a mum who has worked for Rockley for 25 years, it seemed inevitable that Daisy would take up sailing. “I really wanted her to enjoy being on, and around the water whenever possible. Sailing has never really been my thing, but for Daisy, it was different - she loved it!”
JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT!
While Daisy has never really indulged in the competitive side of the sport, being out on the water with friends whenever possible has always been enough for her. “I’m naturally a competitive person, and when it comes to football - I’ll always want to win, but sailing is different. I just love going out for a sail. I don’t feel that I need to win anything or be the best. It’s just pure joy.”
From the age of eight, Daisy started doing her RYA sailing courses at Rockley during the school holidays. “I think I must have done RYA Stage 4 at least four times and Sailing with Spinnakers with Pete at last three, but it’s cool. Each time I learnt something new and always made friends.”
The Value of School Trips
Outside of Rockley, school connections also enabled her to get on the water. Longfleet Primary School would take part in the annual Dorset School Games, - a free event hosted by Rockley at Poole Park Lake, aimed at giving pupils from local schools the opportunity to get on the water. “It was great fun - we even won one year which was a great shock to us. Our teacher - Mrs Eden couldn’t have been prouder,” remembers Daisy. “And who doesn’t love a day out of school? It was pretty cool!”
A residential trip in year five further instilled a love of being on the water. “We had so much fun during that week at Rockley. Just being with my friends for three nights, sailing catamarans really fast in Poole Harbour and enjoying a Haribo-fuelled trip to Wareham Quay are memories I will never forget!”
FAST FORWARD 12 YEARS.....
From where it all started, on the beach of La Reserve - fast-forward 12 years, multiple RYA sailing courses, and on the week of her 16th birthday, Daisy is on the RYA Dinghy Instructor course with two legends of the industry – Andy ‘Straw’ Smith and Rockley Owner, Peter Gordon. “She could not have been in better hands,” jokes her Mum.
Despite the familiarity of growing up around Rockley, Daisy had the good sense to feel a level of trepidation. “It’s best not to be too complacent or cocky! Knowing them didn’t seem to make things any easier. I felt there was an expectation to pass. I mean Straw can be quite scary,” she jokes. “I remember last year while on the Pre-Entry Assessment week, he requested that we all sail with elegance. I’m not sure I’ve quite mastered that kind of sailing yet!”
Was there anything about their style of teaching that you really liked? “They were really good with their feedback. They said it how it was - not in a mean way at all, but they didn’t sugarcoat anything either. They were honest. They were also encouraging - like if you made a mistake during the session, they would explain how we could make things better. They also made sure you didn’t dwell on anything that had gone wrong. It was all really positive. And my confidence just grew throughout the week. It was actually really fun. Am I allowed to say that about a DI Course?” she checks. Absolutely!
What about presenting in front of a group at such a young age? “That was fine - I’m used to it from school. I’ve also done some football coaching , so when it came to the session planning and presenting, it helped with knowing how to explain things clearly and simply. Communication is key to everything. We are constantly told to talk on the football pitch, so I don’t really have a problem with that!”
LIFE AS A QUALIFIED DINGHY INSTRUCTOR
After successfully qualifying as an RYA Dinghy Instructor, Daisy wasted no time in getting stuck in! But as a young instructor with zero experience, how hard was it to settle in?
“So my first few days were at Poole Park, helping out with eight kids on an RYA Stage 1 course. All they wanted to do was jump in the water - which actually I get. It wasn’t that long ago I was doing the same thing! Trying to get them back in their dinghies was challenging though! There were also some who were super nervous. But I remembered feeling the same the previous week on my Dinghy Instructor course - it was no different for them.”
The rest of the season was at Rockley Point. "I felt like I was straight in at the deep end, which was a bit scary. But I always knew that Neil and Fi were always keeping an eye on me - ready to help if I needed it. To be honest, it’s the best way to learn. I think being in these uncomfortable situations just gives you more confidence in life generally.
"My mum always jokes that if I can referee a football match and manage the players, coaches and parents, then everything else should be easy. She’s not wrong!”
Confidence and the rest.....
So from the first day to your last - what was the difference? “Well, I was bricking it on the first day. By the end, I was WAY more relaxed about everything! Plus, it didn’t take long to feel like part of the team. Everyone was lovely!
And the teaching side of things? “Well without wanting to sound cringe - it’s really rewarding!”
Apart from gaining you RYA Dinghy Instructor qualification, what has sailing given Daisy?
"People skills, communication, problem solving. If someone capsizes or weather conditions change, you need to decide what to do, communicate it clearly, take action and resolve the situation on the water, calmly and quickly. And confidence - tons of it! Whatever I have learnt on the water is useful in everything else I do in life.”
YOUNG FEMALES IN SPORT
As a keen football player and qualified Dorset FA referee, sport has a massive impact on her life. While the statistics of female girls dropping out of sport when they join secondary school remains high, Daisy credits her Head Teacher at Longfleet Primary School, Mr Helm and her PE Teacher and football coach at Parkstone Grammar School, Gavin Rusling for instilling a real sense of importance and enthusiasm for sport. “Both of them love sport. PE has never felt less important than subjects like maths and english. My time at school has been made so much better because of the sport and the teachers I’ve had.”
Daisy’s mum agrees: “She hadn’t been at secondary school long when she excitedly reported that they were going to Cornwall for a football match. I knew then that PGS was the perfect school for her. Whether she is on the football pitch or out on the water sailing, you cannot underestimate the value of sport and the positive impact it has on young people.”
Lots of people tend to stick to one sport - what are Daisy’s thoughts on this? “Sailing, football, coaching, refereeing – you don’t have to stick to one thing. Everything I have learnt - it’s all interchangeable and it has given me the confidence to do something else."
Just more of it! I’m looking forward to doing more seasons at Rockley and abroad when I’m old enough! Everyone I have worked with has such a vibe. As a job, at my age - there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing in the school holidays."
1. Who would you take out for a sail? (anyone in history)
2. What are you saving up for?
I probably should say a car, but I really want to see the Ashes in Australia in 2029. I’m a massive cricket fan!
3. Your favourite memory of 2025 so far?
Going to see Coldplay this summer at Wembley....twice!! My first ever ‘gig’ was the Antarctic Monkeys at the 02 in Boscombe. This was a real step up!
4. What is the best present you have recently been given?
Lightening McQueen Crocs for my birthday from my amazing bro’. They were perfect for my first season as a Dinghy Instructor!
5. Something people may not know about you?
I’ve been drumming since primary school and have just joined a band at PGS called Treatment. We’ve just heard that we’ll be in The Battle of The Bands in December. Please follow us on insta!
6. Your perfect day if travel, money or time was not an issue?
OK, this is going to be the longest day ever! Breakfast in Australia whilst watching the Ashes. Spain to watch the El Classico - I’ll be supporting Barcelona. Then a sail around the Greek Islands eating delicious Greek food. The day ends with a gig at Wembley where I will be the guest drummer for Coldplay!
7. Which sporting event in history would you like to have been at?
The game Bournemouth won to get them promoted to the Premier League back in 2015. I’m a MASSIVE Bournemouth fan!
8. Your favourite film?
Mission Impossible – all of them! They’re pretty lit!