NÀUTIC RCNPP 2019
VELA LIGERA 25
El regatista del RCNPP, Javier Seguí, se divierte e intenta mantener una actitud positiva en medio de una competición. Foto: Bernardí Bibiloni.
Champion of the Laser 4.7 Trofeu Illes Balears (Balearic Islands´ Trophey)
Javier Seguí, young promise of the RCNPP
For the athlete, effort and a good attitude are key to winning competition At only 15 years old, Javier Seguí Mears is a model of willpower, effort and optimism. He races in all the regattas he can take part in and doesn’t ever give up, even when facing setbacks. One of his greatest achievements is his first position in the Laser 4.7 sub16 class of the Trofeu Illes Balears, which was held in the bay of Pollença on September 7th, 8th and 9th 2018, and in which 83 boats participated. “I was very excited because I had only just started training in this category. This year I plan to win them all, “says Javier, who because of this victory has qualified for the Laser Spain 4.7 sub16 Copa de Cádiz (Cadiz Cup) and Copa de España (Spain Cup) and the Laser 4.7 sub16 Campeonato de España (Spain Championship), held in Santiago de la Riera in Murcia.The young man clearly recalls the Trofeu Illes Balears, “There was little wind for the first two days, but on the last one we caught a southeasterly wind of 20knots. Thanks to those gusts and hard work, I won. “ Although Seguí emerged the undisputed winner of this regatta, he had to fight his way during every single race. “It was a tough competition. I started it well and that helped
motivate me and put me in a good position”. Despite this, he had to push himself to overcome his toughest opponent, David Ponsetí from Ciutadella. Before a race Seguí tries to cheer up and affirms that the verb “surrender” has no place in his vocabulary. “I think about winning and how I am better than my rivals,” he says laughing. But for Javier, It is important to think positively and “If you get desmotivated while out on the sea, you should try to keep your spirits up always. You must never give up. “ Aside from winning, what the young athlete liked the most was competing against very skilled racers and sailing with all the people who came to the Pollença Bay, although before the competition he did get nervous. One of the elements that should be taken into account when practicing sailing is body mass, because the more weigh, more control you have of the boat. At first, Javier weighed and he could manage sailing with little wind. Now he’s trying to gain weight, and to do so he maintains a balanced diet, goes to the gym and train between three and four days a week.
Sailing and studying Javier has to combine this routine with his Secondary School (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria) studies which for him is very difficult as most sailing trips are made during school hours. Although try to take advantage of both public and bank holidays but even so the athlete can sometimes end up missing a week of school. “I take my books but if I’m out sailing from 09:00 in the morning and get back at 18:30 I’m far too tired to study,” he admits. Although Seguí hasn´t made up his mind yet about his short-term future plans, he knowes what he wants to be when he grows up: a ship’s captain. “Now I have Power Boats Level 2 qualifications and I can sail sailboats of up to 10 meters, but when I turn 18, I want to get my Yachtmaster qualification. In order to get this title I need to have sailed about 2000 nautical miles and I hope to get these by doing regattas, crossing the Atlantic ... It is true that this it is very demanding a sport, but it is also fun and it gives you a lot in return. I can’t see my future without sailing in it. “Javier’s passion for this sport comes from his family. His mother is from Scotland and his father from the Isle of Wight where they do a lot of sailing. They introduced Javier to this world. “At first, I did not like it at all, but now I almost like it more than him”, he laughs. ◼