A life at sea | In conversation with Will Harris

Presented by Musto.

Meet Will, a professional offshore sailor with a good few stories to tell from time on (and off) the boat. A recent addition to Team Malizia, Will sailed in this year’s The Ocean Race and his sailing career has taken him all around the world. With that, we thought it would be worth sitting Will down on dry land (not an easy task), to ask him a few questions on his career, his future prospects, and memorable moments from past trips.

Will is not just a sailor, but an all-round waterman with a love for kitesurfing and wingfoiling. If you want to be more like Will, or at least dress like him, we can help! Be sure to check out his featured Musto picks at the base of this article and follow Will (@willharrissailing) on Instagram to see race updates, past sailing adventures, and what he gets up to on his down days.

 

Will Harris

Hi Will, thanks again for sitting down with us now you’re back on dry land for a few weeks. Can you start by sharing a highlight from your sailing career that has shaped or altered your perspective on the sport? 

The most significant moment in my sailing career has to be my transition from Olympic class dinghy racing to offshore racing. I grew up sailing on lakes and in smaller classes of dinghies where I found a passion for the competitive racing side of the sport. But it was when I was much older that I had my first opportunity in offshore racing, in bigger boats and for days at a time. Immediately I fell in love with the combination of adventure and endurance racing and it completely changed my perspective of what is possible to achieve with this sport.

 

“The IMOCA 60 foiling class is the most exciting offshore racing fleet and being part of the development of these racing machines is really cool.”

 

What exciting projects have you got cooking? Any upcoming challenges on your radar in the sailing world? 

Sailing as part of Team Malizia has to be my highlight at the moment. The IMOCA 60 foiling class is the most exciting offshore racing fleet and being part of the development of these racing machines is really cool. We are always looking for ways to optimise the boat as much as possible and spend a lot of time training and testing. I just got back from the Transat Jacques Vabre race, sailing double-handed across the Atlantic - Our focus is now on the round the world Vendee Globe next year.

 

How do you prepare physically and mentally for major sailing events like the Vendee Globe? And what advice would you give aspiring young sailors looking to compete at this level?

Mentally, this sport is really tricky. You have to be ready to spend up to weeks at a time at sea in very uncomfortable conditions and without much sleep. The main thing I try to do before a race is reduce stress levels as much as possible, usually by going away and doing some hikes without a phone to not get distracted. Going into a race feeling relaxed can really help since you can be sure times are going to get harder after the start of a race.

 

“Having sailed in some pretty cool places, my favourite place to race is actually the English channel! And in particular around the South Coast of the UK.”

 

Having sailed all around the world, do you have a favourite destination or one you’d like to return to? If so, what makes it so special?

Having sailed in some pretty cool places, my favourite place to race is actually the English channel! And in particular around the South Coast of the UK. I spent a lot of time racing around here when I first started out in offshore racing and found it really fun. The strong tides and coastal features make it a very tactful place to sail in any wind strength. But also, it's a really beautiful way to see the UK coastline.

 

How do you find your ‘sailing vs home life’ balance with so much travel and time on the water? And what do you do to take your mind off competitive sailing? 

Yes it's true, it can be really tricky to find the right balance sometimes. It's hard when I spend so much of the year away from home and usually living out of a bag on a boat! Also fitting in a good fitness routine. The main thing is to be disciplined and stick to routines so that even when you're away from home, you can keep on top of everything. I really enjoy a bit of kitesurfing and wingfoiling whenever I get the opportunity to, which keeps things exciting and varied.

 

“The most memorable moment has to be from Leg 3 in the Southern Ocean where we damaged the mast and I had to climb to the top for several hours in order to make a repair.”

 

Lastly, what is one particularly memorable or challenging moment that has left a lasting impression on you, either in terms of personal growth or the way you approach the sport?

I made a lot of new memories this year when competing in The Ocean Race sailing around the world with Team Malizia. The most memorable moment has to be from Leg 3 in the Southern Ocean where we damaged the mast and I had to climb to the top for several hours in order to make a repair. We managed to carry on the race and catch up with our competitors to win the Leg! - After 35 days at sea. Achieving this really showed me that in ocean racing you should never give up right until the end.

 

Product in focus: Musto BR2 Offshore 2.0 Jacket

Featuring Musto’s new hardcore ‘BR2 Performance’ fabric, which not only offers 30k/15k waterproof protection, it also features their brand new durable DWR, ‘LDWR’ – a long lasting DWR developed using PFC-free chemistry, with a much higher wet abrasion resistance so the fabric stays drier for longer. 

With design nods to the iconic HPX such as the new spume guard, and an innovative collar and hood construction, the BR2 Offshore Jacket 2.0 is more waterproof and breathable and provides exceptional offshore protection without adding weight and bulk or compromising on comfort.

Shop the BR2 Offshore 2.0 Jacket - HERE.

Shop the Musto Winter range - HERE.

 

Photographer: Antoine Auriol (@antoineauriol)