A Sunshine Coast local and his Brisbane-based crew member will compete in the world titles for their sailing division in Spain this week.
Eli Henebery, 35, of Mooloolaba, and Kris Bilston, 18, will race in the super-fast F18 catamaran as Team Bolt Racing.
The duo will be among 12 Australian teams competing against 134 boats from 23 different countries, racing over five days in the picturesque waters of Costa Brava, Spain.
Mr Henebery and Mr Bilston qualified for the world titles after placing third in the Australian national titles for the class.
A seasoned sailor with a passion for the sport, Mr Henebery is thrilled about the opportunity as it is his first foray into international competition.
“Competing in the F18 world titles is a dream come true,” he said.
“It’s an honour to represent the Sunshine Coast and Australia on such a prestigious platform. I’m looking forward to testing my skills against some of the best sailors in the world.”
Mr Bilston has already made a name for himself in the sailing community, bringing home bronze in the under-19s Gold Fleet at the Nacra 15 European Championships held in Italy last month.
“I’m incredibly excited to be competing alongside Eli in Costa Brava,” he said.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to learn, grow and make our mark in the sailing world. We’re ready to give it our all.”
Mr Henebery, inspired by his father, began sailing a sabot as a kid but then focused on school sports before being lured back to the sport through races at Lake Cootharaba.
“I bought a second-hand Taipan catamaran and quickly got swept up into the competitiveness and camaraderie of the sport,” he said.
His love for speed led him to the Akurra Formula 18 catamaran by Goodall Design, the boat they will be racing in Spain.
Mr Henebery and Mr Bilston have not been able to sail the catamaran for the past three months while it has been on its way to Spain and will have to set it up when they arrive.
In preparation for the contest, they have been training on a friend’s boat, as well as doing gym sessions with personal trainer Pete Wand and following a strict nutrition plan.
Mr Henebery said the lighter winds in Costa Brava suited a lighter crew weight.
Follow their racing journey on Instagram @boltracingau.
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