Charlotte Rose - Athlete Reflection – 2025 ILCA 6 World Championship
Coming home from China after the World Championship, I honestly don’t have much to say. Going into the event, my focus was on the process — getting back into racing with the international fleet and sharpening my performance mindset. The practice days were really enjoyable, with great wind and productive sessions. The current wasn’t unexpected, and I felt confident in those conditions.
Coming to Qingdao was also a special moment for me personally. It was incredibly inspiring to be at the 2008 Olympic Sailing Venue — the same waters where my former coach and role model, Anna Tunnicliffe, won a gold medal. Being in that environment added another layer of motivation and perspective, and reminded me of the legacy and the level we’re all working toward.
As the regatta started, though, the conditions changed. Each day became a waiting game of whether or not we would race - no wind, too much current, or heavy fog. Mentally, that was tough. I was in Yellow Fleet all week, which meant we were often the test fleet — to see if racing was even possible. That dynamic made it hard to stay locked in. It became a balancing act between staying mentally switched on and knowing when to conserve energy. I think that mental pacing was one of my strengths this week.
After four long days of waiting on shore or on the water, dealing with bugs, strong current, and swell, racing finally began on Day 5. I struggled with my starts that day. I wasn’t confident in reading the shifts and probably overthought the current. A few mediocre starts left me playing catch-up in each race. After our first day of actual racing, I finished the day with a 14, 13, and 25, putting me in 33rd overall.
On the final day, a large northerly system rolled through, bringing an offshore breeze between 15 and 25 knots. Staying in pressure and on the lifted tack became critical with the course set close to shore. I knew my starts had held me back the day before, so I went in with one goal: get off the line clean and sail fast toward the nearest pressure. With nothing to lose and the event shaping up to be a six-race Worlds, I just focused on executing.
I posted a 1, 2, 9, jumping up the leaderboard and finishing the 2025 ILCA 6 World Championship in 8th place.
While it wasn’t the Worlds I had envisioned — especially with no final series — there were plenty of valuable takeaways. This regatta challenged me mentally more than anything, and reminded me that things won’t always go as planned. What matters is how you respond. I'mproud of how I stayed adaptable and finished strong. This week gave me momentum and perspective as I continue pushing toward LA 2028.
Though the sailing didn’t go as planned, the organization and hospitality from the people of Qingdao — and the event team — were nothing but friendly, thoughtful, and exceptionally well-executed. It made a big difference during a long, unpredictable week, and I’m grateful for the experience. I'm also very thankful for the guidance and support of America One Racing, the Sailing Foundation of New York, and my coach Nick Thompson.