Local sailor Arthur Farley is setting off for his biggest sailing challenge to date, the ILCA World Championships in Quindao, China, from 10th to 17th May.
Arthur was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) shortly after winning the under 19 ILCA 7 European Championships in 2022.
After many months of treatment in Southampton General Hospital and 2 bouts of sepsis and COVID, Arthur had added some eSailing titles to his list
of trophies.
Arthur has now turned 21, so this year he will be competing in the men’s division in the ILCA7 at the ILCA 7 World championships in China, a major step on his pathway to the Olympic Gold in Los Angeles in 2028.
Arthur says:
“Still to go after the world championships, I guess this year I will be looking to do well in China and then win my class representing the Isle of Wight, at the Island Games and get a personal best at the ILCA7 Europeans, maybe a top 10 at the World Cup in Kiel.”
“I have still got more to give as I learn how to balance my HCL condition with my training and racing, I’m grateful to my sponsors for their support through some very testing times, plus of course my Mum and Dad who have worked their socks off to make this campaign work for me.”
Arthur’s Wins to Date
- Under 17 and 19 National Champion ILCA 6, 2020 (Aged 16)
- Under 21 Vice National Champion 2021 ILCA 7 (Aged 17)
- European Champion under 19 ILCA 7 2022 (Aged 18)
- Vice eSailing World Champion 2022 (Aged 19) 2023 year of cancer
- Vice eSailing World Champion 2023 (Aged 20)
- Top 10 under 21 World Championship 2024 (Aged 20)
- Top 10 at under 21 European Championship 2024 (Aged 20)
- National Champion under 21 2024 (Aged 20)
- Vice World Champion Aero 7 2024 (Aged 20)
- eSailing World Champion 2024 (Aged 20)
