​Millfield Sixth Form sailor selected for GB pathway

Millfield Sixth Form sailing scholar Lucy Davis has begun a campaign towards Olympic selection after being called up to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) GB pathway at just 16 years old.

Promising sailor Lucy from Winchester, who joined Millfield on a scholarship in September 2020, is studying for three A levels in PE, Biology and Psychology and was selected for the U21 National Squad. She is now ranked in the top six U21 girls in the country.

Lucy began sailing at the age of three and began competing nationally by the age of 10. Her dream is to compete at the Olympics and pursue a career related to sailing.

Millfield’s Sailing programme works closely with the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to provide equipment and specialist coaching. The school’s fleet of Fireflies and crew boats enable students to compete in regular inter-school racing, BDSRA Regional and National events. Sailors at Millfield are able to get on the water twice a week, with students able to hire equipment or use their own boats. Students also utilise strength and conditioning training sessions with Millfield's expert coaches and sailing theory sessions on land, to better equip students once they are on the water.

Millfield, one of the UK’s leading independent schools, has a specialised, holistic programme for students who hope to compete in international sporting events. With expert coaches and teachers, students are able to flexibly manage a demanding schedule of academic commitments with high-level national and international training and competitions.

The school, which is home to up to 60 international athletes at any one time, provides support services such as athletic development, nutrition education, physiotherapy and psychology, and offers the chance for high ability sports students to connect with other like-minded individuals.

Lucy says, “Millfield has impacted my sailing in a way I wouldn’t have thought would be possible during these strange times. I chose to study at Millfield due the wide range of subjects and sports that they have to offer, and I thought that Millfield would definitely help me to achieve my future goals. The school has been incredibly supportive; being a boarder and having more of a set routine has really helped, my teachers are amazing, and going to a school with so many high performance athletes is so inspiring.”