Meet rising star Hattie Rogers

Can you tell us a bit about your journey in sailing so far? What inspired you to pursue this path?

I grew up sailing at home in Lymington, on the South coast of England and sailed mainly in Contessa’s and Scows with my grandpa and dad. I then moved onto sailing Optimists following a more traditional RYA junior and youth pathway into the double handed 29er dinghy.

At 19 I went to the University at Southampton to study a Ship Science Engineering Masters. It was at that time I was first introduced to the WASZP class and the speed and performance of foiling dinghies. I have now been foiling for the past 8 years winning multiple World, European and National titles in the internationally renowned Moth and WASZP foiling dinghies.

What are some of your favourite memories or personal connections to the marina and the local area?

I have so many memories from home in Lymington. I was very lucky to grow up in such a beautiful place and a place where it’s hard not to be part of our wonderful sailing community.

A few of my favourite memories include my parents pushing me round in their waders at the Salterns, Moppy camps at the Salterns which were just huge fun, trips up to the quay to get ice cream in the family scow, and training sessions with the gang out at Fiddlers (this was a favourite) by Yarmouth, in the standing waves on big tides. Sailing with Grandpa and Dad in our Contessa back in the day was very special too. We were bought up ‘messing about in boats’ and it could not have been a better childhood! Yes, I did make the mad dash with my mum to Wednesday Junior sailing from School. It was an absolute highlight of the school week, and my only concern was always in being sure I made it in time before they were full up!

How do you think being based here will benefit your training and preparation for competitions?

It’s exciting for my campaign to be based at the Yacht Haven for multiple reasons. The first being it’s very close to our family company, Jeremy Rogers Limited, which my parents have now taken over. This gives me close and direct access to a wonderful boat yard with exceptional people. JRL is something that I would love to be part of in the coming years, and I think being based at the same site means we see each other’s work much more which is lovely.

 In addition, dad has always been a big part of my sailing life mainly in a coaching role, but he is the best sounding board on the technical aspects too especially given his own international successes in yacht design and build. I love working with him. We speak the same technical language, and it just fits, and he obviously knows me well, so I think we make a good team.

The other key benefit is the luxury of having my own space by way of the container where all my boats and equipment is under one roof and there is no sign of a field and mud!

What boats have you sailed on that are based at Lymington Yacht Haven?

To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Fastnet disaster, in 2019, Dad, Kit (my uncle), Jonah (my cousin) and myself took on the Fastnet Race in Assent, Kit’s Contessa 32. Assent had competed in 1979 and we thought it was very fitting to do it as a family. It took us five and a half days to complete having kedged twice in unbelievably deep water but it was a special race and I one I won’t forget for a long time. A Contessa 32 would have been considered a ‘big boat’ back in ’79, and yet we were one of the smallest in 2019. 

Thursday evening racing played a big part of my Lymington teenage years whether that be racing on Chris Cecil-Wright’s Jumping Jack Flash or Ollie Dunford and Shane Armitage’s Purple Haze. It felt like a family and the J80 fleet usually had 15-20 boats on the start line. The likes of Ben Ainslie, Matt Cornwell, Ben Vines etc.  would all come sailing and all just mucked in which led to a casual, fun learning environment, always finishing at the Haven for dinner or at least drinks. In the summer now, I usually try and find a few Thursdays that I can make Thursday evenings. It really brings me back to my roots.

Your favourite Solent race or racing highlight

Racing highlight has to be Thursday evening racing right up against the marshes. It truly benefitted the sailors with the most local knowledge with the marshes, although these of course move. There’s plenty of times we’ve found some mud but that’s all part of the game.

The Lymington Optimist Open was another favourite back in the day. 100’s of Optimists lined the RLymYC parking area and this was always great fun to take part in.

I’m excited to see the Macnamara’s Bowl back in April this year. If my calendar lines up, I’m looking forward to competing at this home event which will see international and national yacht club teams line up. It sounds like it’s going to be a fantastic event.