ST. PAUL – It was a gathering of luminaries in the sailing world. A formidable 40-boat fleet of Olympians and world champions beneath the scorching sun, their sails dancing against the great winds of a hurricane.
And she was among them. With shock and awe, Delani Hulme-Lawrence recalled, “I can’t believe it... to finally be competing at a level of this calibre.” Hulme-Lawrence, competing at the 2022 Open 2.4mR World Championship in Tampa, Florida was a dream come true.
It has been a long journey, a journey that began on the Alberta prairies in St. Paul – surrounded by lakes rather than the ocean.
When and where it began
"I started sailing when I was about four years old... with my father,” Hulme-Lawrence reminisced. Those early days with her father - sailing the lakes in the Lakeland region - instilled a connection with water.
As she grew older, the allure of sailing continued to beckon. An allure that she continued to explore. It became her passion. She joined the Lakeland’s Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps when she was 12, where her mother was the commanding officer.
It offered her opportunities to sail around the province and the country. Then when she was training during a summer camp in British Columbia, another opportunity presented itself. “I was scouted by Steve McBride, who is an Olympic coach, where I ended up training with him... all the way through my high school years,” said Hulme-Lawrence. McBride has been her coach ever since.
Moving from Alberta
Hulme-Lawrence spent two weeks every month in Victoria from the time she was 14 until she graduated high school, before officially moving from Alberta after her graduation in 2013 to British Columbia. She trained, and still trains, out of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.
And since then, she has participated in numerous competitions, continually enhancing her skills, and sailing across the world. She also works as the program and communications manager for the British Columbia Sailing Association.
Seven years later, in 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved back to St. Paul. As someone who spends a lot of time on the road and can work remotely, “It's nice to have a home base here with my family,” she said. Her partner, Jordan Gratton, is also a business owner based in the area. “It’s nice to be back.”
Hulme-Lawrence still finds herself on the road a lot, but she loves the lifestyle. She loves seeing new places and new venues. “That's definitely one of my favorite parts of sailing as a sport... is how much adventure is involved.”
It may be tricky at times, but it’s rewarding.
“I have friends all over the globe. I have a family all across Canada. My family here is very supportive. My friends here are very supportive and understanding of my hectic schedules. So, when I'm in town, they make time. I try to be home for the holidays, but they're also very happy to see me out competing and trying to achieve those goals,” Hulme-Lawrence said.
World Championship
And she has been successful in achieving those goals. In November 2022, she traveled to Tampa, Florida to compete at the 2022 2.4mR Open World Championship. The 2.4mR boat is a one-person keelboat used primarily in many national and international sailing competitions.
While the championship was disrupted by Hurricane Nicole, with sailors pulling and tying their boats expecting the hurricane and causing the races to be held over two days instead of four, the competition was still a success. Hurricane Nicole receded to a tropical depression.
“We got all the winds, a little bit of the rain, and none of the destruction,” recalled Hulme-Lawrence. “In general, [it was] a beautiful weather... you really couldn’t ask for more.”
International and national recognition
Hulme-Lawrence placed 11th overall at the Worlds and was also named the Top Junior Sailor, which means she’s 2022’s highest ranking athlete under the age of 35.
“This was my first open world championships. So that means that you're competing against the best of the best from every single country,” she said. “A lot of these people are Olympians. They are multiple-time world champions.”
She is thankful for being named the Top Junior Sailor, saying, “My heart just goes out to everyone that nominated me.”
As a result of her performance at her first Open World Championship as member of the Canadian Sailing Team, Sail Canada recently awarded her the Sail Canada 2022 Marvin McDill Memorial Award. The award is named after Marvin McDill, who brought Canada back to the America’s Cup Competition in 1983, according to information from Sail Canada.
Reflection
Amid all the glory, Hulme-Lawrence has remained grounded. She said her achievements were not solely her own. "None of this would be possible without all of the people who helped me along the way," she stated with gratitude. Her family, friends, and her partner, Jordan, played crucial roles, and she acknowledged their unwavering support.
Hulme-Lawrence also acknowledged the community that rallied behind her, which includes her sailing club, the business and organization sponsors who contributed to her journey such as the Claggett Sailing Organization, and her hometown of St. Paul.
When asked for advice on how aspiring sailors can achieve success in the sport, she said, “For any athletes, really, I think, where there is a will, there is a way.”
Preparation is also key for any sport, said Hulme-Lawrence. For example, with sailing, the weather can change in an instant, so it’s crucial to ensure athletes are prepared.
Reflection is also important. “It’s important to go back and reflect on how to be better for the next time,” she explained. Even on the bad days, there is always something that can be learned.
It’s also important to never give up, said Hulme-Lawrence.
“If you put in the time and do the work, and never give up and access as many opportunities as you can and really just stick with it, I think that anything is possible.”
