Tom Coulter is one of the Senior Supported Athletes on the Northern Ireland Sailing Team.
Tom, who is a member of East Antrim Boat Club, Portrush Yacht Club and Coleraine Yacht Club, competes in the ILCA 7 class and is currently on a gap year between school and university as he pursues Olympic aspirations.
Tom exemplifies the values encouraged within the Northern Ireland Sailing Team including hard work, dedication and a passion for the sport.
How, when and where did you first get into sailing?
I have been passionate about sport for as long as I can remember. I learned to swim at a very young age and played rugby with Ballymena Rugby club from about 5 years old to Medallion level including travelling to New Zealand during the 2017 Lions series as part of the ‘mini Lions’ team.
However, in 2016, aged 11years, I discovered dingy sailing through a taster day at Portrush Yacht Club and I was instantly hooked! I started out sailing a Topper before progressing to the ILCA 6. Sailing ultimately overtook rugby as my preferred sport.
Who inspired you as a young sailor and why?
This is an easy one. As a young sailor I went along to an after-event talk with Annalise Murphy, Rio Silver Medallist. I was blown away by what she had achieved. I still remember the practical tips she gave us as young sailors about weather and boat set up.
What have been the high points of your sailing career to date?
I’ve been really fortunate to have had many fantastic experiences in my sailing career to date. The opening ceremony for the U21 World Championships in Morocco 2023 was an incredible event. Putting on the Irish Sailing kit was also a very proud moment for me. However, I think if I had to choose one highlight of my sailing career it was winning the Irish National and Open Championships in Howth in 2023. It was a hard-fought event which went right to the last race in extremely challenging winds, courtesy of Storm Betty!
What has been your biggest setback you have faced in your sailing career?
I had a serious back injury two years ago which was without doubt my biggest setback. Less than 4 weeks before I was due to travel to Poland to compete in the ILCA 6 youth World Championships and European Championships, I suffered a bulging disc in my lower back which meant I had to cease all training immediately and withdraw from both events. This was incredibly disappointing given the winter of training and fitness work I had completed in preparation for my last international youth events. However, I regrouped, embarked on an intense programme of rehab with my physio, focussing on exercise to strengthen and protect my back from further injury. I also used my time during rehab productively to complete other important life activities such as learn to drive and prepare my university applications. This helped ensure that the path was clear to hit the ground running again once my recovery was complete and I could sail again.
What does a typical week look like for you?
Not many of my weeks are the same for me although they do follow a pattern. At the minute, I’m taking a gap year before university to allow me to focus on my sailing development. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time sailing/training in Portugal and Spain. My days are very busy there. I sail most afternoons with my coach or with the Irish Senior team and do regular gym sessions. The cycling sessions are a favourite part of my training programme – I love heading into the mountains on the bike and seeing the incredible views.
I have become quite a reasonable cook, as part of the development programme requires sailors to be aware of nutrition requirements and eat a healthy diet. When training in Europe, we don’t eat out that much, and instead cook our own meals in the evening.
Back at home, my sailing, cycling and gym continues, and I spend a fair bit of time commuting between home and Dublin, training with the U21 development team in Dun Laoghaire. I’ve also got a casual job as an assistant harbour master in Carrickfergus which I enjoy. I fit in shifts when I can to earn some money to contribute to my sailing costs.
On top of all of that, I do try and spend time catching up with my friends and family when home again. Its also good to catch up on some sleep!
What are your goals for 2025?
I’m committed to maximising my gap year to develop my sailing at U21 level. It’s definitely been a big step up from youth sailing. I have benefited hugely from training with Finn Lynch and Ewan McMahon, who are the Irish Sailing Senior ILCA7 sailors, and I am learning a lot from them.
I’ve also learned the importance of disciplined gym work and the need to do strength and conditioning training to support my back and avoid injury. I have begun to understand the mental challenges that come with international events, competing against some of the best sailors in the world. I still have a lot to learn about maintaining my confidence in high pressure situations and using this to my advantage.
I really love the travel associated with sailing and the community of friends I’ve made in many different countries with like-minded people.
What barriers are you facing which may make it difficult to achieve your 2025 goals?
I think the barriers I face are similar to many in my situation. The biggest challenge I suppose is trying to balance education and career progression alongside an extremely busy training and sailing schedule. There are also financial constraints which impact on goal achievement. For example, some international events are very expensive in terms of chartering boats, travel and accommodation, and there are times when hard decisions need to be made about participation.
Thankfully, Covid did open the door to improvements in accessibility for education at school level. Last year, I sat 4 A levels in Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Health and Social Care, whilst continuing to train overseas pretty frequently. With support from my teachers, I was able to access my A level coursework via the internet and could study and submit assignments from abroad which was a huge bonus. It did mean I had to be very disciplined and self-motivated though, to make sure I didn’t drop any balls, or miss deadlines.
What would you like to see more of across the Northern Ireland Sailing scene?
I think the new marketing plan is a very welcome addition and it is putting the NI sailing scene on the map. Strengthening the links between Irish Sailing and RYANI through events planning and introducing competitive/social activities between bases would be a welcome addition.
Team branding for team NI and a branded team kit I feel is also an important, positive step as it creates a sense of identity and pride in the team
What would you like to be doing in 10-15 years’ time?
That’s a tough one! I don’t have a master plan mapped out as such, however I definitely have a few goals over the period that I would like to achieve.
It’s my ultimate ambition to be selected to the Irish Sailing ILCA 7 Senior team and represent Ireland in Brisbane 2032. I want to complete my 3rd level education, ideally in a flexible manner to facilitate my sailing ambitions. I’m thankful that universities have evolved to work more flexibly with athletes to facilitate high performance sport alongside educational commitments.
I suspect I will still be sailing in some shape or form. There’s something quite addictive about the sport, and I imagine this will never leave me. I am grateful for the doors sailing has opened for me, the life skills I have gained and the friendships I have made along the way.
Further information
If you would like to meet Tom in person and receive coaching from him, he will be coaching the weekend before the ILCA Ulster Championships at East Antrim Boat Club. Read more here.
If you would like to see a full list of events for Northern Ireland Sailing Team supported classes, click here.
You can also support the Northern Ireland Sailing Team as an official partner. If you are interested in learning more about this, click here.
