CELEBRATING SAILORS ELI HENEBERY AND KRIS BILSTON
Sunshine Coast’s Eli Henebery and his Brisbane-based crew member Kris Bilston are embarking on a new journey as Team Bolt Racing to compete at the F18 World Titles in Spain next week. After securing third place in the Australian National Titles for racing catamarans earlier in the year, 35-year-old Henebery and 18-year-old Bilston have earned their spot on the international stage.
The event, that is set to begin next week, marks a significant milestone for both sailors. For Henebery, a seasoned sailor with a deep passion for the sport, this competition is his first international competition.
“Competing in the F18 World Titles is a dream come true," Eli expressed. "It's an honour to represent the Sunshine Coast and Australia on such a prestigious platform. I'm looking forward to testing my skills against some of the best sailors in the world."
Bilston has already made a name for himself in the sailing community despite his age. His talent and competitive edge showed when he won Bronze in the Under 19s Gold Fleet at the Nacra 15 European Championships held in Italy this past May.
“I'm incredibly excited to be competing alongside Eli in Costa Brava," Kris said. "This is a fantastic opportunity for us to learn, grow, and make our mark in the sailing world. We're ready to give it our all."
The duo will be among 12 Australian teams competing against 134 boats from 23 different countries, racing over five days in Costa Brava, Spain.
After his focus lifted on school sports, Bilston returned to sailing in 2013, reigniting his passion by joining local races at Lake Cootharaba.
"I bought a second-hand Taipan catamaran and quickly got swept up into the competitiveness and camaraderie of the sport," he shared.
To prepare for the competition, Eli and Kris have had rigorous training schedules. They have been clocking hours on a friend's boat while theirs is in transit. Their personal trainer Pete Wand has kept them focused with regular gyms sessions and maintaining strict nutrition plans.
“Knowing that we’re about to go up against the top sailors across the globe, I took my training and nutrition very seriously,” Bilston shared. “I also learned that the winds are generally light in Costa Brava, so a lighter crew weight is ideal for racing. Kris and I both had weight loss goals while striving to maintain our strength and stamina, so we got professional support from Wand - Nutrition, Fitness, Family to make sure our food and fitness were right to make us as strong and as light as possible,” explained Bilston.
Henebery has been dedicated, setting up a boat in his yard to practice moves, transitions, and rope manoeuvres daily.
The Sunshine Coast community is proud of the achievements that both of these athletes have accomplished
and are looking forward to seeing their future achievements on the international stage.
Follow their racing journey for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of their experience in Costa Brava on Instagram @boltracingau