Hove solicitor quits the law to become top windsurfer (From The Argus)

Hove solicitor quits the law to become top windsurfer

9:53am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News By Ben Leo, reporter

For the past eight years, a career as a solicitor has been plain-sailing for Lucy Robson.

But the 32-year-old is now quitting her job, selling her home and packing her bags – in a bid to become one of the best windsurfers in the world.

Lucy, from Hove, is trading in her job at Eastbourne law firm Cornfield Law LLP for a place on the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) Women’s World Tour.

She said: “It’s really exciting, I feel like a kid again. Everything’s done. The flights are booked, I’ve handed my notice in and I’m all set.

“My friends tell me I’m fairly impulsive but I want to grasp opportunities and take chances life throws at you, while having fun along the way.”

Lucy is aiming to become one of the top three ranked women windsurfers in the world and hopes to one day secure a world championship.

In November, she and her two-year-old daughter Marina will move permanently to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands to prepare for their new adventure.

She said: “Marina understands what’s going on and what I’m doing. She says when she grows up she’s going to be a windsurfer like Mummy – but better.”

Most women join the professional windsurfing tour as teenagers, whereas Lucy has been competing since she was 24. Although she says the prize money for professionals wouldn’t be enough to support her, she has saved enough money to last for 12 months and also has coaching and kit support from three sponsors.

Lucy added: “You can’t do it for the money. You’re fuelled by the passion for it and desire to be a winner.

“If all’s well and good I’ll make the top three next year and my sponsors will still be there the following year.”

Before Lucy heads off to Fuerteventura, she will be competing in the Tiree Wave Classic – a competition held on the remote Inner Hebridean island of Tiree in Scotland. Following that, she plans to head to Morocco for ten days to perform stunts for a new windsurfing movie she also helped script called ‘Land.’ She added: “I’m just really excited, there aren’t any nerves. I’ve really progressed in the last 12 months and thought the time was right. If I waited, the opportunity wouldn’t be there.”