Rachael first represented Australia at the IFDS World Championships in 2006 in the 2.4mR class and from then on was determined to sail in as many international events as possible. Later that year she went on to win a silver medal at the FESPIC Games in Kuala Lumpur in the 2.3 single person access class.

In September 2007, Rachael teamed up with Daniel Fitzgibbon in the 2-person SKUD class, to come fifth at the IFDS World Championships in Rochester, New York. Rachael then moved to Brisbane to train with Daniel, in the lead up to the Paralympic Games. The hard work and time training was evident at the Paralympic test event in May 2008, when the pair won a bronze medal. They went one better at the real thing, sailing through to collect a silver medal at the Games.

When she’s not sailing, Rachael enjoys activities on dry land including dancing, reading novels and watching live music but sailing remains her passion. Fellow sailors and gold medallists Jamie Dunross and Noel Robins are Rachael’s inspiration, motivating her to excel on the water. Rachael plans to continue her sailing career through to the 2012 Games and is in training for her next international competition at Weymouth in 2010.