Issue date
Since our last newsletter (early December) we have both been really busy. One of our aims in this post-Olympic year was to sail other high-performance boats as well as the 49er, with the aim of improving our skills. Lots of opportunities to do this have been coming our way and we have really enjoyed making the most of these.
Blair sailed to Australia from Kerikeri in December and did his first Sydney – Hobart ocean race on Ray Hasler’s Rikki. It was pretty tough but it's good to have his first ocean race under his belt and it was a great experience.
In January, Peter took on the Aussies at the Australian Foiling Moth nationals, taking out the regatta - in a fleet including 3 Aussie Olympic gold medallists as well as the top 3 at the last 2 Moth worlds. Video here.
Meanwhile Blair was off winning the NZ “A-class” catamaran nationals in Lyttleton with 2 races to spare.
Just before Waitangi Day we had our first regatta back together in the 49er since the Olympics, Sail Auckland. We were pleasantly surprised to get back in the groove quickly and won 10 out of 11 races. It was great to see the NZ 49er fleet growing and the young crews enjoying competing.
The selection of the NZ Team “NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand” for the Red Bull AC45 Youth America's cup in September in San Francisco has been a tough process. Over 80 NZ under 25 sailors applied – cut to a squad of 15 and then to the final 7. We are stoked with the make-up of the final team although it was very tough to see some strong sailing talent not make the final cut. Our team has NZ’s top sailors from the 49er, 470 and Laser, as well as 2 experienced keelboat sailors, with Peter helming and Blair as tactician. It’s been heaps of fun training together. Video here.
Peter returned home on Monday from the “JJs” in Sydney – the unofficial 18 foot skiff worlds – as mainsheet on NZ boat “C-Tech” with Alex Vallings and Josh McCormack. C-Tech had a blast and finished 4th (on countback from 3rd) in a fleet of 32 of the world’s top 18footers from AUS, NZL, USA and GBR. A highlight being our second place in the last very windy race check out some great video of this.
Pete hopped back across the Tasman from the Aussie JJ’s for the Halberg awards evening where, as Olympic silver medallists, we were finalists for NZ’s team of the year - fun to dress up and enjoy the company of NZ’s top sportspeople.
Tonight we leave for Oman for the first regatta in the Extreme 40 catamaran sailing circuit – sailing for Team Korea with Pete on helm and Blair as tactician. We’re really looking forward to this high-paced stadium style sailing. The event starts on Monday so our warm-up will be very brief. Website here.
Very busy but heaps of fun... Cheers everyone and thanks for your support.
Peter and Blair
