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Nathan Handley needs no introduction, he has a sailing cv which includes radial world championships, 49er Olympic representative and America's cup sailor. While coaching the laser team at sail Melbourne I chatted to my room-mate Nathan about the Olympics, coaching and why he loves coaching at an elite level.
You have just won the coach of the year, is it good to be recognized when the sailors are getting all the awards?
A) It's good to be recognized as the coach is a real part of the team, overseas we get good appreciation but it's good to see this replicated at home too. Top level coaching should be awarded.
Well done on an extremely successful year, what was the highlight?
A) Staying with Charlie at sail Melbourne, but winning the gold was a close second.
At what point did you realize the girls had won the gold and what did you do?
A) Not till the very end of the race, the wind was dying so it was a tense finish. A sense of relief as they crossed the line. I remember giving the girls a big hug and a kiss. The girls just said “we did it!!”
The girls were one of the favorites leading into the Olympics, how did you help them deal with the stress and expectations?
A) tried to keep them out of the limelight and I took on the media obligations. As a coach I tried to keep their heads in the right space. At the Olympics there are more outside influences and distractions which you can't control. The Games is a very different Regatta to the normal world tour events. Everyone wants to help, but we are used to doing it on our own.
You have coached at the last 2 Olympics, what were some of the main differences and how did you adapt your coaching style?
A) Team Jolly we started earlier in the Olympic cycle than we did with Carl and Peter. With Jo and Polly there was more structure in how we went about the whole program. There was more emphasis on briefs, debriefs and data collection. We analyzed everything in more depth. Carl and Pete were the youngest athletes on the 2008 team. This gave them experience, Pete then medaled 4 years later, Carl is campaigning again in the 470 with James. Dave Slyfield and Caroline played a massive role helping in the background. Not on tour but in nz analyzing the data. It was great to have specialists thinking outside the box and providing feedback from a different prospective..
I gained a lot of experience from 2008 and was able to carry this forward to the 2012 campaign. Being able to draw on previous experience as both an Olympic sailor and coach helped. I knew what I was getting myself in for.
In any sport, who do you admire and look up to as a coach?
A) Charlie......
Wilcox, Jez, Howard, Dave R
As a coach, you have to do the time, your apprenticeship. Not just jumping on at last minute before the Games or pinnacle event.
What are your main strengths as a coach you bring to your athletes campaigns?
A) Solid, sailors knowing where they stand and what they will get from me as a coach. Professional manner, experience from a long time on the circuit as an athlete and coach (they say).
How do you help motivate sailors after they have had a poor race, and get them back on track?
A) Try and take out some of the positives from the race, always learning and moving forward. Work out what went wrong, why and to learn from their mistakes. We did this very well with team Jolly, able to correct the problem for next time.
So what next, retirement? What's the plan going forward to Rio?
A) The plan is to keep coaching with YNZ, at this stage 49er fx with Alex and Molly, (coaching at melbourne at interview). Early in campaign so plans not confirmed. 49er fx, 49er and 470 coaching slave, but want to be a laser coach like Howard.
Most random thing you have seen another coach do?
A) Coach beating up the coach boat while watching the sailor. Had to break up a Ukranian 420 on the water crew and helm fight at kiel week!
What item do you never hit the water without?
A) Food! Sunblock wet notes, compass, wind gauge, tide stick.
Top tip for a coach attending their 1st regatta overseas?
A) Be on time, get into a good routine, be professional, but make sure you have fun and fun with the team. And don't share accommodation or car with a laser coach.
If you were not a coach, what would you be doing?
A) Big boat sailing or back on the tools plumbing. Or full time surfer, living the dream.
Thank you Nathan, and well done on coaching team jolly to their Olympic gold at London 2012.
Nathan also just coached Alex and Molly to gold at the very first 49er fx events at Sail Melbourne and sail Sydney. A great start to the Rio cycle.
All the best for the 4 years leading up to rip 2016
