ISAF SWC Melbourne – Girls’ Day Out

by John Curnow on 17 Dec 2014 In a lot of ways, it was kind of befitting that the best conditions of the last day of the Sailing World Cup – Melbourne, were saved for the Women’s Laser Radial Medal Race. Apart from highlighting them in glorious sunshine, like Huey’s own spotlights, it also brought into frame that were only two girls 470 crews in attendance for the regatta.

ISAF are very clear that the Sailing World Cup (SWC) is for the best 40 sailors in each Olympic Class to be able to compete regularly against each other at the selected venues around the globe. Melbourne poses an interesting question for them in two key areas. The first is the size of the invited classes and the way in which the next batch of stars get to be out on the water with the current crop of sailing icons. This is unique amongst all of the SWCs. The thought is that these will still run in conjunction, but maybe on a slightly different timeline, so as to allow more clear PR air for the Olympic Classes.

The second is the tyranny of distance. This is in multiple parts. The first component is how far Melbourne literally is from the other venues and the inherent logistical costs of this key determinant. It does not require a PhD in nuclear physics to assemble the pertinent information relating to that fact. Next is that Melbourne’s Port Phillip itself is a large racetrack, actually, it’s quite huge. On the one hand, this is a stupendous advantage, for the six courses can all be run in clear water and even more importantly, clear air! However, despite the secure and one-stop-shop nature of host’s facilities, Sandringham Yacht Club, its distance from Melbourne’s CBD has become a serious weakness to many of the powerbrokers.

St Kilda has been touted as the preferred locale for some time, but it does not have any permanent and secure facilities capable of handling an event of this nature. There will be a significant change to budget requirements to make it work, which many expect to be as early as the 2015 event. Equally, being right at the top of the Bay, if there are still to be six courses in operation concurrently, they may not necessarily be in as a compact grouping as when held further South in the Bayside district. However, it will make it a truly Off The Beach event and the Stadium Course in front of some of St Kilda’s best known restaurants and venues could well be incredibly exciting, especially with the 49ers and Kiteboarders out racing. The hill over the old subterranean passenger tunnel could well become as popular and iconic as the one at the Adelaide Oval.

In light of all this, and with the knowledge that ISAF Vice-President, Adrienne Greenwood, was in attendance, let’s go back to being unisex and catch up with the very talented Australian Laser sailor, Tom Burton. Melbourne has been a happy hunting ground for Burton, who has won Gold there for the last three years and sits atop the world rankings.

Asked how he coped with the pressure of being Number One, Burton said, 'I guess I am slowly getting used to it. Actually, I probably put more pressure on myself to be out the front, which is where I want to be. I feel it more if I am not there, to be honest.' The top Australian also takes the weight of the country in his stride, 'It’s pretty good and nice to be at a regatta at home, as everyone is pretty cruisy and casual. We don’t take all day to get the races in, which means whether it is an early or late start, it is only part of the day and the focus is just as tight as the racing out on the track!'

In terms of motivation for 2016, Burton simply says, 'I really enjoy what I am doing and the Olympic selections are only just next year, so there are plenty of things to look at before Rio. I don’t like losing, who does, and consistency pays, not just intra-regatta, but also from regatta to regatta, so I do like to show that I can be on the pace across the many differing venues and the conditions they offer, as well as over an extended period of time. It is something that ‘Slingo’ (Tom Slingsby) was able to do and I do model myself a lot on that.'

'I came from kind of the typical youth development path, except that I did not live not near the water and so no one knew about anything about sailing. My dad was a huge fan and got me into it and we did a lot of travelling when I was younger. I stepped into an OK Dinghy after Sabots, who are having their Australian Championships here, so I am seeing a lot of the guys I used to sail against when I was 16, which sure does bring back a huge amount of memories. After the OK, I was in the Laser Radial chasing youth development and the squads that allow you to set in train a programme that then had me in the full rig and now here we are.'

'Done the Lasers for a fair old while now and beginning to branch out a bit with some yacht stuff and the Youth America’s Cup, which was a great experience. I have also got myself a Moth and doing a bit of that, so as to keep up with the more experienced guys in our team and hang out with them as much as I can.'

'Winning the Gold Medal in Rio is the number one priority at the moment and then after that I do want to get into professional sailing, however and what shape that may take with regards to yachts or America’s Cup. I’ll pay some more attention to that after the Olympics. I will be looking more at inshore stuff and have not done any ocean work as yet. Coming from the Laser background I do like the close-in nature and want to be able to see the other boats.'

'The is the first Sail Melbourne where we have a had a full stack of days and raced on each one, whereas we have missed at least one day over the last four years or so. We have some good breeze and then head off to the next one', Burton finished with.

Now you could not have a Laser discussion without at least mentioning the oh-so-well credentialed Brazilian, Robert Scheidt. Currently second in the rankings, the guy sure knows how to win, has a massive record for such and also a home ground advantage in 2016.

Matt Wearn, who is 10th in the latest ISAF rankings, was second in Melbourne. Many think he’ll outgrow the Laser and have to go to the Finn, but he’s not necessarily buying into that discussion. He is way more than draught horse towing the cart up the hill, 'I started in Optimists back at the Royal Perth Yacht Club by doing a learn to sail course. This is where I fell in love with the sport and got right into the competition aspect of it. The drive built form there and had a short stint in 420s before getting into the Laser 4.7 for six months and then into the Radial and finally Full Rig. I might be at the upper end of the Laser bracket and everyone thinks I should buy a Finn, but I don’t think it’s that bad. I have a few more kilos to go before I have worry about that.'

'I sit pretty happy at the 82-83kg mark, so I do enjoy the stronger stuff, but light airs is becoming a stronger point and I don’t mind what I am sailing in, as long as I am out there in it. The way the points are sitting at this regatta I am not sure I knock Tom off, but I’m also pretty clear of third, so I will just have go out there and attack it, give it my best shot and not do anything silly or increase the chance of gear failure with too many gybes before the start.'

'The boat is in great nick and they (Australian Sailing Team (AST)) do really look after us in that regard. I enjoy the Laser a lot and do put in a bit with my Dad and Brother, who are heavily into motorsport. They have just finished building a car for Targa Tasmania, a Mazda RX7, which is a bit of fun on the side. I join in whenever I can. Done a bit on a Melges 24 in Perth and some Farr40 action in Sydney, but our schedule makes it pretty hard to commit to a lot of other things. I really enjoy the bigger stuff when I can and the offer’s there, but mostly just keep loving the dinghy.'

'I definitely want to go to the games and not just to sail there, but to take home Gold. This is my biggest priority and dream. Just have to knock Tom off his perch. It is fierce out on the water, but we are all good mates and it is all smiles on land. It is just what you have to have in order to produce the best sailors', said Wearn.

'It is a massive thing for us to have all of the group overseas and train there for the season. It makes us somewhat unstoppable. It also extends to how many Australians have got professional roles in so many classes and the Aussie brand is a good attribute to have. The support from family, friends and the AST is tremendous. A tough year coming up in 2015, so I’m getting revved up and ready to go.'

'Muscling the Laser is the style now and it has become aggressive over the last few years. This has been the windiest of the regattas this year, so the body is a little bruised and battered, but it is all good fun. You just have to fit to go and get it. The great laser sailors are so good at the one-percenters. Never miss a tactical advantage and 100 per cent on their boat speed. The Laser is just so similar across the board that it is the best sailor who always comes out on top. It is a matter of experience and going for it, with strong legs for hiking when the breeze builds. Time on the bike works for that and there is a lot of cross training involved to be fit enough overall.

John ‘Middo’ Middleton watches a lot of Laser racing as the preferred PRO for the class, and will be over in Perth in January for the Australian Laser Championships. He holds big hopes Ryan Palk, who he may well have put the hex on for the medal race at Melbourne, where Palk finished in ninth place. He’s a very likeable chap and seems to be right into his sailing, so watch this space…

Ed Wright (Finn) and Alison Young (Laser Radial) are part of what many, including the ROs Kevin and Ross Wilson, are seeing as a consummately talented and more than capable British Sailing Team. It is a way out from Rio and anything can happen in yachting, but these are sailors you really need to keep a weather eye on. That’s for sure.

'It is not over yet, and some breeze has just come in, which caps off a great week of sailing, which meant a lot of good races were completed. Hopefully I can cap it off today.' Normally one does not want to use the word luck around sailors, but the very jovial Wright was more than happy, commenting, '…I’ll take the luck!'

So if Wright is jovial, then Young is both affable and self-effacing. She spoke of her poor start by saying, '…Yeah. Just put the pressure on myself a little bit there. Big gains on the right hand side of the track, so keeping the eyes out of the boat and seeing where the gains were being made to take advantage of that.'

She’s not short of determination either, 'Got the bit between my teeth after that and had some good fun. Melbourne has been enjoyable, with some breezy conditions - a nice regatta to come to. Got into sailing because of my Dad and was hooked after that. Rio is pretty major objective and just be the best sailor I can be. Not sure what is on offer after all that, it is almost too far away, but really love the tight racing we get in the Laser. I’m petty keen on this!'

The team includes highly placed Laser Radial sailors Chloe Martin, Hannah Snellgrove and also Nick Thompson in the Laser. Giles Scott in the Finn is another member of this go-get-em band. In terms of the Finn, Australia’s Jake Lilley and Oli Tweddell are right in the mix with Björn Allansson who placed fourth in Melbourne, but leads the latest standings.

Granted, all the SWCs around the globe should be a huge week out for the sailors and spectators. Let’s see what the next round brings, which will be a really good benchmark for Rio 2016.