Meet the 29er Fleet #5: Clementine and Nathan Van Steenberge
by International 29er Class 28 Jan 2023 05:48 PST
Irish sibling teammates Clementine and Nathan Van Steenberge © International 29er Class
Silver Medallists in the 2022 EuroCup series, we meet Irish sibling teammates Clementine and Nathan Van Steenberge.
How old are you?
Clementine is 16 and Nathan is 19
How long have you sailed the 29er?
Nathan has been sailing the 29er for four years and I've been sailing the 29er for two years. We've been sailing together for over a year.
What do you love about sailing the 29er and the racing?
We love the speed and technicality of the 29er. There are many aspects and different ways to sail the boat so everyone has their own style which makes it very interesting. We love racing because it's a way for us to test ourselves against the rest of the fleet. What we enjoy the most is the challenge; there are many variables to take into account and often the weather can be unpredictable. You have to balance everything in order to do well, which is definitely easier said than done.
What are your strengths as a team? Who does which jobs in the boat and what are you both good at?
Our main strength is our communication. We're always talking to each other (when sailing;)) and letting each other know if we need help or what's going on around us. Being siblings is a huge advantage as we know each other very well and are able to motivate each other. And yes, we also know how to push each other's buttons... we are siblings after all;) Another advantage of being siblings is how it makes training and travelling easier to organise.
As crew, Nathan focuses on the boat speed and setting while I focus on tactics and strategy. This system works best for us because it plays to our own individual strengths. However, we're both good at tactics so we'll often ask each other what we think before making a tactical decision.
Why do you think you've been so successful in the 29er?
We're not afraid to do our own thing. We sail our own race and focus on what is in our control. We trust each other and ourselves which is the foundation of our partnership.
Who/what has inspired you and your successes?
We had a lot of great coaches growing up that introduced us to sailing and racing. They loved the sport themselves which definitely played a huge role in inspiring us. Nathan's favourite athlete is Remco Evenepoel, he won't miss an opportunity to remind you!
Do you have any top tips for people just starting in the 29er and those looking to improve their performance for next year?
The key is to build trust. You need to trust that each partner does their role the best and will make the right calls. This allows you to focus on doing your best. It goes without saying that everyone makes mistakes but having trust in each other reduces the pressure and brings in the fun.