1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,867 Speaker 1: from newstalkzb SO. 3 00:00:13,027 --> 00:00:16,707 Speaker 2: From youth world champion to one of sailing's most respected figures, 4 00:00:16,867 --> 00:00:19,867 Speaker 2: Freddie Carr has spent more than two decades at the 5 00:00:19,987 --> 00:00:23,347 Speaker 2: very top of sailing. A professional. Since two thousand, he's 6 00:00:23,347 --> 00:00:27,587 Speaker 2: claimed world and European titles across multiple teams and competed 7 00:00:27,667 --> 00:00:31,667 Speaker 2: in six America's Cups. Off the water, his impact runs 8 00:00:31,987 --> 00:00:36,067 Speaker 2: just as deep, helping launch Oman's sale, mentoring young sailors 9 00:00:36,307 --> 00:00:40,827 Speaker 2: from underprivileged to backgrounds, and dedicating himself to growing participation 10 00:00:41,347 --> 00:00:44,787 Speaker 2: and diversity in the sport. In recent years, his passion 11 00:00:44,787 --> 00:00:48,587 Speaker 2: has carried into broadcasting, becoming a familiar and very popular 12 00:00:48,667 --> 00:00:52,227 Speaker 2: voice and face across live television as a commentator, pundit 13 00:00:52,507 --> 00:00:55,987 Speaker 2: and host at many of the world's biggest sailing events. 14 00:00:56,027 --> 00:00:59,827 Speaker 2: You can see all his content at thefoil dot com 15 00:00:59,867 --> 00:01:03,067 Speaker 2: and across your social media channels. Freddie Kara is with us. 16 00:01:03,067 --> 00:01:04,507 Speaker 2: Welcome and may thanks for joining us. 17 00:01:04,827 --> 00:01:06,107 Speaker 3: Absolutely, thank you for having me. 18 00:01:06,347 --> 00:01:08,987 Speaker 2: I'd start with the decision today to split the fleet 19 00:01:09,067 --> 00:01:11,467 Speaker 2: for day two of gp Auckland. What do you make 20 00:01:11,507 --> 00:01:12,147 Speaker 2: of the decision? 21 00:01:12,227 --> 00:01:14,867 Speaker 3: Yeah, it feels like a significant one, doesn't it, And 22 00:01:14,947 --> 00:01:18,267 Speaker 3: it's probably an appropriate reaction to what we saw out 23 00:01:18,267 --> 00:01:20,867 Speaker 3: on the racecourse yesterday. It's the first time that the 24 00:01:21,027 --> 00:01:24,107 Speaker 3: fleet has been split, so from a sporting point of view, 25 00:01:24,227 --> 00:01:26,027 Speaker 3: it's going to be very interesting to see how the 26 00:01:26,067 --> 00:01:29,347 Speaker 3: teams adapt to that style of racing. Only racing four 27 00:01:29,467 --> 00:01:32,307 Speaker 3: or five other boats will put a different tactical spin 28 00:01:32,387 --> 00:01:34,667 Speaker 3: on the race course. But it's still going to be fast. 29 00:01:34,787 --> 00:01:37,107 Speaker 3: Like you look at the forecast for today, it's going 30 00:01:37,187 --> 00:01:40,507 Speaker 3: to be really fast, slightly more wind than yesterday, so 31 00:01:40,587 --> 00:01:42,387 Speaker 3: they are going to be in and around one hundred 32 00:01:42,427 --> 00:01:46,187 Speaker 3: kilometers an hour. But I think more importantly than anything, 33 00:01:46,227 --> 00:01:48,147 Speaker 3: there's just going to be a little bit more breathing 34 00:01:48,187 --> 00:01:49,267 Speaker 3: room in between the boats. 35 00:01:49,667 --> 00:01:52,587 Speaker 2: Can you, before we talk about yesterday, give our listeners 36 00:01:52,627 --> 00:01:56,707 Speaker 2: an understanding of just how extreme and technically difficult these 37 00:01:56,707 --> 00:01:57,667 Speaker 2: boats are to sail? 38 00:01:57,947 --> 00:02:01,067 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean they are right on the raggedy edge, 39 00:02:01,267 --> 00:02:03,587 Speaker 3: right on the raggedy edge. And as I said with 40 00:02:03,627 --> 00:02:07,587 Speaker 3: my thoughts on yesterday's incident, guys, as we know with 41 00:02:07,667 --> 00:02:10,107 Speaker 3: Pete and Blair and how they operate with the black foils, 42 00:02:10,347 --> 00:02:12,707 Speaker 3: you don't make it to this level of sailing if 43 00:02:12,747 --> 00:02:14,707 Speaker 3: you have not got your foot to the floor the 44 00:02:14,747 --> 00:02:17,147 Speaker 3: whole time. You know you've got to be in that 45 00:02:17,307 --> 00:02:20,027 Speaker 3: last percent to get to mark one first, to have 46 00:02:20,107 --> 00:02:23,747 Speaker 3: all your options open down wind, and they are incredibly 47 00:02:23,787 --> 00:02:25,507 Speaker 3: tricky to sail. Now you look at the back of 48 00:02:25,547 --> 00:02:28,907 Speaker 3: the boat, between the driver, the wing trimmer and the pilot. 49 00:02:29,187 --> 00:02:32,027 Speaker 3: That's effectively like driving a sports car with one guy 50 00:02:32,067 --> 00:02:34,147 Speaker 3: doing the gears, one guy doing the breaks, and then 51 00:02:34,227 --> 00:02:37,867 Speaker 3: another guy steering and having those three people in sync 52 00:02:38,227 --> 00:02:40,627 Speaker 3: at one hundred kilometers an hour with twelve other boats 53 00:02:40,667 --> 00:02:43,147 Speaker 3: around you, with gus rolling off the shore and here 54 00:02:43,187 --> 00:02:46,587 Speaker 3: in New Zealand they can hear the crowd screaming for 55 00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:50,187 Speaker 3: them to push harder. It's a real dynamic that we've 56 00:02:50,267 --> 00:02:52,467 Speaker 3: never seen in sailing before. You kind of don't get 57 00:02:52,467 --> 00:02:55,707 Speaker 3: that interaction in the America's Cup. And it really landed 58 00:02:55,747 --> 00:02:58,587 Speaker 3: on me yesterday hearing the grandstand and the boats are 59 00:02:58,627 --> 00:03:01,027 Speaker 3: on the first reach. That would you'd hear that on 60 00:03:01,067 --> 00:03:04,107 Speaker 3: the boats and that would affect how you operate that day. 61 00:03:04,427 --> 00:03:06,987 Speaker 2: Unreal unal So the incident, yes that I involving the 62 00:03:06,987 --> 00:03:09,507 Speaker 2: black Foils in France. You've obviously had the chance to 63 00:03:09,547 --> 00:03:13,467 Speaker 2: watch it back a few times. What stands out most 64 00:03:13,507 --> 00:03:15,067 Speaker 2: about what unfolded. 65 00:03:15,907 --> 00:03:18,187 Speaker 3: What stands out to me is I mean that you 66 00:03:18,507 --> 00:03:20,507 Speaker 3: go on social media and I never used to do this. 67 00:03:20,547 --> 00:03:22,827 Speaker 3: I never used to go and read people's opinions, but 68 00:03:22,867 --> 00:03:25,667 Speaker 3: now as a pundit, I find it fascinating to dive 69 00:03:25,707 --> 00:03:27,987 Speaker 3: in and see what people are talking about. And people 70 00:03:27,987 --> 00:03:30,507 Speaker 3: are very quick to point the finger at be it 71 00:03:30,587 --> 00:03:32,947 Speaker 3: the League, to be at the black Foils, some people 72 00:03:33,187 --> 00:03:35,187 Speaker 3: even pointing the finger at the French. And I think 73 00:03:35,227 --> 00:03:37,707 Speaker 3: it's really important right now, until we get to the 74 00:03:37,707 --> 00:03:40,107 Speaker 3: bottom of what happened, is just let the dust settle, 75 00:03:40,187 --> 00:03:45,507 Speaker 3: let the process of finding what can change land properly, 76 00:03:45,627 --> 00:03:48,627 Speaker 3: and don't be quick to blame. Now, we saw with 77 00:03:48,987 --> 00:03:50,947 Speaker 3: the New Zealanders they were in a really good spot 78 00:03:51,027 --> 00:03:53,547 Speaker 3: on that reach and there was a gust hitting from 79 00:03:53,587 --> 00:03:55,787 Speaker 3: the grandstand. You could see it on the boats above them. 80 00:03:55,787 --> 00:03:58,387 Speaker 3: The gust was hit and people were bearing away easing 81 00:03:58,387 --> 00:04:01,907 Speaker 3: wind sheets, reducing ride height. At that specific moment in time, 82 00:04:01,947 --> 00:04:04,827 Speaker 3: New Zealand really had to push to push forwards their 83 00:04:04,867 --> 00:04:08,227 Speaker 3: dominant from their great start, and unfortunately they just got 84 00:04:08,227 --> 00:04:10,787 Speaker 3: a little bit high out the water. They lost grip 85 00:04:10,827 --> 00:04:14,387 Speaker 3: of the foils on their boat. They skidded sideways. Now 86 00:04:14,387 --> 00:04:16,947 Speaker 3: at that moment in time, you're an absolute passenger. There 87 00:04:16,987 --> 00:04:20,107 Speaker 3: is nothing that anyone on board the Kiwi boat in 88 00:04:20,147 --> 00:04:23,187 Speaker 3: that split second can do, and it's horrible and you're 89 00:04:23,227 --> 00:04:25,747 Speaker 3: waiting for the regrip. And we all saw what happened 90 00:04:25,747 --> 00:04:28,507 Speaker 3: when the boat regripped. They gripped back in the water, 91 00:04:28,747 --> 00:04:31,427 Speaker 3: flew up head to wind and effectively put a roadblock 92 00:04:31,587 --> 00:04:34,547 Speaker 3: in front of the French. Now, full credit to Conturn 93 00:04:34,587 --> 00:04:39,067 Speaker 3: dela Pierre his reactions in my opinion, and I don't 94 00:04:39,067 --> 00:04:42,187 Speaker 3: want to overdramatize, it probably saved a life yesterday. And 95 00:04:42,267 --> 00:04:46,067 Speaker 3: what the French helmsman did was fantastic. And it's very 96 00:04:46,107 --> 00:04:49,267 Speaker 3: sad what happened to Louis and we has got serious injuries. 97 00:04:49,347 --> 00:04:51,747 Speaker 3: Let's not let's not talk it down. But what the how, 98 00:04:51,787 --> 00:04:54,027 Speaker 3: the how the French reacted to what they saw in 99 00:04:54,107 --> 00:04:55,667 Speaker 3: front of them was was world class. 100 00:04:56,667 --> 00:05:01,547 Speaker 2: What a great piece of analysis, mate. But the series 101 00:05:02,827 --> 00:05:05,907 Speaker 2: promotes itself on the excitement and the high speeds on 102 00:05:05,987 --> 00:05:09,387 Speaker 2: the the type race courses, but there's safety as well, right, 103 00:05:09,707 --> 00:05:13,107 Speaker 2: and how do you balance the two things. 104 00:05:13,187 --> 00:05:15,947 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a real fine line, isn't it. And like 105 00:05:16,627 --> 00:05:19,147 Speaker 3: the sailing is now in extreme sport. Now. When I 106 00:05:19,227 --> 00:05:22,227 Speaker 3: started America's Cup racing twenty five years ago, it wasn't 107 00:05:22,227 --> 00:05:24,667 Speaker 3: an extreme sport. It was great fun. You were pulling 108 00:05:24,747 --> 00:05:27,347 Speaker 3: ropes and winches and you were doing ten knots every 109 00:05:27,387 --> 00:05:29,427 Speaker 3: in every direction out in the hierarchy golf when I 110 00:05:29,467 --> 00:05:31,667 Speaker 3: was here in two thousand and three. But with what 111 00:05:31,787 --> 00:05:34,547 Speaker 3: sale GP has become, and it is brilliant, I enjoy it. 112 00:05:34,627 --> 00:05:37,227 Speaker 3: And what the America's Cup has now become, it's an 113 00:05:37,227 --> 00:05:40,347 Speaker 3: extreme sport. And be under no illusion that every single 114 00:05:40,387 --> 00:05:43,107 Speaker 3: sailor pushing off the dock recognizes that the sport that 115 00:05:43,147 --> 00:05:46,427 Speaker 3: they're in nowadays, like it's like motocross, it's like downhill skiing. 116 00:05:46,467 --> 00:05:49,987 Speaker 3: Look at Lindsay Vonne. It's an extreme sport. Now. What 117 00:05:50,067 --> 00:05:54,547 Speaker 3: I can vouch for is the safety precautions around this series, 118 00:05:54,987 --> 00:05:57,627 Speaker 3: the level of safety training that all of the sailors have, 119 00:05:58,067 --> 00:06:01,707 Speaker 3: all of the in house support crew, and most importantly, 120 00:06:01,747 --> 00:06:05,547 Speaker 3: and this is what I saw yesterday from SALEGP themselves, 121 00:06:05,707 --> 00:06:09,867 Speaker 3: the skew divers, the paramedics. Their response to a very 122 00:06:09,947 --> 00:06:14,267 Speaker 3: nasty situation was world class. And that's I think that's 123 00:06:14,267 --> 00:06:17,267 Speaker 3: the message that we should take away as sailing fans 124 00:06:17,267 --> 00:06:21,147 Speaker 3: and as sports fans. Is the reaction to the horrible 125 00:06:21,147 --> 00:06:25,307 Speaker 3: incident yesterday was fantastic and now also from the senior 126 00:06:25,347 --> 00:06:28,987 Speaker 3: management of sale GP to tweak the format. They recognize 127 00:06:28,987 --> 00:06:31,787 Speaker 3: that they need to d risk today and they've done 128 00:06:31,827 --> 00:06:32,387 Speaker 3: that and that's the. 129 00:06:32,427 --> 00:06:35,187 Speaker 2: Right call moving forward. Then, Freddy, do you think when 130 00:06:35,227 --> 00:06:38,667 Speaker 2: they add a fourteenth boat, can fourteen sail together or 131 00:06:38,747 --> 00:06:41,507 Speaker 2: is it going to be a split fleet format moving forward? 132 00:06:41,547 --> 00:06:45,147 Speaker 3: That's a great question I would assume with where the 133 00:06:45,267 --> 00:06:48,627 Speaker 3: venues might be in season seven in twenty twenty seven, 134 00:06:48,747 --> 00:06:52,667 Speaker 3: it will be very venue specific. You look at Perth 135 00:06:52,747 --> 00:06:56,027 Speaker 3: that our first event here three weeks ago, and it 136 00:06:56,147 --> 00:06:59,107 Speaker 3: was safe to have thirteen boats on that race course. 137 00:06:59,147 --> 00:07:01,267 Speaker 3: It was slightly bigger, it was an on shore breeze, 138 00:07:01,747 --> 00:07:04,547 Speaker 3: and I think that the wisdom within sale GP. You'll 139 00:07:04,587 --> 00:07:07,147 Speaker 3: rock up to different Grand Prix around the and they'll 140 00:07:07,147 --> 00:07:10,227 Speaker 3: go right, okay, we're in Auckland again. Here, it's out 141 00:07:10,227 --> 00:07:13,347 Speaker 3: of this direction. Again, let's be wise and just split 142 00:07:13,387 --> 00:07:15,707 Speaker 3: the fleet. So I think it will be venue specific in. 143 00:07:15,747 --> 00:07:18,067 Speaker 2: Terms of the boats and the damage they sustained. The 144 00:07:18,107 --> 00:07:21,027 Speaker 2: black foils Head damaged through a collision and Perth obviously, 145 00:07:21,067 --> 00:07:22,827 Speaker 2: and they worked around the clock to get them ready 146 00:07:22,827 --> 00:07:26,667 Speaker 2: for this event. And Sudney's only two weeks away. France 147 00:07:26,667 --> 00:07:27,747 Speaker 2: and the Black Fall is going to be on the 148 00:07:27,747 --> 00:07:28,667 Speaker 2: start line and Sydney. 149 00:07:29,827 --> 00:07:32,147 Speaker 3: I know nothing officially, but I've just been over in 150 00:07:32,187 --> 00:07:36,627 Speaker 3: the tech site now and yeah, unofficially, I would be 151 00:07:36,907 --> 00:07:39,827 Speaker 3: amazed if those two boats are racing in Sydney. And 152 00:07:39,867 --> 00:07:42,587 Speaker 3: that I mean the tech team with CELGP works around 153 00:07:42,627 --> 00:07:44,667 Speaker 3: the clock to get the Black Foils and the Spanish 154 00:07:44,707 --> 00:07:47,427 Speaker 3: because they had an incident in Perth racing here this weekend, 155 00:07:48,107 --> 00:07:50,827 Speaker 3: and I just think with a shorter timeline and the 156 00:07:50,947 --> 00:07:55,067 Speaker 3: significance of the damage, particularly to the Black Foils, I 157 00:07:55,267 --> 00:07:57,827 Speaker 3: personally think it's unlikely. But we'll have to wait to 158 00:07:57,827 --> 00:08:00,827 Speaker 3: see what the higher ups say in the next couple 159 00:08:00,867 --> 00:08:01,187 Speaker 3: of days. 160 00:08:01,227 --> 00:08:03,867 Speaker 2: All right, just as we have to finish. What do 161 00:08:03,907 --> 00:08:06,827 Speaker 2: you see as the future of this format is Russell 162 00:08:06,867 --> 00:08:10,427 Speaker 2: has seen more boats and wants more venues. So we're 163 00:08:10,467 --> 00:08:13,067 Speaker 2: at salg big going to be in three, five, ten. 164 00:08:12,987 --> 00:08:15,147 Speaker 3: Years, It's going to grow and grow. I think it's 165 00:08:15,187 --> 00:08:19,147 Speaker 3: going to grow and grow. Like I recognize that foiling 166 00:08:19,227 --> 00:08:23,747 Speaker 3: sailing splits the hardcore sailing public, there's still people that 167 00:08:23,947 --> 00:08:26,427 Speaker 3: love the twelve meters from the eighties, and I love 168 00:08:26,467 --> 00:08:29,107 Speaker 3: that and the IACC class that we saw here for 169 00:08:29,587 --> 00:08:31,867 Speaker 3: in sort of two thousand and two thousand and three. 170 00:08:31,947 --> 00:08:35,867 Speaker 3: Those races are incredible. But this is where sale GP 171 00:08:36,027 --> 00:08:38,307 Speaker 3: is going, and it is taking a big chunk of 172 00:08:38,467 --> 00:08:41,987 Speaker 3: not only a sailing audience with them, but more importantly 173 00:08:42,187 --> 00:08:44,747 Speaker 3: than that, it's taking a non sailing audience on a 174 00:08:44,827 --> 00:08:47,507 Speaker 3: journey with them. Now, as a sailing fan, you might 175 00:08:47,547 --> 00:08:49,587 Speaker 3: love that or hate that. I know some people can't 176 00:08:49,587 --> 00:08:51,707 Speaker 3: stand that we talk in kilometers an hour and not 177 00:08:51,907 --> 00:08:54,907 Speaker 3: not and I recognize that. But in terms of where 178 00:08:54,907 --> 00:08:57,867 Speaker 3: SALEGP will be in five years time, it's going to 179 00:08:57,867 --> 00:08:59,947 Speaker 3: be a powerhouse in sailing still, and it's going to 180 00:08:59,987 --> 00:09:02,347 Speaker 3: be a powerhouse in sports still. There's going to be 181 00:09:02,387 --> 00:09:04,907 Speaker 3: more teams. We've seen all the media about how much 182 00:09:04,907 --> 00:09:09,787 Speaker 3: the franchise has are changing for and it's self sustainable. 183 00:09:09,907 --> 00:09:12,747 Speaker 3: It's going to grow and grow, and I'm here for it. 184 00:09:12,827 --> 00:09:17,107 Speaker 3: I think it's a fantastic league, and incidents like yesterday 185 00:09:17,787 --> 00:09:19,747 Speaker 3: will probably happen again in the future, but I know 186 00:09:19,907 --> 00:09:23,587 Speaker 3: that there will be better safety protocols in place that 187 00:09:23,667 --> 00:09:26,267 Speaker 3: will properly mitigate the risk. That's my hope. 188 00:09:26,707 --> 00:09:29,507 Speaker 2: Friddy, thanks for your analysis, Thanks for stopping by enjoy Data. 189 00:09:29,507 --> 00:09:31,787 Speaker 2: Thank you very much, No, thank you, Freddy, Freddy car 190 00:09:31,947 --> 00:09:35,467 Speaker 2: They're amazing analysis from him. Just listening and see as 191 00:09:35,507 --> 00:09:38,147 Speaker 2: Glen on Techs haven't seen the accident, but this analysis 192 00:09:38,147 --> 00:09:42,867 Speaker 2: and description of it in subsequent reaction is fantastic. Here 193 00:09:42,907 --> 00:09:44,987 Speaker 2: Freddy Carmen, he knows of stuff and just being able 194 00:09:45,027 --> 00:09:47,547 Speaker 2: to unpeck it in a way that we can all understand. 195 00:09:47,627 --> 00:09:49,627 Speaker 2: And this is the this is the issue that sale 196 00:09:49,667 --> 00:09:52,827 Speaker 2: GP are going to have moving forward. 197 00:09:53,267 --> 00:09:56,467 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 198 00:09:56,547 --> 00:09:59,827 Speaker 1: to news talks it be weekends from midday, or follow 199 00:09:59,867 --> 00:10:01,507 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio