1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: Kyota. 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. A fleet 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 2: of thirteen foiling catamarans will tear around the Waitemata Harbor 5 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 2: this weekend and sale GP's return to New Zealand. Last 6 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: year was the first time Auckland hosted SALEGP, drawing more 7 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 2: than twenty five thousand spectators. The City of Sales is 8 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: the second stop of thirteen across the globe for the 9 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six season. Today on the front page, Endzet 10 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: Herald sports reporter Christopher Reeves with us to unpack berlingh 11 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: and Chuke's Homewater Reset, American Magic's blockbuster Danish buyout, and 12 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 2: the must watch foiling feats this weekend. So, Chris, last 13 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 2: year was the first time Auckland hosted sale GP. We 14 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 2: must have done all right for us to host it again. Hey. 15 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was a very fun event last year. This 16 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 3: year is the last of sort of an initial four 17 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 3: year agreement between sale GP and I guess New Zealand 18 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,839 Speaker 3: for hosting. We had a couple of years down south 19 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 3: and they came up here. Last year was a lot 20 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 3: of fun. They had good conditions, huge grandstand which sold out. 21 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 3: They made it. I think it was thirty percent bigger 22 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 3: this year. Yeah, they're very ambitious in what they're trying 23 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 3: to do and by all accounts, this year's going to 24 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 3: be fun again, and I know they're in conversations more 25 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 3: pretty advanced to bring it back after this year as well. 26 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, because even if you don't watch of sailing or 27 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 2: you don't know anything about it, it's still like a 28 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 2: real cool vibe down at the waterfront home. 29 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 3: It is, especially if the sun's out, which you know, 30 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 3: hopefully hopefully the weather kind of clears up before then. 31 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 3: But yeah, it was a lot of fun, especially when 32 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 3: there's a lot of people around. It's sort of festivally atmosphere, 33 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 3: and I imagine like a lot of people who go 34 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 3: down maybe don't really know what's going on. It is 35 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 3: quite hard to tell that when you're just watching from 36 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 3: beside the water, because you don't quite get the same 37 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 3: sort of angles, the same graphics that tell you who's 38 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: in the lead as you do on TV. But just 39 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 3: to see these boats doing what they can do, going 40 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 3: as fast as they can, it's pretty impressive, and they 41 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 3: get so close to the short as well. Which is 42 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 3: another big thing of sale GP and getting these sort 43 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 3: of waterfront grandstands which they try and do every event. 44 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: Well, speaking of conditions, how are they looking this weekend? 45 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 3: Ah? Yeah, quite windy. Yeah, yeah, it should be quite fun. 46 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 3: I was talking to Swiss grinder Stuart Dodson yesterday and 47 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 3: he said it's going to be a weekend where it's 48 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 3: not the most technical racing. It's probably going to be 49 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 3: a lot more of just sending it, trying to stay 50 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 3: out of other teams ways and yeah, just trying to 51 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 3: adjust to the condition. So it'll be a lot of 52 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 3: fun to watch. 53 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, how does the wind change thing? So I suppose 54 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 2: like they in terms of Auckland versus the rest of 55 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 2: the world. 56 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, so there's a few I guess everywhere has different conditions. 57 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 3: Like we saw in Perth last month, they get sort 58 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 3: of that afternoon breeze come through, but that's a pretty 59 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 3: consistent breeze and you get that everywhere on the course. 60 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 3: Out in Auckland it's often a little bit more patchy, 61 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 3: a little bit more gusty. So they'll probably have a 62 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: few spots where it's very high and then it drops 63 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 3: off and then it comes back up which is just 64 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 3: another thing they have to try and deal with on 65 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 3: board when they're racing as fast as these boats can go. 66 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 3: Like the speed record is one hundred k or just 67 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 3: over one hundred k's an hour, So yeah, when you're 68 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 3: going that fast trying to make pretty quick decisions and 69 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 3: what is going to be a pretty tight race course 70 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 3: with thirteen boats on it, it's yeah, there's certainly the 71 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 3: element of danger in there, so yeah, but then you 72 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 3: get the light air venues, which a lot different for 73 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 3: the same is not as much foiling. It's sort of 74 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 3: a lot more just doing what you can with the conditions, 75 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 3: trying not to make mistakes so that you know you 76 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 3: can get the results. It's I feel like the high 77 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 3: wind venues, just as someone who watches, there's a lot 78 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 3: more opportunity for teams to mess up and other teams 79 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 3: to take advantage because there's just a lot more jeopardy 80 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 3: in that sense, and that. 81 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 2: Just makes it much more exciting to watch. 82 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 3: It does if you're a fan on the waterfront watching. 83 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 3: I mean, obviously the boats don't want to crash into 84 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 3: each other, but I mean fans kind of want to 85 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 3: see that. They kind of want to say, yeah, they 86 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 3: might not say that, but yeah, everyone everyone's interested in 87 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 3: a crash. 88 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 2: Well, you've covered sale GP from Perth, so that was 89 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:49,559 Speaker 2: what last month yeh, and past Auckland events obviously as well, 90 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: and these gale forecasts are possible. You mentioned the tight 91 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 2: course and the fact that there are thirteen catamarans out there. 92 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: How do that raise the stakes? 93 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, you don't, just don't want to make mistakes. Yeah, 94 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 3: that's pretty much it. You try and avoid the other 95 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 3: boats while I guess maximizing your own positions. So it 96 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 3: is maybe a little bit of a trade off sometimes 97 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 3: if you do have those close calls, maybe some teams 98 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 3: will have to concede position to someone else just to 99 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 3: keep their boats safe. But you will probably get some 100 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 3: instances where neither team wants to make that decision and 101 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 3: things might get a little bit dicey. So it just 102 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 3: comes down to the sailors in that sense and making 103 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 3: the right decisions in the moment, which probably a lot 104 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 3: easier said than done. They're very competitive that fleet. 105 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 2: What about the boats themselves? 106 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 3: What about the boats of. 107 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: I mean, have they ever experienced these kind of high 108 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 2: winds before? 109 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 3: The boats they do get pretty high wins. I don't 110 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 3: know what the top level sort of condition is, and 111 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 3: I don't think they've found that yet. Since they started, 112 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 3: they've sort of been developing this fleet every year and 113 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 3: bringing more tech on board to make them, I guess, 114 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 3: easier to handle in higher winds, lower winds, and everything 115 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 3: in between. So I do think that they will feel 116 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 3: fairly confident that the boats can handle sort of gale 117 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 3: force winds. But again I guess until we've seen them 118 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 3: in that sort of wins, we won't really know. But 119 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 3: they're all smart, the people who run sale GP, they're 120 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 3: all sailors. They'll make the decisions when they need to. 121 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 2: Well, when they make these kind of improvements to the 122 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:39,559 Speaker 2: boats and we're saying boat that they cost so much money, right, 123 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: and the tech on board and stuff as well as 124 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 2: is actually incredible to see when they make them. Have 125 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 2: you ever seen one version be become completely drastically different 126 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 2: to another because something's happened. NA. 127 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 3: So sale GP race a one design fleet, so every 128 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 3: boat is identical. Oh okay, yeah, So it does come 129 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 3: down to just how well the boat is raced, and 130 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 3: when they're fixed, they're fixed to a certain specification so 131 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 3: that you know there's no either. I guess no difference 132 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 3: in the boat. They just come back and it's the 133 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 3: same boat. They don't have to really bring anything else 134 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 3: up to speed make sure anything else works. And it's 135 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 3: kind of the point of difference with Sail GP in 136 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 3: the America's Cup, which is sort of a lot more 137 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 3: finding the gains in the development side of things. 138 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 2: And maybe that's what I'm thinking of, because when we 139 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 2: were chatting about the America's Cup, there was a lot 140 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 2: of talk about the design of the boat. 141 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's huge in the America's Cup, whereas sale GP 142 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 3: is all about the. 143 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 2: Racing, right, So the America's Cup is where you know, 144 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 2: somebody if we were to talk about running, someone can 145 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: wear those bouncy shoes that make them run faster, whereas 146 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 2: in sale GB they have to all wear the same shoes. 147 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's why I'm waiting to put it. 148 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 2: So, there were some positives from Perth, But what do 149 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 2: you reckon the team is going to be taking. What 150 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:03,239 Speaker 2: lessons are they taking from Perth? 151 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 3: Don't crash? 152 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, that'd be a big Well, it's a. 153 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 3: Good that's probably a good place to start, But I 154 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 3: don't know if lessons is the right word. I think 155 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 3: they were pretty happy with where they were on training days. 156 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 3: Blair Chook said they were kind of ahead of where 157 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 3: they thought they would be coming into the new season, 158 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 3: so they would just be frustrated they missed out on 159 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 3: a couple of days of sailing in good conditions and 160 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 3: they'll be out there today. They're one of only a 161 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 3: couple of teams who are actually getting a practice day 162 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 3: because they have to make sure their boat is ready 163 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 3: to go for the weekend, which by the sounds of 164 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 3: things it is. They've just got to take a few 165 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 3: boxes and make sure everything works as it's supposed to 166 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 3: so they can get out there and send it over 167 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 3: the weekend and try and make some points back up. 168 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 3: Because starting on zero, when you know this is a 169 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 3: team who are consistently at the top of the fleet, 170 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 3: this is a very unusual position for them to be, 171 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,719 Speaker 3: and they know how good the rest of the teams are, 172 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 3: like the British who won in Perth and won the 173 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,839 Speaker 3: season last year. If they get too big a lead, 174 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 3: they going to be pretty hard to catch later on. 175 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 2: Do the Black Foils though, Do they have a home 176 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,359 Speaker 2: court advantage. 177 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 3: Yes, sir no, they'll definitely have the home support They 178 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 3: had some issues here last year with the tech of 179 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 3: their boat. They they didn't perform as well as they 180 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 3: would have and that's partly due to a I guess 181 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 3: mechanical side of things. They were pretty frustrated with that. 182 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 3: But yeah, so they were fourth last year when we 183 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 3: were down in christ Church. The year before they won 184 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 3: it down there, and yeah, the home support is always 185 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 3: something they bring up, especially when you look at the 186 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 3: huge grand stand on the waterfront there and you see 187 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 3: that packed. I mean, that's for sailors. That's something you 188 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 3: don't get everywhere in the world. So it's definitely something 189 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 3: that drives. 190 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 4: Fundamentally. We believe in this team. What Nikolai and the 191 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 4: rest of the team have developed is a high performance platform. 192 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 4: You can see it in their performance on the water, 193 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 4: but also their values off the water and in Rockwell. 194 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 4: We have a great partner. So for us, we're embracing 195 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 4: the Danish character of the team. We're investing in it, 196 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 4: we're going to develop it. 197 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 2: So American Magic's ninety eight point eight million dollar buy 198 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 2: out of Rockwell Denmark brings NBA money and Doug DeVos 199 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,719 Speaker 2: how does this shake up the speed hierarchy Heading into 200 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 2: Auckland Racing. 201 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't know if it shakes up too much really. 202 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:49,439 Speaker 3: The team have been pretty I guess open about being 203 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 3: confident in the team that's already on board with the Danish. 204 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 3: They do have existing relationship with some of the Danish 205 00:10:55,920 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 3: sailors and it really just brings in I guess mints 206 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 3: American Magics place in sale GP. They either late last 207 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 3: year or early this year they sort of announced that 208 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:13,359 Speaker 3: they were turning their Pensacola facility into sale GP training facility, 209 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 3: which SALEGP have never had and that's a big sort 210 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 3: of talking point around the fleet is they don't get 211 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,839 Speaker 3: time to practice in these boats before race weekends, so 212 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 3: now they've got that facility that they will be able 213 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 3: to use. I'm not quite sure how that's going to work, 214 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 3: whether the teams have to book specific times or anything 215 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 3: like that, But now that American Magic have this team, 216 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 3: it's just I guess another indication that they want to 217 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 3: be involved in this league and they seem pretty happy 218 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 3: to work with the current Denmark set up and take 219 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 3: it from there. 220 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 2: Well, seeing that kind of investment has got to be 221 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: good for the sport as a whole as well. 222 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, seeing the team sold for sixty million American 223 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 3: dollars is Yeah, it's a pretty big number, pretty big number, 224 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 3: and they're pretty confident that a lot of the teams 225 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 3: will break even, if not be profitable, in the next 226 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 3: sort of year or two, which is great for a 227 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 3: league that five years ago was just still starting up. 228 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 2: Well, you said you spoke to Stuart Dodson, so his 229 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 2: New Zealand his sold SLGP champ with Spain. Now with Switzerland, 230 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 2: what growth have you seen in that team? 231 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 4: Yeah? 232 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 3: They were actually my most improved team last year. They 233 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 3: didn't win the official most improved award that went to journalists. Yeah, 234 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 3: that's the one that cost to me. Yeah, No, I 235 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 3: thought they were really good. They finished the year Stewart 236 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 3: was sailing with Spain, Switzerland finished last and they just 237 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 3: weren't that great. And then last year they really turned 238 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 3: things around. They got on the podium i think for 239 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 3: the first time in one of the races in Auckland, 240 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 3: and then they had two event podiums later in the year, 241 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 3: so two third places and finished sort of mid table, 242 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 3: which was great development for that team. And I know 243 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 3: there had been some frustrations about them not sort of 244 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 3: getting up to speed with the rest of the fleet, 245 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 3: but it looks like they're they're well on their way now. 246 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:14,559 Speaker 2: So from America's Cup added to SALGP Kiwi's obviously dominate 247 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 2: FOI lang, does this weekend spotlight any emerging talent pipelines 248 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 2: for future Black Foils hopefuls. 249 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, to an extent. So during the press conference today, 250 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 3: Russell Cootz did mention that they're looking into a minor 251 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:37,679 Speaker 3: league sort of structure to give opportunities to young sailors 252 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,199 Speaker 3: that maybe want to get involved in sale GP in 253 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,079 Speaker 3: the future. How that will look where not one hundred 254 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 3: percent sure yet. Whether it's a sort of similar to 255 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 3: the America's Cup where they have the AC forty, which 256 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 3: is a scaled down version of the boat. Maybe sale 257 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 3: GP do a sort of scale down version of the 258 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 3: f fifty. Maybe there's another way they can do it. 259 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 3: But that's all. It's all very very much which in 260 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 3: the infancy, Russell Cootz said, But that's one way of 261 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 3: doing things. They do have opportunities now to get young 262 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 3: sailors or reserve sailors a little bit up to speed, 263 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 3: so they do have opportunities to get them on board 264 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 3: and run them through some of the roles. I think 265 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 3: what they're noticing as the fleet expands is there's not 266 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 3: enough talent out there to sail these boats. They're a 267 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 3: very specific sort of boat that you only kind of 268 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 3: get good at from having that experience. As we've seen 269 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 3: across the fleet, the new teams often struggle because they 270 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 3: don't have the right talent on board. And they're now 271 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 3: sort of bringing in another step where they're making every 272 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 3: athlete get like a license like you see in Formula 273 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 3: one you have to get so many points to earn 274 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 3: your license to be able to drive in Formula one 275 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 3: and sale GP and now making it so athletes can 276 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 3: get license points in various different roles and then once 277 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 3: they've got enough and pass the right tests and say, 278 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 3: Peter Berling, he's a driver, he could go and be 279 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 3: a flight controller if he needed to. So there's those 280 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 3: avenues as well that they are very, very active and 281 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 3: constantly trying to find ways to bring in new talent 282 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 3: and bring in new opportunities and I guess make the 283 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 3: league as good as it can be. But it is 284 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 3: still quite a young league and it's just going to 285 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 3: keep growing, and it looks like they're being very proactive 286 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 3: in that sense, to make sure that they are creating 287 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 3: these opportunities so that we don't just get to sort 288 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 3: of the end of the line of this group of 289 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 3: sailors and they're like, oh what now, who can sail 290 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 3: these boats? And they're back to square one. 291 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: Well, I suppose a health and safety aspect as well, 292 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 2: making sure that people can drive those boats and sail 293 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 2: on them, because imagine hitting the water at one hundred 294 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 2: ks an hour. 295 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, it's one thing to imagine it, it's another 296 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 3: thing to do it. And yeah, there's a very little 297 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 3: room for error. And even in per we saw how 298 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: quickly things can go wrong and sailors can get injured. 299 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 3: So it is very much Yeah, you have to know 300 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 3: what you're doing. 301 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 2: How's the prep been going, What has been the focus? 302 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 3: It's been great. 303 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: Well, obviously the boat hasn't been in great shape though 304 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: it is now. The SELGP team and our personal teams 305 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: have been putting a lot of work to get the 306 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: boat back and reforaction. So, yeah, we should be out 307 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: there Friday training and then Saturday Sunday for racing, and yeah, 308 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 1: it's going to be epic las anything. Last yeah, it 309 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: was to go by it's going to be more people 310 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: and more fans to be able to get on that 311 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: grandstand and watch the racing. And the forecast looks epic. 312 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: It's going to be a really windy southwester So yeah, 313 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: it's going to be epic racing for the fans and 314 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: for us as well. 315 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 2: So what are some major predictions for the weekend and. 316 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 3: Beyond major prediction? 317 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 2: Give me the loader? Who am I looking out for? 318 00:16:59,440 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 4: Yeah? 319 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 3: Good ques question. I would like to say Italy are 320 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 3: a team to watch this year. Phil Robertson coming back 321 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 3: on board to sort of help bring them up to speed. 322 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 3: He's one of the one of the most experienced in 323 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 3: the fleet. He's kind of been with sale GP since 324 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 3: the start. This is now his fourth team. But he's 325 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 3: he's obviously a Kiwi. He's sailed in Auckland. He knows 326 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 3: these waters. So if the team can manage the conditions, 327 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 3: they could be one to watch. It's I do feel 328 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 3: like it's going to be a case of sort of 329 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 3: the same thing again. Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand 330 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 3: they're always the ones to watch, and Sweden the newcomers 331 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 3: this year. They I'm kind of calling them the second 332 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 3: New Zealand team. They've got Andy Maloney flight control of 333 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 3: Brad Frand on grinding, and then they've got Team New 334 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 3: Zealand Sailors and Nathan Alteridge who's a helmsman and Chris 335 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 3: Draper who's the wing trimmer. So it's a very sort 336 00:17:55,400 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 3: of New Zealand y Team New Zealand, so they could 337 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 3: go quite well out here. They will know these waters 338 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 3: and yeah, they are very, very talented and they all 339 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 3: have a lot of experience on their fifty so I 340 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 3: wouldn't be surprised to see them on the podium. 341 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 2: And Stuart Dodson as well. Yeah, yeah, I mean that's 342 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 2: but that's they're my team now. Yeah, I'm going to 343 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 2: be looking out for them. 344 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 3: If you want. Any other Kiwis and Will Tiller's with 345 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 3: the Germans, oh yeah yeah, and who else is out there? 346 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 3: And we got Jane Jason Saunders with the French. He's 347 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 3: their flight controller, he's been there since the start. Canada 348 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 3: have a Sinclair grinding so there's a lot of kiwis 349 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 3: around the league. 350 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 2: So Keywis actually do dominate their sport. 351 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's a lot of kiwis involved. It's great. 352 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us Kristena anytime. That's it for this 353 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 2: episode of the Front Page. You can read more about 354 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 2: today's stories and extensive news coverage at enzied dot co 355 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 2: dot nz. The Front Page is hosted and produced by 356 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 2: me Chelsea daniels Kine Dickie is our studio operator, Richard Martin, 357 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 2: our producer and editor, and our executive producer is Jane Ye. 358 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 2: Follow the Front Page on the iheartapp or wherever you 359 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 2: get your podcasts, and join us next time for another 360 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 2: look beyond the headlines.