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 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:17,267 Speaker 2: He is one of the most recognized and successful figures 4 00:00:17,307 --> 00:00:21,547 Speaker 2: in world sailing, building a reputation for his relentless determination, 5 00:00:22,107 --> 00:00:26,747 Speaker 2: sharp race instincts, and ability to deliver under the highest pressure. 6 00:00:27,067 --> 00:00:30,867 Speaker 2: A multiple America's Cup winner driver for the United States 7 00:00:30,987 --> 00:00:35,107 Speaker 2: sal GP team, and founder and CEO of the Italy 8 00:00:35,307 --> 00:00:38,787 Speaker 2: sale GP team who are into their second season, talking 9 00:00:38,787 --> 00:00:41,987 Speaker 2: of course about Jimmy Spittel who joins us now, Jimmy 10 00:00:42,507 --> 00:00:44,587 Speaker 2: good to get the chance to chat to you today. 11 00:00:44,667 --> 00:00:49,187 Speaker 2: Italy tenth in your debut sale GP season last year. 12 00:00:49,307 --> 00:00:52,267 Speaker 2: So if you look ahead to twenty twenty six, what 13 00:00:52,347 --> 00:00:55,707 Speaker 2: does success look like for your team this year? 14 00:00:56,587 --> 00:00:59,987 Speaker 3: Well, it's clearly climbing that ladder, getting up on the partium, 15 00:01:00,427 --> 00:01:03,907 Speaker 3: you know, making Super Sunday, that Grand Final race, and 16 00:01:04,227 --> 00:01:06,227 Speaker 3: ultimately getting in the money. 17 00:01:07,907 --> 00:01:10,307 Speaker 2: As simple as that. So are there improvements that you've 18 00:01:10,387 --> 00:01:12,507 Speaker 2: identified that will help you to do that? 19 00:01:13,107 --> 00:01:15,907 Speaker 3: Look, one of the biggest challenges coming into sal GP 20 00:01:16,187 --> 00:01:19,027 Speaker 3: as a new team is trying to catch up to 21 00:01:19,067 --> 00:01:21,507 Speaker 3: these experienced teams that have had hours and hours in 22 00:01:21,547 --> 00:01:25,427 Speaker 3: their fifties. The biggest challenge is that you don't get 23 00:01:25,507 --> 00:01:27,547 Speaker 3: to train, So it's not like you can go and 24 00:01:27,587 --> 00:01:30,027 Speaker 3: get your boat and train in your off season. The 25 00:01:30,067 --> 00:01:31,907 Speaker 3: boats are always on the ship and they're always going 26 00:01:31,907 --> 00:01:34,547 Speaker 3: to the next event, and their fifties are so unique, 27 00:01:34,547 --> 00:01:38,347 Speaker 3: there's nothing really like them. So look, that's a battle. 28 00:01:38,387 --> 00:01:39,907 Speaker 3: You've just got to sort of go through a little 29 00:01:39,907 --> 00:01:42,067 Speaker 3: bit of an apprenticeship almost as a new team, and 30 00:01:42,107 --> 00:01:43,987 Speaker 3: you've got to get your athletes at the same time. 31 00:01:44,027 --> 00:01:47,027 Speaker 3: We've also added some depth to our roster. We've added 32 00:01:47,227 --> 00:01:50,867 Speaker 3: Phil Robertson, a very very experienced, very successful sailor. We've 33 00:01:50,867 --> 00:01:53,827 Speaker 3: got a great mix on board now, a mix of 34 00:01:53,867 --> 00:01:57,787 Speaker 3: international and also Italian talent. Look, our first event with 35 00:01:57,867 --> 00:02:01,307 Speaker 3: our new lineup, we're a second and the WW event 36 00:02:01,907 --> 00:02:04,147 Speaker 3: we had a midpac finish in Perth the first event 37 00:02:04,347 --> 00:02:07,547 Speaker 3: of this year, seventh place. Look, it's just we've got 38 00:02:07,587 --> 00:02:09,827 Speaker 3: to keep following our process, keep taking the steps. But 39 00:02:09,827 --> 00:02:12,027 Speaker 3: there's no doubt we want to be we want to 40 00:02:12,067 --> 00:02:13,547 Speaker 3: hold a championships as simple as that. 41 00:02:14,027 --> 00:02:16,147 Speaker 2: Tell us about the acquisition of Phil Robertson and what 42 00:02:16,227 --> 00:02:19,467 Speaker 2: he's brought to your team and has short time with 43 00:02:19,547 --> 00:02:20,027 Speaker 2: you so far. 44 00:02:20,427 --> 00:02:24,027 Speaker 3: Phil's probably the most one of the most experienced athletes. 45 00:02:24,107 --> 00:02:26,467 Speaker 3: I think is very, very well rounded. You know, he 46 00:02:26,547 --> 00:02:30,107 Speaker 3: comes from a match racing career, you know, you know, 47 00:02:30,187 --> 00:02:34,307 Speaker 3: World championships, leading teams, He's done multi hole sailing, He's 48 00:02:34,387 --> 00:02:37,307 Speaker 3: led different sale GP teams, he was involved leaving the 49 00:02:37,387 --> 00:02:40,987 Speaker 3: Chinese team the Canadian team, a proven winner. But I 50 00:02:40,987 --> 00:02:42,987 Speaker 3: think the big thing with Fairly is he really is 51 00:02:42,987 --> 00:02:46,187 Speaker 3: a natural leader, and that's something you see very you know, 52 00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:48,827 Speaker 3: he's the first guy to put his hand up really 53 00:02:48,867 --> 00:02:51,507 Speaker 3: open to feedback. But at the same time he can 54 00:02:51,547 --> 00:02:53,987 Speaker 3: also diffuse the pressure and have a bit of a 55 00:02:54,067 --> 00:02:55,587 Speaker 3: laugh with the team as well, And so I think 56 00:02:55,587 --> 00:02:58,787 Speaker 3: that's exactly what you need. And sales GP is so dynamic, 57 00:02:58,827 --> 00:03:01,787 Speaker 3: it's really like nothing else out there. You've got thirteen 58 00:03:01,907 --> 00:03:04,667 Speaker 3: f fifty. He's doing one hundred ks an hour and 59 00:03:04,827 --> 00:03:08,147 Speaker 3: having the ability to look a few moves ahead and 60 00:03:08,187 --> 00:03:12,427 Speaker 3: anticipate someone like Phil that's right in his wheelhouse. 61 00:03:13,467 --> 00:03:16,267 Speaker 2: Is there a mission to be done when you have 62 00:03:16,307 --> 00:03:18,627 Speaker 2: a new leader come into an established team or a 63 00:03:18,627 --> 00:03:22,427 Speaker 2: team that's been there under different leadership up until his arrival. 64 00:03:22,547 --> 00:03:25,707 Speaker 3: Well, it was a really new squad anyway. And again 65 00:03:25,827 --> 00:03:29,947 Speaker 3: our Rigera Tita who's himself incredible talent from day like 66 00:03:30,027 --> 00:03:32,867 Speaker 3: a back to back Olympic champion, and the foiling nacro 67 00:03:32,987 --> 00:03:37,547 Speaker 3: class still part of our roster. And I think what 68 00:03:37,587 --> 00:03:40,347 Speaker 3: we're really seeing now and all the teams are just 69 00:03:40,387 --> 00:03:43,547 Speaker 3: like any high professional sporting teams, is you have to 70 00:03:43,587 --> 00:03:44,787 Speaker 3: have depth in the team. 71 00:03:45,147 --> 00:03:45,307 Speaker 2: Man. 72 00:03:45,347 --> 00:03:47,667 Speaker 3: You can turn up. Someone could be injured, someone could 73 00:03:47,707 --> 00:03:50,147 Speaker 3: be sick, someone's having a baby, someone's getting married. You know, 74 00:03:50,347 --> 00:03:53,547 Speaker 3: there's always something going on, and you can't if you 75 00:03:53,547 --> 00:03:55,547 Speaker 3: don't have a backup plan, that's going to be a problem. 76 00:03:55,627 --> 00:03:57,467 Speaker 3: And if you look you look at a rugby team, 77 00:03:57,467 --> 00:04:00,587 Speaker 3: a basketball team, whatever it is, you've always you've got 78 00:04:00,627 --> 00:04:02,787 Speaker 3: to have that depth. And so now we're actually in 79 00:04:02,827 --> 00:04:07,027 Speaker 3: a much stronger position than we are. We've got two experience, 80 00:04:07,267 --> 00:04:09,547 Speaker 3: I believe world class drivers. A lot of the other 81 00:04:09,547 --> 00:04:12,587 Speaker 3: teams can't have that. So it really is about risk awards, 82 00:04:12,627 --> 00:04:15,027 Speaker 3: especially when you're looking at the money that's involved now 83 00:04:15,027 --> 00:04:18,187 Speaker 3: in these teams and just the intensity of we're doing 84 00:04:18,227 --> 00:04:20,707 Speaker 3: fourteen events this year. 85 00:04:22,187 --> 00:04:25,267 Speaker 2: How much is the data playing its part? You know, 86 00:04:25,707 --> 00:04:28,507 Speaker 2: is this still a feel to sailing the fifties or 87 00:04:28,867 --> 00:04:30,947 Speaker 2: is it really data driven out there? 88 00:04:31,387 --> 00:04:33,307 Speaker 3: I think it's one of the coolest things in that 89 00:04:33,387 --> 00:04:37,187 Speaker 3: it's a real balance. Yes, you see teams that have 90 00:04:37,307 --> 00:04:39,667 Speaker 3: had a lot of time to gather, which is not 91 00:04:39,867 --> 00:04:42,067 Speaker 3: new when sporting teams. Everyone knows you've got to build 92 00:04:42,107 --> 00:04:45,547 Speaker 3: those connections and relationships. But you can clearly see the 93 00:04:45,547 --> 00:04:47,867 Speaker 3: teams that have got more hours than others when you 94 00:04:47,907 --> 00:04:50,667 Speaker 3: get to the high end competition of a lot of wind. 95 00:04:51,027 --> 00:04:53,467 Speaker 3: The Australian team, you know, even the New Zealand team, 96 00:04:53,547 --> 00:04:56,987 Speaker 3: the British team are good examples of that. However, as 97 00:04:56,987 --> 00:04:59,707 Speaker 3: we've seen, I mean, the difference is everyone is on 98 00:04:59,747 --> 00:05:02,267 Speaker 3: the same equipment, so no one has a technical advantage. 99 00:05:02,387 --> 00:05:05,747 Speaker 3: Plus you can see exactly what those teams are doing 100 00:05:05,827 --> 00:05:09,987 Speaker 3: on any particular day at any particular time. So if 101 00:05:10,027 --> 00:05:13,147 Speaker 3: you imagine, as a Formula One team that you could see, 102 00:05:13,427 --> 00:05:15,787 Speaker 3: you know, exactly the setup on what all the other 103 00:05:15,867 --> 00:05:18,867 Speaker 3: cars are doing, man, that'd be huge. So we can 104 00:05:18,907 --> 00:05:20,707 Speaker 3: do that live, we can do that from the day 105 00:05:20,747 --> 00:05:23,027 Speaker 3: before the race before, we can do that for four 106 00:05:23,067 --> 00:05:25,387 Speaker 3: seasons ago if we wanted to. So I think that 107 00:05:25,427 --> 00:05:28,867 Speaker 3: it's just a perfect blend of using the data and 108 00:05:28,907 --> 00:05:32,227 Speaker 3: the technical side, But it really does come down to 109 00:05:32,267 --> 00:05:35,027 Speaker 3: the athletes and the team because everyone's on the same gear. 110 00:05:35,547 --> 00:05:38,067 Speaker 2: When you are reviewing the data, which metrics are most 111 00:05:38,147 --> 00:05:40,027 Speaker 2: valuable to you to improve performance. 112 00:05:40,427 --> 00:05:44,587 Speaker 3: Well, the biggest performance driver is how you've set up 113 00:05:44,627 --> 00:05:46,987 Speaker 3: the boat and how your technique and how you're sailing it. 114 00:05:47,107 --> 00:05:52,227 Speaker 3: So you know the arrow profile of the wing and 115 00:05:52,267 --> 00:05:55,947 Speaker 3: the canber, the twist distribution, the settings on the foils 116 00:05:55,987 --> 00:06:00,827 Speaker 3: and rudders. These boats are very, very complex, and it's 117 00:06:00,947 --> 00:06:03,667 Speaker 3: really a problem of almost too much data. There's too 118 00:06:03,747 --> 00:06:06,187 Speaker 3: many things, and I think part of the secret is 119 00:06:06,627 --> 00:06:10,027 Speaker 3: trying to identify the big ticket items and what's really 120 00:06:10,107 --> 00:06:13,267 Speaker 3: going to be the key driver here and winning the 121 00:06:13,387 --> 00:06:15,827 Speaker 3: race today. You know, if it's lighter air conditions, it 122 00:06:15,867 --> 00:06:18,827 Speaker 3: could be a certain set of parameters you're looking at. 123 00:06:18,907 --> 00:06:21,987 Speaker 3: If it's a windier flat water track, if it's rough 124 00:06:22,067 --> 00:06:24,907 Speaker 3: and you've got ocean swell. So there's so many things 125 00:06:24,907 --> 00:06:27,027 Speaker 3: that go into it, and even the teams have the 126 00:06:27,187 --> 00:06:30,227 Speaker 3: right you have a playbook, much like a football team, 127 00:06:30,307 --> 00:06:32,307 Speaker 3: you have all these different plays. Well, it's no different 128 00:06:32,347 --> 00:06:36,507 Speaker 3: because you're heavily undermanned on these boats and everyone's got 129 00:06:36,547 --> 00:06:40,307 Speaker 3: to play all sorts of roles in different maneuvers. And again, 130 00:06:40,427 --> 00:06:42,307 Speaker 3: look just sailing one of these boats around the track 131 00:06:42,387 --> 00:06:45,027 Speaker 3: is hard enough as it is. Throw another twelve of 132 00:06:45,067 --> 00:06:47,187 Speaker 3: them out there on the racetrack. They have a say 133 00:06:47,227 --> 00:06:48,827 Speaker 3: in what you do as well, and a lot of 134 00:06:48,867 --> 00:06:50,427 Speaker 3: the times you have no idea what they're going to do. 135 00:06:50,947 --> 00:06:54,187 Speaker 2: Are you making significant sit up changes between races or 136 00:06:54,267 --> 00:06:56,267 Speaker 2: is it happening in real time both? 137 00:06:56,427 --> 00:06:59,467 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think another big change is that we have 138 00:06:59,627 --> 00:07:02,507 Speaker 3: like a pitwall. Every team, there's like a coaching booth 139 00:07:02,507 --> 00:07:05,827 Speaker 3: and each there's basically three people to each of those 140 00:07:05,827 --> 00:07:09,147 Speaker 3: coaching and they've got all the screens, all the data 141 00:07:09,227 --> 00:07:11,107 Speaker 3: they can look at their own boat, the other boats, 142 00:07:11,107 --> 00:07:14,067 Speaker 3: the entire fleet. They've got every camera angle and so 143 00:07:14,387 --> 00:07:18,147 Speaker 3: during the race they're giving input real time to the teams. 144 00:07:18,947 --> 00:07:21,707 Speaker 3: And at the same time, in between races, you've generally 145 00:07:21,707 --> 00:07:25,067 Speaker 3: got around six or seven minutes, and you've got to 146 00:07:25,107 --> 00:07:29,067 Speaker 3: sort of get across to the team what's important themselves, 147 00:07:29,107 --> 00:07:32,227 Speaker 3: what they're scenes working on the racetrack, maybe the setup 148 00:07:32,267 --> 00:07:35,267 Speaker 3: of the teams that look the fastest out there, gains 149 00:07:35,267 --> 00:07:38,747 Speaker 3: and losses, And I think again the trick is trying 150 00:07:38,747 --> 00:07:42,307 Speaker 3: to deliver that in a real clean, concise, simple manner. 151 00:07:42,987 --> 00:07:45,947 Speaker 3: You've got to be so careful with information overload as 152 00:07:45,947 --> 00:07:48,347 Speaker 3: well as when you input to these live you know 153 00:07:48,587 --> 00:07:51,187 Speaker 3: they're in the heat of the battle in intense situations. 154 00:07:51,987 --> 00:07:54,267 Speaker 3: You've seen f one driver and they get agitated a 155 00:07:54,267 --> 00:07:56,027 Speaker 3: lot of the time with the comms from that. So 156 00:07:56,107 --> 00:07:58,267 Speaker 3: again to try and do that in a team environment, 157 00:07:59,147 --> 00:08:02,267 Speaker 3: it's a constant learning process and every team's got their 158 00:08:02,307 --> 00:08:03,667 Speaker 3: own style and how they do it. 159 00:08:04,147 --> 00:08:05,827 Speaker 2: We hear a lot about the start, Jimmy, you know 160 00:08:05,867 --> 00:08:09,067 Speaker 2: how important it is. How important is it? 161 00:08:09,067 --> 00:08:11,987 Speaker 3: It's the most important thing, I'd say in sol GP 162 00:08:12,387 --> 00:08:15,547 Speaker 3: is the start and that first turn. It's a lot 163 00:08:15,587 --> 00:08:18,467 Speaker 3: like let's say a motocross start, where everyone sort of 164 00:08:18,507 --> 00:08:20,387 Speaker 3: comes off a line and they end up in this 165 00:08:20,507 --> 00:08:23,827 Speaker 3: funnel and they've got to make that turn, and odds 166 00:08:23,827 --> 00:08:26,427 Speaker 3: are if you can get to that first turn in 167 00:08:26,467 --> 00:08:28,627 Speaker 3: the top half of the fleet, you've got a good 168 00:08:28,667 --> 00:08:31,667 Speaker 3: shot at sort of getting clean and breaking away from 169 00:08:31,667 --> 00:08:34,627 Speaker 3: the pack. But I think looking at the conditions this weekend, 170 00:08:34,747 --> 00:08:36,267 Speaker 3: it's going to be a bit of a minefield. Like 171 00:08:36,307 --> 00:08:38,307 Speaker 3: the breeze is looking like it'll be out of the south, 172 00:08:38,747 --> 00:08:41,627 Speaker 3: be coming straight through the city and it'll be really 173 00:08:41,667 --> 00:08:44,187 Speaker 3: really patchy, a lot of wind, and then so I 174 00:08:44,227 --> 00:08:46,867 Speaker 3: think there'll be a lot of overtaking opportunities. 175 00:08:47,347 --> 00:08:49,707 Speaker 2: You mentioned two world class drivers. Absolutely are were going 176 00:08:49,747 --> 00:08:51,507 Speaker 2: to see this one at all in twenty twenty six. 177 00:08:52,867 --> 00:08:56,267 Speaker 3: Man, I think I'm like sort of a fourth string quarterback. 178 00:08:57,387 --> 00:08:59,947 Speaker 3: That have to be a lot of guys and girls 179 00:08:59,947 --> 00:09:02,067 Speaker 3: go down before I dusted the jacket off, I think, 180 00:09:02,507 --> 00:09:05,027 Speaker 3: do you miss the brain your face? One hundred percent? 181 00:09:05,147 --> 00:09:08,787 Speaker 3: The competition, you know, I just love that feeling when 182 00:09:08,787 --> 00:09:11,347 Speaker 3: you're wake up, that mix of nerves and excitement and 183 00:09:12,107 --> 00:09:15,187 Speaker 3: all mixed together, and just getting to go against the 184 00:09:15,187 --> 00:09:18,947 Speaker 3: best in the world. I mean, that was that uncomfortable 185 00:09:18,947 --> 00:09:22,867 Speaker 3: feeling that was so rewarding, you know, being humbled and 186 00:09:22,907 --> 00:09:24,867 Speaker 3: then the days when you do pull it off and 187 00:09:24,907 --> 00:09:27,747 Speaker 3: get it right, it was really, you know, really some 188 00:09:27,787 --> 00:09:30,107 Speaker 3: of the best moments you can have. And so at 189 00:09:30,147 --> 00:09:31,787 Speaker 3: the same time, though, I've got to say I have 190 00:09:31,987 --> 00:09:35,547 Speaker 3: enjoyed finding a different set of challenges, and you know, 191 00:09:35,667 --> 00:09:38,827 Speaker 3: from running the team to investors, to the commercial side 192 00:09:38,827 --> 00:09:43,227 Speaker 3: and the sponsorship and having a detached view now of 193 00:09:43,867 --> 00:09:47,067 Speaker 3: let's say the racing, because these boats you kind of 194 00:09:47,107 --> 00:09:49,107 Speaker 3: are like a horse with the blinkers on. You know, 195 00:09:49,187 --> 00:09:51,467 Speaker 3: you're just in the zone. And you can't see much 196 00:09:51,467 --> 00:09:55,507 Speaker 3: anyway stepping off. It's amazing what you see when you're 197 00:09:55,587 --> 00:09:57,747 Speaker 3: kind of detached and see a bit of a global view. 198 00:09:58,347 --> 00:10:01,027 Speaker 3: So yeah, I'm finding it fascinating and I'm going out 199 00:10:01,067 --> 00:10:03,867 Speaker 3: of my comfort zone in different ways now, but just 200 00:10:03,907 --> 00:10:05,987 Speaker 3: as rewarding. And yeah, just always learning. 201 00:10:06,587 --> 00:10:08,147 Speaker 2: Great to see you all the best, to read ball 202 00:10:08,187 --> 00:10:10,787 Speaker 2: itally for the weekend, and yeah, awesome to have you 203 00:10:10,827 --> 00:10:11,147 Speaker 2: back here. 204 00:10:11,227 --> 00:10:12,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, good to see you again. 205 00:10:12,347 --> 00:10:15,947 Speaker 1: Thanks again for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. 206 00:10:16,107 --> 00:10:19,347 Speaker 1: Listen live to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, 207 00:10:19,627 --> 00:10:21,747 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.