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 Newstalks EDB. 3 00:00:12,947 --> 00:00:15,787 Speaker 2: After finishing at the foot of the table in twenty 4 00:00:15,827 --> 00:00:19,267 Speaker 2: twenty five, the United States sale GP team pushing to 5 00:00:19,307 --> 00:00:22,147 Speaker 2: climb back towards the front of the fleet in twenty 6 00:00:22,187 --> 00:00:24,507 Speaker 2: twenty six and leading that charge. One of the most 7 00:00:24,547 --> 00:00:28,587 Speaker 2: respected tacticians in world sailing, a world match racing champion 8 00:00:28,627 --> 00:00:32,227 Speaker 2: and Asalo known for his sharp instincts, aggressive racecraft and 9 00:00:32,347 --> 00:00:36,787 Speaker 2: determination to build a stronger, more consistent American campaign in 10 00:00:36,867 --> 00:00:40,787 Speaker 2: this global league, US driver Taylor Canfield. Of course it 11 00:00:40,907 --> 00:00:43,147 Speaker 2: joins US now, Taylor, thanks for joining us. Fair to say, 12 00:00:43,387 --> 00:00:45,987 Speaker 2: it was a roller coaster for the US team in 13 00:00:45,987 --> 00:00:48,387 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, plenty of ups and quite a few 14 00:00:48,387 --> 00:00:51,507 Speaker 2: downs as well. What has been your biggest focus ahead 15 00:00:51,707 --> 00:00:52,907 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty six. 16 00:00:54,427 --> 00:00:57,107 Speaker 3: Yeah, happy to have a fresh start, if you will. 17 00:00:57,787 --> 00:01:01,507 Speaker 4: We're excited about the new season, and yeah, you said it, 18 00:01:01,507 --> 00:01:04,187 Speaker 4: it was a roller coaster and you know a lot 19 00:01:04,187 --> 00:01:07,787 Speaker 4: of some crashes, some personnel changes, just a lot going 20 00:01:07,827 --> 00:01:10,427 Speaker 4: on within the team internally. But we seem to be 21 00:01:10,427 --> 00:01:12,427 Speaker 4: in a great place now and started off the season, 22 00:01:12,587 --> 00:01:15,987 Speaker 4: you know, pretty strong in Perth and Yeah, I think 23 00:01:16,027 --> 00:01:17,667 Speaker 4: we're in a great place. Given the time that we 24 00:01:17,707 --> 00:01:19,627 Speaker 4: have together as a group, We've we've made some huge 25 00:01:19,627 --> 00:01:23,707 Speaker 4: games and yeah, I think our performance Saturday in Perth 26 00:01:23,827 --> 00:01:27,227 Speaker 4: was definitely showed that we've made made some good progress. 27 00:01:27,467 --> 00:01:30,267 Speaker 2: Absolutely. Yeah, third, four, third, third and then ninth date 28 00:01:30,307 --> 00:01:33,027 Speaker 2: to ninth on the second day. So tell us about 29 00:01:33,027 --> 00:01:34,507 Speaker 2: the first day and what went so well for you. 30 00:01:35,507 --> 00:01:39,147 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that day one slightly less win twenty 31 00:01:39,187 --> 00:01:42,027 Speaker 4: four meters wing kind of that ap set up something 32 00:01:42,067 --> 00:01:43,027 Speaker 4: we're a little more used to. 33 00:01:43,987 --> 00:01:46,667 Speaker 3: And yeah, we felt like we just. 34 00:01:46,627 --> 00:01:50,387 Speaker 4: Were really clicking and everything came together nicely and you know, 35 00:01:50,387 --> 00:01:52,667 Speaker 4: it kept it pretty smooth and just calms were you know, 36 00:01:53,867 --> 00:01:55,947 Speaker 4: very very normal around the racetrack. 37 00:01:55,987 --> 00:01:58,947 Speaker 3: And yeah, it felt it. 38 00:01:58,867 --> 00:02:01,507 Speaker 4: Felt easy, you know, and to go out there and 39 00:02:01,627 --> 00:02:03,587 Speaker 4: I think we passed boats in every race that day, 40 00:02:03,667 --> 00:02:06,627 Speaker 4: so that that was a good positive, you know, open 41 00:02:06,707 --> 00:02:09,027 Speaker 4: for us and we're happy about that. 42 00:02:09,387 --> 00:02:11,467 Speaker 2: Was there any resheeting to do after last year? As 43 00:02:11,467 --> 00:02:12,827 Speaker 2: you say it was, it was up and down, you know, 44 00:02:12,907 --> 00:02:15,707 Speaker 2: there was you know, there was a capsize, a collision 45 00:02:15,947 --> 00:02:18,627 Speaker 2: in sassn It's wasn't there. But then you finished fifth 46 00:02:18,667 --> 00:02:20,387 Speaker 2: in Abu Dubbi at the end, so there was certainly 47 00:02:20,467 --> 00:02:23,947 Speaker 2: ups and downs. Was there any resheating conscious reshating to 48 00:02:23,947 --> 00:02:25,467 Speaker 2: be done at the end of twenty twenty. 49 00:02:25,187 --> 00:02:29,947 Speaker 4: Five, No, nothing, anything drastic. The big thing for us 50 00:02:30,027 --> 00:02:34,067 Speaker 4: is finding that next level consistency. We're just always looking 51 00:02:34,067 --> 00:02:36,387 Speaker 4: to step up our game, that small bit because in 52 00:02:36,827 --> 00:02:40,507 Speaker 4: this style racing, that's that one little mistake is everything, 53 00:02:40,747 --> 00:02:43,227 Speaker 4: and you know, one second you're on the on the 54 00:02:43,227 --> 00:02:45,427 Speaker 4: podium in the race and you make one mistake and 55 00:02:45,467 --> 00:02:48,027 Speaker 4: you're you know, seventh, seventh to eleventh, just like that, 56 00:02:48,147 --> 00:02:51,427 Speaker 4: you know, So just sharpening up every area of the 57 00:02:51,467 --> 00:02:54,027 Speaker 4: race course and trying to find those like big areas 58 00:02:54,027 --> 00:02:58,067 Speaker 4: that will make the biggest difference. And one one that 59 00:02:58,107 --> 00:03:01,187 Speaker 4: we focused on is just our general setup and and 60 00:03:01,307 --> 00:03:04,107 Speaker 4: kind of our moting and the big breeze and then 61 00:03:04,347 --> 00:03:07,827 Speaker 4: a few workarounds some boat handling stuff that we were 62 00:03:07,827 --> 00:03:10,667 Speaker 4: working on and it seemed to really click nicely for 63 00:03:10,787 --> 00:03:13,907 Speaker 4: us and Perth so happy to make that step, but 64 00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:15,107 Speaker 4: we know we have more to come. 65 00:03:15,547 --> 00:03:17,907 Speaker 2: So do you get bitter gains out of out of 66 00:03:17,907 --> 00:03:21,347 Speaker 2: control at a consistency or just outright speed? Where can 67 00:03:21,387 --> 00:03:23,667 Speaker 2: you get the biggest gains? 68 00:03:25,147 --> 00:03:27,587 Speaker 4: Geez I mean, I think it depends on the venue 69 00:03:27,587 --> 00:03:29,587 Speaker 4: a little bit and and kind of what the conditions are. 70 00:03:29,627 --> 00:03:34,347 Speaker 4: And yeah, it's uh, you know, I think in Perth, 71 00:03:34,387 --> 00:03:36,347 Speaker 4: for example, in the big waves of the big breeze 72 00:03:36,387 --> 00:03:38,747 Speaker 4: and you know, staying in control and and you know, 73 00:03:38,867 --> 00:03:42,027 Speaker 4: not having that major and that maneuver and or that 74 00:03:42,067 --> 00:03:45,387 Speaker 4: big crash down into the water, you know, whereas in 75 00:03:45,707 --> 00:03:48,627 Speaker 4: different racetracks when it's uh, you know, flatter water, more 76 00:03:48,667 --> 00:03:52,547 Speaker 4: open racetrack, you know, trying to just really fine tune 77 00:03:52,587 --> 00:03:54,627 Speaker 4: your moating and your speed and just get that little 78 00:03:54,627 --> 00:03:57,627 Speaker 4: bit more out of the boat. And then you know, 79 00:03:57,987 --> 00:04:00,507 Speaker 4: on a day like tomorrow here in Perth, it's going 80 00:04:00,587 --> 00:04:03,627 Speaker 4: to be about more transitioning and tactics and you know 81 00:04:03,667 --> 00:04:04,867 Speaker 4: the breeze coming off the land. 82 00:04:04,947 --> 00:04:08,587 Speaker 3: And so I think it's very racetrack. 83 00:04:08,147 --> 00:04:11,227 Speaker 4: Dependent on what we're looking to kind of improve on 84 00:04:11,267 --> 00:04:12,467 Speaker 4: the weekend we do. 85 00:04:12,347 --> 00:04:15,787 Speaker 2: You reckon the next one percent of performances is hiding 86 00:04:16,187 --> 00:04:16,947 Speaker 2: in these boats. 87 00:04:19,027 --> 00:04:21,827 Speaker 4: I think it's it comes a lot down to time, 88 00:04:22,547 --> 00:04:24,427 Speaker 4: just getting the time that a lot of the other 89 00:04:24,467 --> 00:04:26,707 Speaker 4: teams have had in these boats. You know, some of 90 00:04:26,707 --> 00:04:29,347 Speaker 4: these teams have been sailing this style of boat since 91 00:04:29,467 --> 00:04:32,627 Speaker 4: you know, the America's got back in Bermuda, and for 92 00:04:32,707 --> 00:04:34,227 Speaker 4: a guy like me and some of the other guys 93 00:04:34,227 --> 00:04:37,147 Speaker 4: on our team, it's you know, we're I think as 94 00:04:37,147 --> 00:04:42,027 Speaker 4: a as a group, we're probably you know, maybe sixteen 95 00:04:42,067 --> 00:04:47,227 Speaker 4: seventeen days together total. So yeah, just refining those you know, 96 00:04:47,267 --> 00:04:49,867 Speaker 4: those tough moments and the communication around the racetrack and 97 00:04:50,187 --> 00:04:54,787 Speaker 4: making the next good decision is is what it's all about. 98 00:04:54,907 --> 00:04:57,547 Speaker 4: And the guys that have been doing this and just 99 00:04:57,627 --> 00:05:00,787 Speaker 4: sailing the boat for them is second nature, whereas like 100 00:05:00,867 --> 00:05:02,667 Speaker 4: we still have to sail the boat and make the 101 00:05:02,667 --> 00:05:06,547 Speaker 4: hard decisions, whereas they're naturally just autopilots sailing the boat 102 00:05:06,587 --> 00:05:08,467 Speaker 4: and so they have more time to make the decision. 103 00:05:08,507 --> 00:05:11,107 Speaker 3: You know. Uh they say the game slows down, and 104 00:05:11,227 --> 00:05:11,907 Speaker 3: it definitely does. 105 00:05:12,547 --> 00:05:16,147 Speaker 2: They would. Communication is so interesting to me. Does a 106 00:05:16,347 --> 00:05:21,907 Speaker 2: does a good race actually sound least? I mean, is 107 00:05:21,987 --> 00:05:24,227 Speaker 2: the least talking if you if you have a good race, 108 00:05:24,267 --> 00:05:26,507 Speaker 2: So what do you still have to communicate pretty much 109 00:05:26,547 --> 00:05:28,507 Speaker 2: constantly when you when you're out there. 110 00:05:29,667 --> 00:05:31,827 Speaker 4: I would say there's definitely little less, but it's it's 111 00:05:31,867 --> 00:05:34,867 Speaker 4: more just it being very refined and and you know, 112 00:05:34,947 --> 00:05:38,587 Speaker 4: on point, whereas I think when things start to go bad. 113 00:05:39,267 --> 00:05:41,867 Speaker 4: The more you can keep that consistency in your comms, 114 00:05:41,987 --> 00:05:45,707 Speaker 4: the better it comes from that bad moment. So that's 115 00:05:45,747 --> 00:05:48,067 Speaker 4: a big, big goal of ours is to just kind 116 00:05:48,107 --> 00:05:50,307 Speaker 4: of keep our composure through that whole, you know, those 117 00:05:50,347 --> 00:05:54,547 Speaker 4: tough moments around the racetrack, just resetting quickly talking about. 118 00:05:54,307 --> 00:05:55,547 Speaker 3: The next thing and moving on. 119 00:05:55,827 --> 00:05:58,867 Speaker 4: And yeah, I think the best teams in the league 120 00:05:58,907 --> 00:06:00,347 Speaker 4: right now are really good at that. 121 00:06:00,907 --> 00:06:03,267 Speaker 2: How has the sum shaped you as a skipper being 122 00:06:03,267 --> 00:06:04,747 Speaker 2: in charge of of a style GPA? 123 00:06:04,827 --> 00:06:10,027 Speaker 3: But yeah, I mean I'm blessed. 124 00:06:10,187 --> 00:06:12,427 Speaker 4: You know, I'm very lucky to be be in the 125 00:06:12,467 --> 00:06:18,507 Speaker 4: seat I'm in and represent this country. And yeah, yeah, 126 00:06:18,667 --> 00:06:19,107 Speaker 4: you know, I don't. 127 00:06:19,107 --> 00:06:20,547 Speaker 3: I don't take it for granted, that's for sure. 128 00:06:20,587 --> 00:06:22,987 Speaker 4: I work my ass off to try to be better 129 00:06:23,027 --> 00:06:26,347 Speaker 4: in my role every day, and I try to lead 130 00:06:26,387 --> 00:06:29,307 Speaker 4: by example. Maybe not always the best example, but I'm 131 00:06:29,307 --> 00:06:33,667 Speaker 4: always working on it. So yeah, it's uh, it's a 132 00:06:33,707 --> 00:06:36,867 Speaker 4: tricky one. It's you know, something I've dreamt of and 133 00:06:36,867 --> 00:06:38,667 Speaker 4: and now that we're here, it's like, okay, like I 134 00:06:38,707 --> 00:06:39,547 Speaker 4: need to make the most of this. 135 00:06:40,507 --> 00:06:42,587 Speaker 2: So when you say you don't leave by example particularly, well, 136 00:06:42,627 --> 00:06:43,827 Speaker 2: what does that mean? 137 00:06:44,987 --> 00:06:47,507 Speaker 4: I don't think I I think I do lead by 138 00:06:47,507 --> 00:06:52,387 Speaker 4: example well at times. But again I'm not perfect and 139 00:06:52,467 --> 00:06:55,987 Speaker 4: you know I've I've acknowledged that and I'm working towards that. 140 00:06:56,187 --> 00:06:56,387 Speaker 3: You know. 141 00:06:56,427 --> 00:06:59,147 Speaker 4: It's I think it takes first step to being better 142 00:06:59,227 --> 00:07:03,027 Speaker 4: is to acknowledge where your weaknesses are. And yeah, for me, 143 00:07:03,107 --> 00:07:06,227 Speaker 4: that's one, and refining my communication and being better and 144 00:07:06,427 --> 00:07:09,107 Speaker 4: moving on and just yeah, leading the team when we're 145 00:07:09,107 --> 00:07:11,067 Speaker 4: out on the water is a big one and it's 146 00:07:11,067 --> 00:07:13,947 Speaker 4: a big responsibility, especially at these speeds and you know, 147 00:07:14,027 --> 00:07:15,147 Speaker 4: making these quick decisions. 148 00:07:15,147 --> 00:07:18,587 Speaker 3: So yeah, I study, I watched all the video. 149 00:07:18,827 --> 00:07:21,427 Speaker 4: You know, I'm I'm dedicated to it and I want 150 00:07:21,427 --> 00:07:22,667 Speaker 4: to be better for my teammates. 151 00:07:22,947 --> 00:07:25,707 Speaker 2: It's tremendous self awareness. Man, it really is. All right. 152 00:07:25,747 --> 00:07:27,827 Speaker 2: So just to finish this weekend, I mean, do you 153 00:07:27,827 --> 00:07:30,187 Speaker 2: feel like you're in a position where you can challenge 154 00:07:30,227 --> 00:07:33,067 Speaker 2: for for rice wins, for podiums, for for good finishes 155 00:07:33,107 --> 00:07:34,667 Speaker 2: across the next couple of days. 156 00:07:35,107 --> 00:07:37,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's no doubt that when we sail. 157 00:07:37,267 --> 00:07:39,867 Speaker 4: Our best, we're we're in the races. We've shown that, 158 00:07:39,947 --> 00:07:43,187 Speaker 4: we've shown we can move up through the fleet. So yeah, 159 00:07:43,227 --> 00:07:44,747 Speaker 4: we got to be out there, you know, we say 160 00:07:45,187 --> 00:07:47,787 Speaker 4: got to just go be normal and do what we 161 00:07:47,867 --> 00:07:52,187 Speaker 4: know how to do, and just execute. And at this 162 00:07:52,307 --> 00:07:54,747 Speaker 4: level it's everyone's good. We're seiling against the best in 163 00:07:54,787 --> 00:07:57,387 Speaker 4: the world, seeing the exact same boats. It comes down 164 00:07:57,427 --> 00:08:00,827 Speaker 4: to execution and just that moment, that fine moment, and 165 00:08:00,907 --> 00:08:03,867 Speaker 4: that's what defines the guys you know that are on 166 00:08:03,907 --> 00:08:05,707 Speaker 4: the podium and you know the guys that are in 167 00:08:05,787 --> 00:08:06,267 Speaker 4: eighth and ninth. 168 00:08:07,267 --> 00:08:08,787 Speaker 2: Great the heavy back, Thanks for the chat, all the 169 00:08:08,787 --> 00:08:09,427 Speaker 2: bits for the weekend. 170 00:08:09,587 --> 00:08:10,347 Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks so much. 171 00:08:10,427 --> 00:08:14,187 Speaker 1: Looking forward to for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. 172 00:08:14,307 --> 00:08:17,587 Speaker 1: Listen live to news Talks at b weekends from midday, 173 00:08:17,867 --> 00:08:19,947 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.