1
00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547
Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine

2
00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,507
Speaker 1: from Newstalks.

3
00:00:11,627 --> 00:00:16,067
Speaker 2: EDB mentioned the New Sale GP season starts tonight in Dubai.

4
00:00:16,147 --> 00:00:18,507
Speaker 2: We've heard from Peter Berling let's bring a new black

5
00:00:18,547 --> 00:00:22,867
Speaker 2: Foils flight controller Leo Takahashi. He's joined the New Zealand

6
00:00:22,907 --> 00:00:25,387
Speaker 2: team for the next three years following the departure of

7
00:00:25,507 --> 00:00:28,027
Speaker 2: Andy Maloney. Leo, thanks for taking the time for a chat.

8
00:00:28,027 --> 00:00:29,067
Speaker 2: How did this all come about?

9
00:00:29,667 --> 00:00:31,907
Speaker 3: Yeah, thank you very much, Jason, thanks for having me.

10
00:00:32,507 --> 00:00:35,187
Speaker 4: Yeah, so I guess you know, a couple of things,

11
00:00:36,067 --> 00:00:38,627
Speaker 4: you know, with Andy's departure and the new season beginning,

12
00:00:38,947 --> 00:00:41,387
Speaker 4: there was an opportunity and yeah, a phone call from

13
00:00:41,387 --> 00:00:42,067
Speaker 4: Peden Blair and.

14
00:00:42,027 --> 00:00:44,427
Speaker 3: It just happened really quick. But yeah, now we're in

15
00:00:44,507 --> 00:00:45,987
Speaker 3: Dubai getting ready for the new season.

16
00:00:46,507 --> 00:00:48,707
Speaker 2: So when Peter Berling and Blair chuke ring you with

17
00:00:48,747 --> 00:00:51,387
Speaker 2: a proposition like this, I imagine it's a fairly easy yes,

18
00:00:51,667 --> 00:00:51,907
Speaker 2: is it.

19
00:00:53,427 --> 00:00:55,547
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's right now.

20
00:00:55,667 --> 00:00:58,387
Speaker 4: It was a pretty easy yes and a massive opportunity

21
00:00:58,387 --> 00:00:59,187
Speaker 4: for me in my career.

22
00:00:59,267 --> 00:01:01,747
Speaker 3: So yeah, it was stoked to say yes.

23
00:01:02,187 --> 00:01:04,787
Speaker 2: So for the casual Sale GP fans who are listening

24
00:01:04,787 --> 00:01:07,827
Speaker 2: and can you explain to us the exact role of

25
00:01:07,867 --> 00:01:08,747
Speaker 2: the flight controller.

26
00:01:10,307 --> 00:01:11,747
Speaker 3: Yes, as the flight controller.

27
00:01:11,787 --> 00:01:16,427
Speaker 4: I mean there's there's six people on board the helm, wing, trim,

28
00:01:16,547 --> 00:01:20,387
Speaker 4: and flight controller, two grinders and strategist. See, we all

29
00:01:20,427 --> 00:01:23,027
Speaker 4: have our roles to play on making the bow go

30
00:01:23,187 --> 00:01:24,987
Speaker 4: fast and good around the track.

31
00:01:25,667 --> 00:01:26,827
Speaker 3: Flight controller especially.

32
00:01:26,867 --> 00:01:29,787
Speaker 4: We have big foils under the boat, four of them

33
00:01:29,827 --> 00:01:31,707
Speaker 4: in fact, two rudders and two daggerboards.

34
00:01:32,107 --> 00:01:36,267
Speaker 3: So I get full control of those foils. And you know, in.

35
00:01:36,307 --> 00:01:39,107
Speaker 4: Layman's terms, if the boat's flying high and stable and

36
00:01:39,347 --> 00:01:41,427
Speaker 4: we're going well on the race, you know we're doing

37
00:01:41,707 --> 00:01:43,587
Speaker 4: I'm doing a good job. And if the boat's looking

38
00:01:43,667 --> 00:01:46,387
Speaker 4: unstable and a little bit jumpy.

39
00:01:46,667 --> 00:01:47,747
Speaker 3: I'm not doing a very good job.

40
00:01:47,827 --> 00:01:50,147
Speaker 4: So I get full control of the foils and fly

41
00:01:50,267 --> 00:01:52,267
Speaker 4: the boat as high as I can and fast as

42
00:01:52,307 --> 00:01:52,627
Speaker 4: I can.

43
00:01:53,187 --> 00:01:56,027
Speaker 2: That seems I'm sure they're all important jobs, but that

44
00:01:56,347 --> 00:01:58,707
Speaker 2: seems like a really important job, and one which I

45
00:01:58,707 --> 00:02:03,027
Speaker 2: guess would be fraught with a bit of risk taking

46
00:02:03,027 --> 00:02:05,387
Speaker 2: and maybe a bit of margin for error or small

47
00:02:05,427 --> 00:02:07,347
Speaker 2: margin for error as a stressful job.

48
00:02:08,707 --> 00:02:11,547
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's a lot of concentration involved, and it's very

49
00:02:11,827 --> 00:02:14,387
Speaker 4: quick and snappy, now, you know, with all the quick

50
00:02:14,467 --> 00:02:17,187
Speaker 4: racing and the TV times and all that, So just

51
00:02:17,227 --> 00:02:19,587
Speaker 4: have to be fully focused for that fifteen minutes and

52
00:02:20,267 --> 00:02:22,787
Speaker 4: you know, three races or to play for you know,

53
00:02:23,027 --> 00:02:25,067
Speaker 4: if you're last in a race and that's going to

54
00:02:25,107 --> 00:02:27,627
Speaker 4: be big points for the season. So always going to

55
00:02:27,627 --> 00:02:30,027
Speaker 4: be focused and controlled. And yeah's a risk verse reward.

56
00:02:30,267 --> 00:02:32,427
Speaker 4: If you fly the boat high, it is more marketing

57
00:02:32,467 --> 00:02:34,267
Speaker 4: for error and you could lead to a crash or

58
00:02:34,707 --> 00:02:37,027
Speaker 4: but also if you fly the boat high and you

59
00:02:37,107 --> 00:02:38,387
Speaker 4: do it well, then you're going to.

60
00:02:38,307 --> 00:02:41,307
Speaker 3: Be going fast. So that's the kind of gray area

61
00:02:41,307 --> 00:02:41,787
Speaker 3: we're playing with.

62
00:02:42,347 --> 00:02:45,427
Speaker 2: Has there been an integration period for you with the team.

63
00:02:45,507 --> 00:02:47,467
Speaker 2: I mean clearly you know what you're doing, but in

64
00:02:47,547 --> 00:02:50,227
Speaker 2: terms of comms on board things like that, the language

65
00:02:50,267 --> 00:02:52,147
Speaker 2: that's used, all those sorts of things.

66
00:02:53,347 --> 00:02:55,107
Speaker 4: Yeah, as the flight controller, I'm more of on the

67
00:02:55,147 --> 00:02:57,707
Speaker 4: receiving end of com so I'm kind of just hearing

68
00:02:58,027 --> 00:02:59,107
Speaker 4: what the boat's going on.

69
00:02:59,147 --> 00:03:00,987
Speaker 3: I'm fully focused on just flying the boat well.

70
00:03:01,067 --> 00:03:04,387
Speaker 4: So you know, Pete and Blair and Live the strategist

71
00:03:05,107 --> 00:03:07,667
Speaker 4: there more mostly in the comms, and I'm just kind

72
00:03:07,667 --> 00:03:10,427
Speaker 4: of tuning in and making sure.

73
00:03:10,187 --> 00:03:11,947
Speaker 3: That I'm kind of pre entering what's going to happen

74
00:03:11,947 --> 00:03:12,107
Speaker 3: in the.

75
00:03:12,147 --> 00:03:15,307
Speaker 4: Race, and that's about it for me. And in terms

76
00:03:15,347 --> 00:03:18,587
Speaker 4: of getting used to the team, I know all these

77
00:03:18,587 --> 00:03:21,387
Speaker 4: guys really well, so it's been really easy fitting in

78
00:03:21,547 --> 00:03:22,947
Speaker 4: and we've been in Deo Vice for a couple of

79
00:03:22,987 --> 00:03:25,787
Speaker 4: days now. But the team building and just going through

80
00:03:25,787 --> 00:03:28,267
Speaker 4: a lot of documents, you know, of the last few

81
00:03:28,267 --> 00:03:31,027
Speaker 4: seasons and just kind of really getting integrated and how

82
00:03:31,107 --> 00:03:31,787
Speaker 4: it all works here.

83
00:03:32,387 --> 00:03:35,267
Speaker 2: You've had time obviously with Japan Sales GP team and

84
00:03:35,307 --> 00:03:37,707
Speaker 2: the US team as well. Do you perceive that this

85
00:03:37,787 --> 00:03:39,867
Speaker 2: will be a step up from those two teams?

86
00:03:41,227 --> 00:03:43,787
Speaker 3: One hundred percent? Yeah. The Black Falls are the benchmark

87
00:03:43,787 --> 00:03:44,307
Speaker 3: of sales.

88
00:03:44,147 --> 00:03:46,547
Speaker 4: Gup right now, so you know, the cream of the crop,

89
00:03:46,627 --> 00:03:49,187
Speaker 4: and you know, got some definitely big shoes to filter

90
00:03:49,827 --> 00:03:52,027
Speaker 4: to do my part. But you know, I'm just really

91
00:03:52,027 --> 00:03:56,987
Speaker 4: excited to bring my experience and my kind of two

92
00:03:57,027 --> 00:03:59,627
Speaker 4: cents into the end of the team. And I guess yeah,

93
00:03:59,707 --> 00:04:02,147
Speaker 4: I mean it's an opportunity for the team to get

94
00:04:02,147 --> 00:04:04,707
Speaker 4: a new face and a new perspective. So I'm just

95
00:04:05,027 --> 00:04:07,067
Speaker 4: really looking forward to to show what I can do

96
00:04:07,547 --> 00:04:10,507
Speaker 4: and yeah, helping this team develop, Ban get back on

97
00:04:10,547 --> 00:04:11,147
Speaker 4: the top step.

98
00:04:11,667 --> 00:04:14,147
Speaker 2: You meant him before that. During races it's often one

99
00:04:14,187 --> 00:04:16,867
Speaker 2: way colms that you're receiving a lot of information. But

100
00:04:17,027 --> 00:04:19,147
Speaker 2: when you're having your debriefs and as you mentioned before,

101
00:04:19,147 --> 00:04:21,787
Speaker 2: when you're going through your preparation, does it feel like

102
00:04:21,827 --> 00:04:25,827
Speaker 2: an environment in which you can offer thoughts suggestions freely?

103
00:04:27,587 --> 00:04:29,587
Speaker 4: Yeah, so, you know, just listening to the comms and

104
00:04:29,587 --> 00:04:32,667
Speaker 4: all that, I can kind of see what I kind

105
00:04:32,667 --> 00:04:34,427
Speaker 4: of saw or heard in the.

106
00:04:34,427 --> 00:04:37,347
Speaker 3: Race and then kind of just give my two cents

107
00:04:37,347 --> 00:04:38,027
Speaker 3: on what I thought.

108
00:04:38,307 --> 00:04:40,347
Speaker 4: And yeah, we have a really good culture in the

109
00:04:40,387 --> 00:04:43,227
Speaker 4: team where you know, we're really just open to feedback

110
00:04:43,267 --> 00:04:47,387
Speaker 4: and just it feels like such a professional high sports team.

111
00:04:47,827 --> 00:04:50,187
Speaker 4: So it's really good in that sense. And yeah, i

112
00:04:50,227 --> 00:04:52,547
Speaker 4: mean everyone here is so good to work with. So

113
00:04:52,747 --> 00:04:55,347
Speaker 4: it's been really easy getting into it, and I'm just

114
00:04:55,387 --> 00:04:57,707
Speaker 4: really excited to just edging to get on the boat

115
00:04:57,747 --> 00:04:58,467
Speaker 4: and get racing.

116
00:04:58,987 --> 00:05:01,027
Speaker 2: So after do By, the second stop on the calendar

117
00:05:01,147 --> 00:05:03,587
Speaker 2: is Auckland in January. You grew up sailing at the

118
00:05:03,667 --> 00:05:06,067
Speaker 2: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron of course, where the race,

119
00:05:06,467 --> 00:05:09,067
Speaker 2: of course will be. How special an event is Auckland

120
00:05:09,147 --> 00:05:09,707
Speaker 2: going to be for you?

121
00:05:11,227 --> 00:05:14,227
Speaker 3: Oh, it's going to be epic. Yeah, Auckland Harbor.

122
00:05:14,347 --> 00:05:17,547
Speaker 4: It's going to be super tight racing and it's really

123
00:05:17,547 --> 00:05:19,187
Speaker 4: cool how the grandstand is going to be set up

124
00:05:19,227 --> 00:05:22,227
Speaker 4: right on win your point. Yeah, the start and the

125
00:05:22,227 --> 00:05:24,947
Speaker 4: finish would be right there, so basically buzzing right next

126
00:05:24,947 --> 00:05:27,747
Speaker 4: to the wall, and the fans will probably close enough

127
00:05:27,787 --> 00:05:29,467
Speaker 4: to touch the boats, probably might even be able to

128
00:05:29,507 --> 00:05:31,507
Speaker 4: see me on board, which would be cool.

129
00:05:32,027 --> 00:05:35,427
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's going to be really special and a real you.

130
00:05:35,427 --> 00:05:39,627
Speaker 4: Know, good testament to how well just bringing SALGP there,

131
00:05:39,627 --> 00:05:41,747
Speaker 4: it's gonna be awesome city of sales basically.

132
00:05:42,107 --> 00:05:43,427
Speaker 2: And you've done a lot of sailing, a lot of

133
00:05:43,427 --> 00:05:46,987
Speaker 2: different boats. How to sl GP compare to the other

134
00:05:47,027 --> 00:05:47,747
Speaker 2: sailing you've done.

135
00:05:50,227 --> 00:05:53,227
Speaker 4: There's nothing like sal GP really, It's definitely the pinnacle

136
00:05:53,227 --> 00:05:56,747
Speaker 4: of the sport. You know, what differentiates SALGP to every

137
00:05:56,747 --> 00:06:00,667
Speaker 4: other sport is just how how tight and quick you

138
00:06:00,747 --> 00:06:02,987
Speaker 4: have to be so focused.

139
00:06:04,107 --> 00:06:05,347
Speaker 3: To do well here.

140
00:06:05,387 --> 00:06:10,627
Speaker 4: And like I said, you know it's high course, fast racing,

141
00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:13,307
Speaker 4: and yeah, the fans get to enjoy it. So, you know,

142
00:06:13,667 --> 00:06:15,747
Speaker 4: Sergey Pi has really changed the dimension of kind of

143
00:06:15,747 --> 00:06:18,787
Speaker 4: sailing as a whole. The fans can see it so

144
00:06:18,867 --> 00:06:22,827
Speaker 4: close and just be there with us, so that's a

145
00:06:22,827 --> 00:06:23,387
Speaker 4: cool part of it.

146
00:06:23,507 --> 00:06:25,867
Speaker 3: It's basically just like I file on the water really.

147
00:06:25,827 --> 00:06:28,387
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's brilliant to watch. And of course recently you

148
00:06:28,427 --> 00:06:30,707
Speaker 2: were helmsman of the New Zealand team and the Youth

149
00:06:30,747 --> 00:06:32,787
Speaker 2: America's Cup and Barcelona. How do you reflect on that

150
00:06:32,827 --> 00:06:34,307
Speaker 2: experience twice for you now?

151
00:06:34,347 --> 00:06:36,427
Speaker 3: Of course, yeah, that.

152
00:06:36,467 --> 00:06:38,627
Speaker 4: Was a you know, a really cool experience just being

153
00:06:38,707 --> 00:06:41,347
Speaker 4: part of the whole atmosphere there and being part of

154
00:06:41,387 --> 00:06:42,827
Speaker 4: the bigger team in general.

155
00:06:43,547 --> 00:06:45,867
Speaker 3: But you know, just take those learnings.

156
00:06:45,907 --> 00:06:47,907
Speaker 4: It's been a big year for me, so just really

157
00:06:47,947 --> 00:06:49,747
Speaker 4: trying to take all those learnings what I learned in

158
00:06:49,827 --> 00:06:54,147
Speaker 4: Barcelona into into the Black Foils and yeah, my focus

159
00:06:54,467 --> 00:06:57,507
Speaker 4: switches now into these short course racing and being a

160
00:06:57,507 --> 00:07:00,267
Speaker 4: flight controller as well, so something different and yeah, just

161
00:07:00,307 --> 00:07:02,147
Speaker 4: going to put my all into this project.

162
00:07:02,467 --> 00:07:04,267
Speaker 2: Exciting times ahead. We'll all the best and do by

163
00:07:04,267 --> 00:07:06,907
Speaker 2: this weekend. Leo. Look forward to to catching up in

164
00:07:06,907 --> 00:07:09,427
Speaker 2: person when you hit Auckland in the middle of January.

165
00:07:09,587 --> 00:07:10,707
Speaker 3: Thanks Jason, thank you very much.

166
00:07:10,827 --> 00:07:13,347
Speaker 2: I appreciate you time. Leo. Thanks today, Leo Takahashi. There

167
00:07:13,427 --> 00:07:16,027
Speaker 2: new flight controller with the Black Foils our sale. Jub

168
00:07:16,267 --> 00:07:21,147
Speaker 2: GP team Dubai first event starts tonight and again tomorrow night.

169
00:07:21,187 --> 00:07:23,867
Speaker 2: Then they have a break before they head Auckland January

170
00:07:23,907 --> 00:07:25,667
Speaker 2: eighteen and nineteen.

171
00:07:26,707 --> 00:07:29,867
Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live

172
00:07:29,987 --> 00:07:33,267
Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow

173
00:07:33,307 --> 00:07:34,867
Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio