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 --> 00:00:13,547 Speaker 1: from News Talks b Sale. 3 00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:15,907 Speaker 2: Gp hits Germany this weekend, the eighth event of the 4 00:00:15,947 --> 00:00:18,507 Speaker 2: twelve event season. The Black Foils top of the leader 5 00:00:18,507 --> 00:00:21,507 Speaker 2: board for the first time since January after winning the 6 00:00:21,587 --> 00:00:25,907 Speaker 2: last regatta in Portsmouth. Flight controller Leo Takahashi joins us 7 00:00:25,907 --> 00:00:28,107 Speaker 2: out of the Black Foils. Leo, thanks for joining us, mate. 8 00:00:28,107 --> 00:00:30,627 Speaker 2: How was your practice day on the waters of the 9 00:00:30,667 --> 00:00:31,467 Speaker 2: Baltic Sea. 10 00:00:32,587 --> 00:00:33,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it's been lovely. 11 00:00:33,907 --> 00:00:36,747 Speaker 4: We've actually only got up for one day training, but 12 00:00:36,827 --> 00:00:38,947 Speaker 4: you know, the conditions been great. It's been really warm 13 00:00:38,987 --> 00:00:43,067 Speaker 4: and we've had a really nice northwesterly wind, warm and shifty, 14 00:00:43,107 --> 00:00:45,147 Speaker 4: and the conditions are going to be great for the weekend. 15 00:00:45,387 --> 00:00:45,907 Speaker 3: We had our. 16 00:00:45,827 --> 00:00:49,347 Speaker 4: Practice day today and you know, pretty uprange conditions and yeah, 17 00:00:49,387 --> 00:00:50,347 Speaker 4: we've got some good training in. 18 00:00:50,507 --> 00:00:53,347 Speaker 2: I see a couple of a couple of boats came 19 00:00:53,387 --> 00:00:55,707 Speaker 2: to grief today. You were able to avoid that. Were 20 00:00:55,747 --> 00:00:58,587 Speaker 2: there any are there are there parts of the race 21 00:00:58,627 --> 00:01:01,627 Speaker 2: course or features of the conditions that you know that 22 00:01:01,707 --> 00:01:03,067 Speaker 2: you do have to be a bit aware of. 23 00:01:04,667 --> 00:01:06,667 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was just quite a tricky day, is the 24 00:01:07,147 --> 00:01:09,227 Speaker 4: you know, the wind was up and then the windows 25 00:01:09,267 --> 00:01:12,907 Speaker 4: coming straight off the headland there of sas neats, and yeah, 26 00:01:12,907 --> 00:01:15,827 Speaker 4: it made for some really challenging, tricky, shifty conditions. So 27 00:01:16,227 --> 00:01:18,627 Speaker 4: had to be definitely on our game today and yeah, 28 00:01:18,707 --> 00:01:21,187 Speaker 4: for our day one training it was definitely spicy conditions. 29 00:01:21,507 --> 00:01:23,667 Speaker 2: What did the win in the last event in Portsmouth 30 00:01:23,707 --> 00:01:24,867 Speaker 2: do for the team's confidence? 31 00:01:26,347 --> 00:01:28,587 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, it was a great confidence booster. 32 00:01:29,027 --> 00:01:30,507 Speaker 4: You know, we knew we had it in us and 33 00:01:30,987 --> 00:01:33,587 Speaker 4: you know, I know we hadn't you know, done too 34 00:01:33,627 --> 00:01:36,067 Speaker 4: well in the in the events earlier on the season 35 00:01:36,147 --> 00:01:37,147 Speaker 4: after I went and dubay it. 36 00:01:37,187 --> 00:01:38,947 Speaker 3: But you know, we've been kind of chipping away in 37 00:01:38,947 --> 00:01:39,387 Speaker 3: the background. 38 00:01:39,427 --> 00:01:41,667 Speaker 4: We've been getting a couple of podiums and just waiting 39 00:01:41,707 --> 00:01:42,947 Speaker 4: for the stars to align. 40 00:01:42,987 --> 00:01:44,747 Speaker 3: And yeah it did importuth. 41 00:01:44,827 --> 00:01:47,547 Speaker 4: We sailed a great event, and yeah, it was a 42 00:01:47,587 --> 00:01:50,187 Speaker 4: really good morale bust coming into the the rest of 43 00:01:50,187 --> 00:01:50,627 Speaker 4: the events. 44 00:01:50,667 --> 00:01:53,227 Speaker 3: Now that the cadence of the events picks up. 45 00:01:53,867 --> 00:01:57,267 Speaker 2: Are you sailing the boat differently or are you just 46 00:01:57,307 --> 00:02:00,347 Speaker 2: trying to do what you have been doing better? 47 00:02:02,507 --> 00:02:03,947 Speaker 3: Not necessarily differently. 48 00:02:03,947 --> 00:02:05,947 Speaker 4: I think there's definitely a few few things that we 49 00:02:05,947 --> 00:02:07,907 Speaker 4: can be a bit more accurate at and a little 50 00:02:07,907 --> 00:02:10,507 Speaker 4: bit better at and find little improvements here and there. 51 00:02:10,507 --> 00:02:13,107 Speaker 4: But no, we're just trying to refine everything at the moment. 52 00:02:13,467 --> 00:02:14,947 Speaker 4: You know, we know we can sell the boat well 53 00:02:14,987 --> 00:02:16,627 Speaker 4: and at the top of the at the top of 54 00:02:16,627 --> 00:02:19,147 Speaker 4: the league. So yeah, just just all about coming together 55 00:02:19,227 --> 00:02:22,427 Speaker 4: and and letting all the all the things align it 56 00:02:22,547 --> 00:02:25,267 Speaker 4: and then getting good starts, picking the good shift and 57 00:02:25,267 --> 00:02:27,987 Speaker 4: then sail on the boat really well and accurately. And yeah, 58 00:02:27,987 --> 00:02:29,707 Speaker 4: it just came together for us and brought tomouth. So 59 00:02:30,387 --> 00:02:32,747 Speaker 4: now he's got to you know, take that, take that 60 00:02:32,867 --> 00:02:35,907 Speaker 4: and find a good way to put it together again 61 00:02:35,947 --> 00:02:36,907 Speaker 4: for the next few events. 62 00:02:37,187 --> 00:02:39,467 Speaker 2: You talk there about aligning things, and I would imagine 63 00:02:39,467 --> 00:02:41,427 Speaker 2: that there are a lot of things that need to 64 00:02:41,467 --> 00:02:44,347 Speaker 2: come together to sail what would be a perfect race. 65 00:02:44,387 --> 00:02:47,227 Speaker 2: Where do you when you're when you're preparing, how do 66 00:02:47,267 --> 00:02:49,467 Speaker 2: you decide where to place your focus to get the 67 00:02:49,507 --> 00:02:52,027 Speaker 2: best returns in terms of improvement? 68 00:02:53,907 --> 00:02:56,227 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean sailing is such a cool sport. There's 69 00:02:56,267 --> 00:02:58,867 Speaker 4: so many different variables you know that come to play. 70 00:02:59,067 --> 00:03:02,107 Speaker 4: Is the win, the tide, the conditions, and then you 71 00:03:02,147 --> 00:03:04,227 Speaker 4: know how you know how every athlete on the boat 72 00:03:04,267 --> 00:03:06,147 Speaker 4: is feeling on the day, and we all have to 73 00:03:06,187 --> 00:03:08,027 Speaker 4: work together as six people on the boat have to 74 00:03:08,387 --> 00:03:10,027 Speaker 4: you know, gel together and work as one. 75 00:03:10,107 --> 00:03:11,667 Speaker 3: So that's a really cool part of it. 76 00:03:11,747 --> 00:03:13,387 Speaker 4: And yeah, I guess you know, we look at the 77 00:03:13,387 --> 00:03:16,307 Speaker 4: conditions every day and we have our playbooks and how 78 00:03:16,347 --> 00:03:19,027 Speaker 4: we take those conditions on and you know, just like 79 00:03:19,067 --> 00:03:21,627 Speaker 4: today it was shifty, windy, so we had to sell 80 00:03:21,627 --> 00:03:24,307 Speaker 4: the boat differently, sometimes not take too much risks, but 81 00:03:24,827 --> 00:03:27,067 Speaker 4: you know there's other teams that are taking more risks 82 00:03:27,107 --> 00:03:28,347 Speaker 4: and sometimes it pays off. 83 00:03:28,427 --> 00:03:30,107 Speaker 3: So yeah, that's the kind of way we look at it. 84 00:03:30,147 --> 00:03:32,907 Speaker 4: And yeah, there's so many different little things, little avenues 85 00:03:32,947 --> 00:03:35,507 Speaker 4: that we could be refining. But yeah, sometimes you know, 86 00:03:35,587 --> 00:03:38,467 Speaker 4: you just got to pick on the pick, pick what 87 00:03:38,467 --> 00:03:41,027 Speaker 4: you can pick your battles. And you know, in Portsmouth 88 00:03:41,147 --> 00:03:43,067 Speaker 4: it was a different kind of condition. It was a 89 00:03:43,067 --> 00:03:45,307 Speaker 4: little bit choppy and wavy, and you know there's a 90 00:03:45,307 --> 00:03:48,187 Speaker 4: lot of things on the course that could get in 91 00:03:48,227 --> 00:03:51,227 Speaker 4: your way, so it was all about selling smart. So yeah, 92 00:03:51,307 --> 00:03:53,507 Speaker 4: I mean sat Nets is going to be a different ballgame. 93 00:03:53,507 --> 00:03:56,507 Speaker 4: It looks like a really windy forecast tomorrow, so you 94 00:03:56,507 --> 00:03:59,187 Speaker 4: can definitely lose the events on the first day, definitely 95 00:03:59,227 --> 00:03:59,667 Speaker 4: not win it. 96 00:03:59,707 --> 00:04:02,267 Speaker 3: So you've got to just stay in it for the Sunday. 97 00:04:02,227 --> 00:04:05,347 Speaker 2: You're still on the tfoils that you're still using the tfoils. 98 00:04:05,707 --> 00:04:06,747 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, we are. 99 00:04:06,987 --> 00:04:10,267 Speaker 2: Hey good the hang of them. 100 00:04:09,147 --> 00:04:09,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so. 101 00:04:10,147 --> 00:04:12,507 Speaker 4: I think you know, they're definitely level of the playing 102 00:04:12,507 --> 00:04:16,147 Speaker 4: field with you know, how how good they are of control. 103 00:04:16,227 --> 00:04:20,227 Speaker 3: But the high speeds and yeah, the way. 104 00:04:20,027 --> 00:04:21,707 Speaker 4: They both have come together now has made it really 105 00:04:21,787 --> 00:04:24,987 Speaker 4: challenging for the for Pete and Live to navigate the course. 106 00:04:25,027 --> 00:04:28,187 Speaker 3: So, you know, they're a great new addition to this. 107 00:04:28,267 --> 00:04:30,347 Speaker 2: How you did it feel like a new toy for 108 00:04:30,427 --> 00:04:33,627 Speaker 2: you when they arrived or and was there any sense 109 00:04:33,667 --> 00:04:36,387 Speaker 2: of trepidation about them? 110 00:04:36,547 --> 00:04:37,347 Speaker 3: Oh, they're awesome. 111 00:04:37,667 --> 00:04:41,347 Speaker 4: You know, any any new piece of technology or hands 112 00:04:41,347 --> 00:04:43,107 Speaker 4: on is always going to be like a you know, 113 00:04:43,187 --> 00:04:46,947 Speaker 4: Christmas present, So it was cool to cool to learn them. 114 00:04:47,027 --> 00:04:50,827 Speaker 4: And actually, you know, yeah, now since we're getting the 115 00:04:50,827 --> 00:04:52,547 Speaker 4: hang of them and and the boat speeds are getting 116 00:04:52,627 --> 00:04:54,707 Speaker 4: higher and the racing is getting more exciting, it's it's 117 00:04:54,707 --> 00:04:56,827 Speaker 4: it's been really fun for the for me and the team. 118 00:04:57,187 --> 00:05:00,267 Speaker 2: You mentioned Leo earlier that you know, at the start 119 00:05:00,307 --> 00:05:02,027 Speaker 2: of the season after Do Buy, which went so well, 120 00:05:02,067 --> 00:05:03,587 Speaker 2: things you know didn't go quite the way you would 121 00:05:03,587 --> 00:05:05,947 Speaker 2: have hoped for a couple of regattas there as a 122 00:05:05,987 --> 00:05:07,707 Speaker 2: new one. But to the team, did you feel any 123 00:05:07,707 --> 00:05:11,107 Speaker 2: internal pressure when things weren't weren't going the way you 124 00:05:11,267 --> 00:05:12,307 Speaker 2: were hoping they would. 125 00:05:14,027 --> 00:05:15,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, I guess you know, as a sportsman, you're always 126 00:05:15,907 --> 00:05:18,627 Speaker 4: going to feel some kind of pressure. And yeah, look, 127 00:05:19,187 --> 00:05:20,867 Speaker 4: I would be lying if I say it didn't feel 128 00:05:20,907 --> 00:05:24,107 Speaker 4: but you know, Andy's a great sailor, and you know there's. 129 00:05:24,107 --> 00:05:25,347 Speaker 3: Definitely some big shoes to feel. 130 00:05:25,387 --> 00:05:28,227 Speaker 4: But I was definitely up for the challenge and I 131 00:05:28,267 --> 00:05:30,067 Speaker 4: know I had to have it in me and I've 132 00:05:30,107 --> 00:05:32,227 Speaker 4: put the work in the background, so I just had 133 00:05:32,227 --> 00:05:35,347 Speaker 4: to back myself and I had a great supporting team 134 00:05:35,427 --> 00:05:38,027 Speaker 4: family and friends that have kind of helped me through it. 135 00:05:38,067 --> 00:05:41,267 Speaker 4: And it's been really it's been really cool and I 136 00:05:41,307 --> 00:05:42,387 Speaker 4: feel at home in this team. 137 00:05:42,467 --> 00:05:45,387 Speaker 3: So yeah, yeah, I just can't haven't been able to. 138 00:05:45,387 --> 00:05:47,827 Speaker 4: Thank the team enough to be honest, for being so supportive, 139 00:05:47,827 --> 00:05:49,707 Speaker 4: and I feel like it's all coming together now. So 140 00:05:50,547 --> 00:05:53,427 Speaker 4: definitely just got to keep chipping away at it and 141 00:05:53,747 --> 00:05:55,467 Speaker 4: you know, come Abu Dhabi, we just got to be 142 00:05:55,467 --> 00:05:56,307 Speaker 4: in that final. 143 00:05:56,387 --> 00:05:58,307 Speaker 2: Good Man, good man, Leo, hey, thanks for joining us. 144 00:05:58,307 --> 00:06:00,707 Speaker 2: Made all the best in Germany. The latest regatta Leio 145 00:06:00,827 --> 00:06:03,307 Speaker 2: take a harshy fly controller with the Black Falls say 146 00:06:03,387 --> 00:06:05,987 Speaker 2: a seal. GP Germany starts early as to tomorrow morning 147 00:06:06,627 --> 00:06:08,627 Speaker 2: I think it is, and then Day two early hours 148 00:06:08,667 --> 00:06:10,467 Speaker 2: of Monday morning. We'll keep you across all of that 149 00:06:10,547 --> 00:06:13,147 Speaker 2: as part of a jam packed sporting weekend. 150 00:06:13,747 --> 00:06:16,947 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 151 00:06:17,027 --> 00:06:20,347 Speaker 1: to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow 152 00:06:20,387 --> 00:06:21,987 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio