1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,867 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,867 --> 00:00:15,507 Speaker 2: I had the opportunity yesterday to speak with sle GP CEO, 4 00:00:15,587 --> 00:00:18,387 Speaker 2: Sir Russell Coots. He's been the driving force behind sal 5 00:00:18,507 --> 00:00:22,667 Speaker 2: GP as CEO and co founder, instrumental in creating and 6 00:00:22,707 --> 00:00:26,147 Speaker 2: growing a fast, global high performance sailing league. Now this 7 00:00:26,307 --> 00:00:29,307 Speaker 2: was recorded before what we saw play out on the 8 00:00:29,307 --> 00:00:32,147 Speaker 2: water yesterday, so there's no reference to the events on 9 00:00:32,267 --> 00:00:34,067 Speaker 2: day one, but still keen to let your heir his 10 00:00:34,107 --> 00:00:36,907 Speaker 2: overall thoughts on sale GP and where it might head 11 00:00:36,987 --> 00:00:39,427 Speaker 2: in the future. I started by asking if the very 12 00:00:39,547 --> 00:00:42,787 Speaker 2: rapid growth of sale GP was what he imagined right 13 00:00:42,827 --> 00:00:43,667 Speaker 2: from the start. 14 00:00:44,627 --> 00:00:47,147 Speaker 3: Was what we hoped for at the start, It's not 15 00:00:47,187 --> 00:00:52,827 Speaker 3: necessarily what we thought would happen this quickly, So yeah, 16 00:00:52,867 --> 00:00:57,667 Speaker 3: that's encouraging science. You know, we're definitely building very fast 17 00:00:57,707 --> 00:01:03,467 Speaker 3: and attracting new audiences in new markets, so you know, 18 00:01:03,787 --> 00:01:05,747 Speaker 3: it's encouraging to see, and I think the I think 19 00:01:05,787 --> 00:01:08,427 Speaker 3: the racing product really stacks up. It's pretty clear that 20 00:01:08,467 --> 00:01:13,227 Speaker 3: we are getting fans from a much broader spectrum than 21 00:01:13,307 --> 00:01:16,547 Speaker 3: just the avid sailing fan. We're getting the racing fan. 22 00:01:16,547 --> 00:01:19,867 Speaker 3: We're getting the general sports fan, and we're also getting 23 00:01:19,867 --> 00:01:22,587 Speaker 3: i think the lifestyle sector that's coming along to our 24 00:01:22,587 --> 00:01:23,627 Speaker 3: events just to have fun. 25 00:01:24,387 --> 00:01:27,827 Speaker 2: The fifties they are extraordinary machines, aren't they. Is there 26 00:01:27,867 --> 00:01:31,307 Speaker 2: still performance to unlock in the fifties, do you believe? 27 00:01:31,707 --> 00:01:34,827 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely, particularly in the lighter ones, you know, which 28 00:01:34,867 --> 00:01:38,547 Speaker 3: is a real focus. We want to get more movement 29 00:01:38,587 --> 00:01:43,467 Speaker 3: on screen, and so yeah, clearly the light wind performances 30 00:01:43,667 --> 00:01:48,707 Speaker 3: is something that we are developing quite we've quite a 31 00:01:48,747 --> 00:01:53,267 Speaker 3: lot of focus, you know. Having said that, the fact 32 00:01:53,307 --> 00:01:55,507 Speaker 3: that the boats are equal, I think is one of 33 00:01:55,547 --> 00:01:59,067 Speaker 3: the big compelling reasons why the product stacks up. I mean, 34 00:01:59,747 --> 00:02:02,867 Speaker 3: nine different teams have now one events and all of 35 00:02:02,907 --> 00:02:06,467 Speaker 3: the teams have won races, and eleven out of the 36 00:02:06,547 --> 00:02:08,747 Speaker 3: twelve teams that competed last year. Of course, we've got 37 00:02:08,747 --> 00:02:11,867 Speaker 3: an next additional one from Sweden this year. Eleven and 38 00:02:11,867 --> 00:02:14,347 Speaker 3: of the twelve finished on the podium at some stage, 39 00:02:14,747 --> 00:02:20,227 Speaker 3: So that makes it compelling, you know. It's very unpredictable. 40 00:02:21,227 --> 00:02:27,147 Speaker 3: Of course, fans following their teams, their local teams, they 41 00:02:27,187 --> 00:02:28,867 Speaker 3: want to see performance, they want to see the team 42 00:02:28,907 --> 00:02:31,387 Speaker 3: do well. So if they can occasionally get on the 43 00:02:31,387 --> 00:02:34,627 Speaker 3: podium even if they're not winning the championship, that's a bonus. 44 00:02:35,067 --> 00:02:37,827 Speaker 2: With such a tight field, the world's best sailors, as 45 00:02:37,867 --> 00:02:41,907 Speaker 2: you say, identical boats race to race. What is giving 46 00:02:42,427 --> 00:02:45,707 Speaker 2: one boat an advantage over another or the rest of 47 00:02:45,747 --> 00:02:46,187 Speaker 2: the field. 48 00:02:46,747 --> 00:02:50,027 Speaker 3: Well, it's the team on boards. And we've seen several 49 00:02:50,827 --> 00:02:54,107 Speaker 3: crew swaps this year and that's been significant. You know, 50 00:02:54,547 --> 00:02:59,307 Speaker 3: it was interesting. I thought the British wouldn't go so 51 00:02:59,507 --> 00:03:04,507 Speaker 3: well in Perth, you know, I mean, not that Stu Bithel. 52 00:03:05,067 --> 00:03:08,427 Speaker 3: They swapped the Engens and out their wing trimmer for 53 00:03:08,787 --> 00:03:12,147 Speaker 3: Stue Berthel and Sue was of course with the German 54 00:03:12,227 --> 00:03:17,347 Speaker 3: team before that, and not that Stew's, you know, not capable. 55 00:03:17,347 --> 00:03:21,267 Speaker 3: He's an Olympic gold medalist, in fact, both of them are. 56 00:03:21,467 --> 00:03:26,227 Speaker 3: But I just felt that that combination was working incredibly 57 00:03:26,227 --> 00:03:29,867 Speaker 3: well on the British boat. So that was a surprise 58 00:03:29,947 --> 00:03:31,827 Speaker 3: to be that to see them go so well on Perth, 59 00:03:32,187 --> 00:03:34,187 Speaker 3: and probably a bit of a red flag for the 60 00:03:34,227 --> 00:03:37,467 Speaker 3: other teams, because of course they are the season champions, 61 00:03:37,627 --> 00:03:40,267 Speaker 3: or the twenty twenty four season champions, and to come 62 00:03:40,267 --> 00:03:43,507 Speaker 3: out and win that first event with such a significant 63 00:03:43,547 --> 00:03:47,307 Speaker 3: crew change is a warning sign, I would suggest for 64 00:03:47,347 --> 00:03:53,627 Speaker 3: the other teams. Having said that, though the Australians bought 65 00:03:53,627 --> 00:03:55,667 Speaker 3: in Glenn Ashby, and I thought that would be a 66 00:03:55,707 --> 00:03:59,107 Speaker 3: massive disadvantage for them. You know, again, Glenn's a very 67 00:03:59,147 --> 00:04:04,427 Speaker 3: accomplished racer, but he hasn't been racing regularly and he's 68 00:04:04,587 --> 00:04:07,747 Speaker 3: no spring chicken anymore, you know. So I felt that 69 00:04:07,747 --> 00:04:10,467 Speaker 3: that would be a real disadvantage for them, and they 70 00:04:10,827 --> 00:04:13,507 Speaker 3: finished in second place. It might have been helped by 71 00:04:13,507 --> 00:04:15,627 Speaker 3: the Kiwis getting knocked out in the first race too, 72 00:04:16,627 --> 00:04:19,827 Speaker 3: who knows. The French were very competitive and the strong 73 00:04:19,867 --> 00:04:21,987 Speaker 3: ones as you'd expect, and I expect them to be 74 00:04:22,027 --> 00:04:23,307 Speaker 3: competitive here in Auckland. 75 00:04:24,107 --> 00:04:27,987 Speaker 2: Data and analytics have become central to sal GP. Always were, 76 00:04:28,067 --> 00:04:30,987 Speaker 2: but even more so are we heading towards the time 77 00:04:31,027 --> 00:04:34,787 Speaker 2: when sal GP is as data driven as Formula one for. 78 00:04:34,707 --> 00:04:42,427 Speaker 3: Example, Well, in some ways more so because all of 79 00:04:42,467 --> 00:04:45,107 Speaker 3: the coaches. If you walk into the coaching booth this weekend, 80 00:04:45,307 --> 00:04:48,427 Speaker 3: you'll see that all of the coaches can see all 81 00:04:48,467 --> 00:04:51,507 Speaker 3: the data from all the boats and they can interrogate 82 00:04:51,547 --> 00:04:55,867 Speaker 3: that system live. So for example, they could ask the 83 00:04:55,987 --> 00:05:00,427 Speaker 3: system for reasons why one boat's performing better than another 84 00:05:00,547 --> 00:05:03,147 Speaker 3: and it will spit out ten insights as to why 85 00:05:03,187 --> 00:05:07,667 Speaker 3: it's doing that instantly. So of course in Formula one, 86 00:05:07,707 --> 00:05:11,787 Speaker 3: each team has their own data and that's kept very secret. 87 00:05:13,347 --> 00:05:16,467 Speaker 3: Here you have access to the data. It doesn't necessarily 88 00:05:16,507 --> 00:05:19,667 Speaker 3: mean you can duplicate performance though, you know, there's some 89 00:05:19,707 --> 00:05:22,227 Speaker 3: of the teams it's well known that they're able to 90 00:05:22,267 --> 00:05:25,867 Speaker 3: fly the boats higher, which is a combination between the 91 00:05:25,907 --> 00:05:31,507 Speaker 3: wing trimmer, the flight controller, and the driver. Yet they 92 00:05:31,587 --> 00:05:36,347 Speaker 3: can't duplicate that performance, you know, because some people are 93 00:05:36,347 --> 00:05:39,307 Speaker 3: more skillful with their reading of the wind or their 94 00:05:39,307 --> 00:05:43,587 Speaker 3: communication on board, and you're just seeing that slight difference, 95 00:05:43,667 --> 00:05:46,187 Speaker 3: and that's quite a big drag difference. You're seeing sort 96 00:05:46,227 --> 00:05:50,187 Speaker 3: of two and a half centimeters of average ride height 97 00:05:50,747 --> 00:05:53,507 Speaker 3: in some cases where some teams are able to consistently 98 00:05:53,547 --> 00:05:55,787 Speaker 3: fly higher than the others and reduce the drags. So 99 00:05:56,867 --> 00:06:01,067 Speaker 3: all identical equipment, they know what the differences are down 100 00:06:01,107 --> 00:06:04,947 Speaker 3: to the millimeter, and yet they can't necessarily duplicate that, 101 00:06:05,027 --> 00:06:07,947 Speaker 3: which is understandable in a way, you know, the skill 102 00:06:07,987 --> 00:06:11,347 Speaker 3: of the athlete, the skill of the humans coming through. 103 00:06:11,227 --> 00:06:14,827 Speaker 2: Yeah, you nailed that. Will the human side of it, 104 00:06:14,867 --> 00:06:17,987 Speaker 2: the instinct, that sort of thing. As we sit here today, 105 00:06:17,987 --> 00:06:20,107 Speaker 2: what is the future of sale gp Auckland. 106 00:06:21,307 --> 00:06:24,307 Speaker 3: Well, you know, we definitely want to come back our 107 00:06:24,387 --> 00:06:27,667 Speaker 3: goal with the league. Now we've sort of gone through 108 00:06:27,787 --> 00:06:32,147 Speaker 3: the I suppose the establishing stage where we had to 109 00:06:32,227 --> 00:06:36,507 Speaker 3: establish a brand new league product and convince people that 110 00:06:36,547 --> 00:06:39,107 Speaker 3: it was going to work, and we're probably past that 111 00:06:39,227 --> 00:06:43,347 Speaker 3: stage now, and so now we want to solidify the 112 00:06:43,387 --> 00:06:46,387 Speaker 3: calendar because if you think about the business side of 113 00:06:46,387 --> 00:06:51,747 Speaker 3: the operation, we are getting great viewership in some of 114 00:06:51,787 --> 00:06:56,547 Speaker 3: our events, but we lack the consistency of schedule and 115 00:06:56,747 --> 00:07:00,627 Speaker 3: number of events to really be able to commercial for those, 116 00:07:01,107 --> 00:07:04,947 Speaker 3: for example, broadcast partners to fully commercialize the product. So 117 00:07:04,987 --> 00:07:08,427 Speaker 3: if you look at Formula one Motor GP twenty four 118 00:07:08,467 --> 00:07:13,347 Speaker 3: and twenty three events per season, and we're thirteen, about 119 00:07:13,347 --> 00:07:18,467 Speaker 3: to become fourteen events per season, so we need to 120 00:07:18,467 --> 00:07:21,347 Speaker 3: grow that. You know, there's a certain there's a number 121 00:07:21,387 --> 00:07:24,427 Speaker 3: that you need to really for the to be able 122 00:07:24,467 --> 00:07:27,267 Speaker 3: to for the broadcast partners to be able to take 123 00:07:27,307 --> 00:07:31,587 Speaker 3: that to other entities and be able to fully commercialize 124 00:07:31,627 --> 00:07:34,227 Speaker 3: it on a regular basis. And once we can do that, 125 00:07:34,267 --> 00:07:35,747 Speaker 3: I think we're going to see a big jump in 126 00:07:37,907 --> 00:07:41,587 Speaker 3: audience and also I think values as well. 127 00:07:41,747 --> 00:07:44,907 Speaker 2: So the expansion is more venues. What about more teams. 128 00:07:45,067 --> 00:07:46,867 Speaker 3: Yeah, we want to go to twenty teams. So next 129 00:07:46,947 --> 00:07:50,707 Speaker 3: year we've already got fourteen. Now the fourteenth will start 130 00:07:50,787 --> 00:07:54,307 Speaker 3: next season, so that'll be announced for due course. 131 00:07:55,667 --> 00:07:58,387 Speaker 2: You could give us the exclusive now I could do. 132 00:07:58,587 --> 00:08:00,867 Speaker 3: I could do, but my PR team would shoot me. 133 00:08:02,107 --> 00:08:06,507 Speaker 3: So yeah, there were fourteen teams next year, so we 134 00:08:06,627 --> 00:08:09,547 Speaker 3: will split next year into seven and seven, and then 135 00:08:09,587 --> 00:08:11,747 Speaker 3: we'll go to eight and eight, nine to nine and 136 00:08:11,787 --> 00:08:14,027 Speaker 3: ten and ten and that'll be the maximum. We'll go 137 00:08:14,107 --> 00:08:17,187 Speaker 3: to twenty teams. So we already have a lot of 138 00:08:17,187 --> 00:08:21,427 Speaker 3: interest for those new teams. We probably won't go to 139 00:08:21,547 --> 00:08:25,027 Speaker 3: market for teams fifteen and sixteen until later this year, 140 00:08:25,067 --> 00:08:29,587 Speaker 3: although there's obviously some entities are approaching us now, but 141 00:08:29,707 --> 00:08:33,387 Speaker 3: we won't actually go to market in a sales sense 142 00:08:34,387 --> 00:08:35,387 Speaker 3: until later this year. 143 00:08:36,387 --> 00:08:38,347 Speaker 2: No country would have more than one team or can 144 00:08:38,347 --> 00:08:38,667 Speaker 2: you see it? 145 00:08:38,707 --> 00:08:41,747 Speaker 3: You can't have more than one team. No, we're not 146 00:08:41,787 --> 00:08:45,987 Speaker 3: going to change that rule. So we think there's real 147 00:08:46,067 --> 00:08:48,307 Speaker 3: value in that. You know, the team four of the 148 00:08:48,347 --> 00:08:51,987 Speaker 3: teams now are profitable, so you know, because we have 149 00:08:52,027 --> 00:08:55,587 Speaker 3: a spending cap on what the teams can spend each year, 150 00:08:55,627 --> 00:09:00,307 Speaker 3: and they literally are pretty in a real sense capped anyway, 151 00:09:00,387 --> 00:09:06,427 Speaker 3: because they can't buy new equipment or develop equipment that 152 00:09:06,667 --> 00:09:09,907 Speaker 3: they've got to use the equipment supplied, so and they're 153 00:09:09,907 --> 00:09:14,147 Speaker 3: not let them modify that in any way, So that 154 00:09:14,307 --> 00:09:17,427 Speaker 3: effectively caps the cost. And then four of the teams 155 00:09:17,467 --> 00:09:20,307 Speaker 3: are able to generate a profit from that from their 156 00:09:20,667 --> 00:09:25,707 Speaker 3: commercial partnerships. And then in the future course the teams 157 00:09:26,347 --> 00:09:29,427 Speaker 3: was just starting on this journey now where they are 158 00:09:29,427 --> 00:09:33,947 Speaker 3: starting to exploit exploit their licensing and eventually of course 159 00:09:33,987 --> 00:09:37,627 Speaker 3: meteaites which they share and for each of the country. 160 00:09:37,747 --> 00:09:40,547 Speaker 3: So yeah, it's it's it's going well. Two of the 161 00:09:40,587 --> 00:09:43,507 Speaker 3: two of the other teams are essentially break even today 162 00:09:43,547 --> 00:09:46,307 Speaker 3: and some of them are about to announce new partnerships. 163 00:09:46,307 --> 00:09:50,747 Speaker 3: So commercially for the teams, it's running very well, you know, 164 00:09:51,347 --> 00:09:55,427 Speaker 3: as well as the league to finish. 165 00:09:55,507 --> 00:09:59,067 Speaker 2: Do you ever miss the intensity of racing itself, being 166 00:09:59,107 --> 00:10:00,747 Speaker 2: out there with a spray in your face or do 167 00:10:00,787 --> 00:10:04,987 Speaker 2: you get a similar, if different buzz from this. 168 00:10:07,547 --> 00:10:09,907 Speaker 3: I get a buzz from watching this, you know. I mean, 169 00:10:10,787 --> 00:10:15,667 Speaker 3: I think any athlete that's that's competed at a high 170 00:10:15,787 --> 00:10:18,987 Speaker 3: level when they can no longer compete at that same level, 171 00:10:19,427 --> 00:10:21,867 Speaker 3: it's not as much fun to compete anymore, you know, 172 00:10:21,947 --> 00:10:24,787 Speaker 3: and I know I wouldn't be anywhere near the level 173 00:10:24,867 --> 00:10:29,307 Speaker 3: that perhaps I once was, so to me that the 174 00:10:29,427 --> 00:10:32,107 Speaker 3: fun of that and you know, the challenge of that's 175 00:10:32,147 --> 00:10:36,067 Speaker 3: long gone. But I get a huge amount of pleasure 176 00:10:36,067 --> 00:10:39,187 Speaker 3: out of watching the skill level develop of this new 177 00:10:39,267 --> 00:10:45,307 Speaker 3: generation of sailing athletes. I mean, they really are incredible. 178 00:10:45,747 --> 00:10:48,867 Speaker 3: And when you recognize how difficult these boats are to 179 00:10:48,987 --> 00:10:54,987 Speaker 3: sail littlelone race, then the skill level is exceptional. It 180 00:10:55,067 --> 00:10:58,707 Speaker 3: is across the board, you know, I mean, to get 181 00:10:58,747 --> 00:11:00,867 Speaker 3: in the top half of this fleet's very difficult, to 182 00:11:00,907 --> 00:11:04,307 Speaker 3: get on the padiums exceptionally difficult, and to win the 183 00:11:04,347 --> 00:11:08,947 Speaker 3: overall roll itself, to PEA championship, you've really got to 184 00:11:08,947 --> 00:11:12,467 Speaker 3: put it all together across an entire season. So yeah, 185 00:11:12,467 --> 00:11:17,427 Speaker 3: it's not easy. But the encouraging thing is I think, 186 00:11:17,507 --> 00:11:21,187 Speaker 3: I think we've got some incredible young athletes coming through now, 187 00:11:21,227 --> 00:11:23,787 Speaker 3: and as we develop those pathways further to bring those 188 00:11:23,827 --> 00:11:26,787 Speaker 3: athletes on, I think I think, you know, even here 189 00:11:26,827 --> 00:11:31,787 Speaker 3: in New Zealand, there's some very very capable, talented young 190 00:11:32,547 --> 00:11:35,027 Speaker 3: what I believe will become future stars of the sport. 191 00:11:35,867 --> 00:11:38,627 Speaker 3: And you know, that's super exciting to. 192 00:11:38,587 --> 00:11:41,347 Speaker 2: See, indeed, well in the middle of an extraordinarily busy 193 00:11:41,387 --> 00:11:43,467 Speaker 2: weekend for you, Russell, Thank you for taking Thank you. 194 00:11:43,747 --> 00:11:43,987 Speaker 3: Thanks. 195 00:11:44,347 --> 00:11:45,747 Speaker 2: I can be back and awk the next year. If 196 00:11:45,747 --> 00:11:47,947 Speaker 2: we are back here, you'll join us again. Hopefully. 197 00:11:48,027 --> 00:11:49,747 Speaker 3: We hope to be back next year. We've agreed on 198 00:11:49,867 --> 00:11:53,387 Speaker 3: everything in terms of the financial side of the event 199 00:11:53,427 --> 00:11:56,627 Speaker 3: and so forth. We're just we're just trying to agree 200 00:11:56,627 --> 00:12:00,107 Speaker 3: on the dates. So if we can get that over 201 00:12:00,147 --> 00:12:02,267 Speaker 3: the line, we'll be back here next year. So looking 202 00:12:02,307 --> 00:12:02,667 Speaker 3: forward to it. 203 00:12:02,707 --> 00:12:04,587 Speaker 2: We're looking forward to it. So thanks Russell, thanks for 204 00:12:04,667 --> 00:12:08,987 Speaker 2: joining us. Coots, Sir RASL Coots, who I spoke to yesterday, 205 00:12:09,067 --> 00:12:12,227 Speaker 2: good news that the the Auckland event will be back 206 00:12:12,267 --> 00:12:14,427 Speaker 2: next year. They just have to work out the dates 207 00:12:14,627 --> 00:12:17,507 Speaker 2: and and will be will be good to go. There's 208 00:12:17,587 --> 00:12:19,507 Speaker 2: the the Ocean Race, of course, which has to be 209 00:12:19,547 --> 00:12:20,427 Speaker 2: factored into all of this. 210 00:12:21,387 --> 00:12:24,547 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 211 00:12:24,667 --> 00:12:27,947 Speaker 1: to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow 212 00:12:27,987 --> 00:12:29,587 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.