Talent Factory

Emirates Team New Zealand sending ominous signals from Auckland...

There’s a lot of talk in sailing about ‘pathways’ and I’ve always judged them on actions rather than words. Most are pretty good and honest with a recognition that what works today, isn’t necessarily guaranteed to work tomorrow. Some are just exercises in chat, but having a healthy churn of sailors is a good thing and the higher you go up the sport, the more critical it is to have a blend of youth and experience. Get to the apex and it’s vital such are the reactions and skills required when you step onboard an AC40, AC75 or F50. Just like in Formula 1, you need those fast reaction times and that core strength that diminishes over time, as well as an unbridled enthusiasm to spend long hours in the SIM and on the water.