SA Olympic sailors launch European campaign in Spain
SA Olympic sailors head for the ISAF.
South Africa’s Olympic sailing hopefuls will compete at the first International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Cup event of the European season, in Majorca, from March 29 to April 5.
Graeme Willcox, a former Victoria Lake Canoe Club member, and his partner, Andrew Tarboton (49er), and Roger Hudson, partnering with Asenathi Jim (470), will be among the more than 1 000 sailors from 53 countries competing at the Mediterranean island.
The regatta signals the start of the European circuit for sailors who are campaigning for the Rio 2016 Olympic sailing competition, and is the fourth of five regattas included in the 2013-2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup.
Willcox and Tarboton, who teamed up only at the end of 2012, have their sights set on competing in their first Olympic Games, in 2016, while Hudson and Jim are looking to take on their second.
“We have spent the winter in the UK working on our weaker points, which we highlighted from last season,” said Willcox.
“We have done quite a lot of heavy wind sailing, as this last winter in the UK has been quite a stormy season.
“This has meant we did not get as much time on the water has we had hoped, but it has been substituted with some good gym work, so we are in good shape.”
The duo competed in a regatta in Weymouth a few weeks ago, their first racing opportunity against other 49ers after the winter training.
“We showed good speed and had great results against some of the top teams,” added Willcox.
“We also found a few more areas to work on, and will keep chipping away at improving ourselves and our team work in the run up to the ISAF World Championships, in Santander, and towards Rio.”
Speaking about the importance of a good showing at next week’s race, Willcox explained that this World Cup event is their first one together as a team, so it is an important milestone.
“We have had a plan from the beginning, whereas 2012-2013 would be when we learnt to sail the boat together, and make sure we can handle the boat in all conditions; and then 2014 was to step it up to the next level and start racing more against the top teams,” he said
“Then 2015 would be a full blown season sailing the European circuit. Hopefully, by then, we will have raised enough money to sustain this.”
The Palma World Cup will kick off with a practise race before the official racing begins.
