Robertson and Gibbs gear up for Youth Olympic Sailing

The duo headed to Nanjing with coach Rob Holden and the rest of Team SA on Tuesday, with the sailing competition, which sees 100 sailors from around the world competing over five days, set to begin on August 18.

Both Robertson and Gibbs booked their spots on the team at a qualifying event on Lake Garda in Italy earlier this year, in boats you do not usually find in Africa — Byte C2.

“It was completely different to what I’m used to sailing in South Africa. It’s a fully battened sail and it’s really big — 7.3 square metres and the sail feels too big for the boat, if you can put it like that,” said 15-year-old Robertson, who hails from Mossel Bay.

“The technique is a lot different and it is really unstable but it’s a fun boat. It tests your fitness in your core a lot.”

Robertson was relishing the opportunity of experiencing the Youth Olympic Games.

“It’s my first time in China. I’m really excited – it’s such a different culture. I’ve been chosen for the SA team three times now but that was always only a sailing group, so this is the first time I’m part of a team where they are other sports involved.

“I’ve already made a lot of friends from the other sports so it’s quite fun – meeting new people and getting to learn their sports.”

Gibbs, also 15 and from Cape Town, said she was excited and looked forward to having some fun.

“It’s going to be serious but I think people are going to try and enjoy it as much as they can because it’s a youth event and it’s something that you can progress from.”

Coach Holden said the Nanjing Games were all about development.

“The whole ethos of this thing is not medals but it’s about developing the person, developing the athlete — so developing their awareness of different cultures and that kind of thing,” he said.

“I think both of these kids have the potential to go to the ISAF Youth World Championships and that’s the pathway to the Olympics so hopefully this is something that will inspire them to develop as athletes for the future and if we get that outcome, then I’m happy.”

Nanjing was hosting the second Youth Olympic Games and Team SA is made up of 50 athletes representing 14 sporting codes. The opening ceremony for the Games takes place on Saturday.

– Sapa