Vicky Blog

News just out everyone…Olympic gold medallist and one of my favourite sailors Mathew Belcher announced today he’ll be kicking off his Rio 2016 campaign with new crewmate, 23-year-old Will Ryan at Sail Melbourne this year!

Will, who has previously competed with another young gun in the 470 class Sim Kivell, was Mat and Malcolm Page’s crewman in London and is also the reigning youth match racing champion.

Will has big shoes to fill with Malcolm retiring from Olympic competition sailing, but Sail Melbourne will be the perfect regatta for him to test the waters on the gorgeous Port Phillip Bay.

 

Malcolm Page and Mat Belcher competing at Sail Melbourne 2011

Sail Melbourne is inching closer and it’s set to be an amazing week. Joining Will and Mat will be Beijing gold medallist Elise Rechichi, Krystal Weir and Brendan Casey, and our 2012 Ambassador Malcolm Page will be spending time not only down at Sandringham, but also across the bay, inspiring our young future Olympians.

Nathan Outteridge’s younger sister Haylee will also be kicking off her 2016 Olympic campaign, while the sailor who’s been called ‘the next Tom Slingsby’ by some, Tom Burton will be vying for gold in the Laser class.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @VickyBoat and keep checking my blog during the week for all the up-to-date action.

Sailing off,

Vicky

It was great sailing on the fourth day of races down at Sandringham Yacht Club yesterday. Tom Slingsby is an absolute champion having so far won all but one of his races. Tom is now leading the Laser class by a whopping 7 points! 

Laser legend Tom Slingsby

Australians are still high up the ladder for the Men’s 470 races with Belcher/Page just 1 point behind the leading team, US sailors Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl. Sneaking up on 3rd is another Aussie team Sam Kivell and Will Ryan. These young guns began the week pretty much owning the course but had a rough time in some of their races today, pushing them back two places. The Men’s 470 races are incredibly close with just 1 point separating each of the top three competing pairs.

And let’s not forget about the ladies! Elise Rechichi and Belinda Stowell have been ripping up the bay in the women’s 470, taking the lead by a good 3 points.

470 Rechichi/Stowell

Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen have finally pushed ahead of Kiwi power duo Tuke/Burling taking the lead by a close 2 points. The Kiwi pair are top blokes but I am so glad Nathan and Iain have pushed through to No. 1! Coming up close behind the New Zealand crew are Australian brothers Sam and Will Phillips.

The beautiful Olympic bronze medallist, Bryony Shaw, has been giving Jess Crisp a bit of a hard time on the water as well as Tom Slingsby’s Italian – and super lovely – girlfriend, Flavia Tartaglini. Bryony currently holds the lead with Flavia taking 2nd place just ahead of Jess. 

Races with beautiful Melbourne in the background

Yesterday also marked the beginning of the kiteboarding competitions down at Hampton Beach. There are three types of kiteboarding competitions happening including the Course Racing, Kiter-cross Short Course and the amazing Freestyle. This is definitely one aspect of the ISAF Sailing World Cup you DO NOT want to miss.

We’ve got some real Australian superstars out there on the bay and with the last day of competition drawing ever nearer, things are really starting to heat up!

 

Sailing off,
Vicky

It’s official, Melbourne weather is just bonkers.

It’s a bit of a running joke in the industry where the hosts of the regatta say, “The weather isn’t usually like this at this time of year,” but seriously who can predict the weather in Melbourne?

Monday saw clear blue skies and light breezes, Tuesday saw too little wind and Wednesday had way too much wind!

Fortunately most of the 12 o’clock races were able to finish with two of the three scheduled RS:X Women’s races going ahead. Jess Crisp slipped down to No. 2 on the overall ladder after claiming two 4th places, pushing British rival Bryony Shaw to the top ahead of Jess by 3 points.

 

Lasers heading out to race 

In the Men’s 470 Australians Sam Kivell and Will Ryan are still leading the pack ahead of American team Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl, followed closely by Australian World No. 1 team Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page.

The weather was absolutely beautiful for most of yesterday after light showers in the morning. The Lasers were looking fantastic as they began heading out onto the bay for their first scheduled race at 2:30pm but heavy winds saw media boats turn into rescue boats as the entire fleet was called back into the boatyard. Many athletes could be found on the yacht club balcony nervously watching the bay and hoping the winds would die down.

Meanwhile, guests were enjoying the Sail Experience Luncheon as part of the Sailing World Cup Carnival up in the yacht club. Groups of corporates and other sailing fiends enjoyed a three-course lunch and were treated to a presentation from leading CSIRO scientist Dr Hajkowicz on global trends and the rise of lifestyle sports.

Sail Experience Luncheon guests heading out on the bay

Dr Hajkowicz discussed the massive growth in extreme sports and how Beijing introduced BMX cycling and now kiteboarding is going to be part of the Olympic course – activities that have culturally been taken up at a street level are now being recognised as true sports. This is spurred on by digital medio, especially channels like YouTube.

Another key point was that as Australia’s cultural profile has changed, with immigration being focused on the British and then on the Europeans, dominating sports have gone from the traditional AFL, cricket and rugby to sports such as soccer.

The rise in personal participation in sport as opposed to structured sports was discussed, with time-poor individuals preferring to exercise in gyms or put their iPods in and go for a run instead of committing to an 18-hole round of golf once a week.

Athletes helping out at the Sail Experience Luncheon

 

The lack of racing in the afternoon meant that guests getting out in boats on the bay to get up close to the competition wasn't possible, but a few of the more thrill seeking attendees went out for a spin while the rest were entertained by Olympians including Tom Slingsby and Nathan Outteridge who came straight off the water to chat to guests.

The storm that halted competition

It’s going to be a very busy bay over the next few days as we all try and get back on track with the racing. Races are expected to resume today at 10:30am. Let’s keep our sails crossed the weather improves!

Sailing off,
Vicky

 

There was a lot going on at Sandringham Yacht Club on Day 2 of sailing at the ISAF Sailing World Cup.

Winds – or lack there of – were a bit of a trouble out on the bay, causing multiple postponements and the cancelling of RS:X, Skud, 2.4m and Access Liberty races. However despite weather troubles the Laser, 49er and 470 classes were still able to compete. 

Wind-whisperer Tom Slingsby has had a great performance in the Laser class winning every race but his second so far, in which he came a strong 2nd.

Australians are still dominating the Men’s 470 with Sam Kivell and Will Ryan in the lead by 4 points followed closely by sailing superstars Matt Belcher and Malcolm Page who are currently tied neck to neck with American sailors Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to see Jess Crisp show all the international competitors who’s boss out on the bay today due to light winds but the good news is she’s still leading the pack by a heavy 4 points.

Laser fleet in action

Still with plenty of action taking place on the bay, yesterday’s events were about more than just competition as the International Sailing Summit took place at Sandringham Yacht Club.

Key issues raised at the summit included the importance of growing participation in the sport amongst youth and the growing potential for sailing and boating sports to achieve a greater profile both in Australia and internationally.

Some great speakers were able to offer and share their ideas on how to raise the sport’s profile.

Chairman of the Boating Industries Alliance Australia, President of the BIA of NSW and final speaker for the summit Darren Vaux finished his speech with great optimism saying, “We have a very exciting future ahead of us.”

With so many amazing athletes and sporting growth potential it really is an exciting time for sailing in Australia.

10th International Sailing Summit

We then went straight to the Official World Cup Dinner held in the amazing Port Phillip Room, where just as we sat down to begin our meals there was a sighting of dolphins out on the bay! Everyone rushed over to the floor-to-ceiling windows to gush over the gorgeous creatures, including me.

We were treated to a fabulous night of delicious food and an entertaining host in the form of ISS founder Alistair Murray, who kept guests laughing all night. Sailing legend John Bertrand and Olympian and member of the Oarsome Foursome Nick Green inspired all in the room with their tales of Olympic Games past. We also heard from Tom Slingsby and Nathan Outteridge, who will find out if he has won the title of 2011 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year today, and the night finished off with a beautiful singing performance by Chloe Maggs of Collective Live as a tribute to our Olympians.

Tom Slingsby at the International Sailing Summit

Hopefully weather conditions will improve for Day 3 of the competition – I can’t wait to see windsurfer Jess Crisp rip up that bay!

See you all down on the water.

Sailing off,
Vicky

It was an action packed day down at Sail Melbourne with the first day of races showing close results. The weather was beautiful with clear blue skies offering perfect breathtaking views of Port Phillip Bay from Sandringham Yacht Club.

Laser class world champion Tom Slingsby finished the day on top, just scraping ahead of British rival Nick Thompson by one point. In third place comes Australian sailor Ashley Brunning who came 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in his first two races, putting him one point behind Thompson. With such close results, the competition here at Sandringham Yacht Club is fierce so far.

Laser class gets off to a good sailing start

Melbourne Laser Radial star Krystal Weir is showing good form but with such top talent has her work cut out for her, ending the day on a close 6^th with 14 total net points. Krystal has another 5 more days to battle her way onto a podium and since Sandringham is her home yacht club, hopes for her success are high.

Australian Men’s 470s are giving international competitors a bit of a run for their money with sailing teams Kivell/Ryan and Page/Belcher ending day 1 of the racing 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. It’s so great to see so much Australian talent out on the water!

New Zealand 49er crew Peter Burling and Blair Tuke are tough rivals to beat for Australian crews Phillips/Phillips and Outteridge/Jensen. The two Australian crews are fighting neck and neck with their New Zealand counterparts who are just 1 point ahead of the competition while they ended the day on a solid equal 2nd.

49er crew Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen

Jess Crisp is absolutely flying ahead of her competition ending the day on top with 3 net points.

Australia has produced some truly spectacular sailing athletes, many of who have ended the first day of competition in the top 3 in their class. However we still have another five more days of competition left so nobody is safe just yet.

Day 2 of sailing begins at noon today with Finn, 470, 49er, Laser, Laser Radial, RS:X Windsurfing, Access Liberty and Paralympic classes racing on the bay. It’s another big day of sailing with many high hopes for Australian athletes.

Also coming up today is the 10^th International Sailing Summit, with some of the best in the business heading down to Sandringham to hear speakers including Olympic gold medallist Mark Turnbull OAM, Marine Industry Chairman of the BIA Darren Vaux and Program Director of the High Performance Unit Australian Sailing Team Peter Conde. The Summit aims to drive positive change in the industry – I can’t wait to sit in and listen to the experts!

Laser World No.1 Tom Slingsby

Here’s to another day of great racing – the weather definitely won’t dampen our spirits.

Sailing off,

Vicky

The competition at this year’s Sail Melbourne is looking fantastic. So many of the world’s greatest sailing legends call Australia home and this year’s competition at Sail Melbourne is packed full of inspiring elite athletes. Here’s a few I recommend you keep an eye out for on the bay.

Some of you may have heard of Tom Slingsby but I bet you didn’t know he actually had a promising tennis career before leaving the sport and taking up sailing more seriously when he was 15. Since then he has achieved so much! He scored his first major win at the 2000 Laser Radial Nationals and in 2005 he claimed victory with Laser Olympic class wins at the Hyeres and Holland Regattas.

Tom was also part of the Australian Sailing Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and ended up placing 22^nd in the competition. However in 2010 he turned it back around and celebrated his 26^th birthday in style by winning his 3^rd Laser World Championship in four years, having also taken the title in 2007 and 2008.

 

Tom Slingsby at the 2010 Sail for Gold Regatta

Also in 2010 Tom won the Etchells Championship with John Bertrand and Andrew Palfrey. Last year Tom was named the 2010 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the year, becoming the FIRST AUSTRALIAN to win the prestigious award, and won five of the six international regattas he entered in the Laser class. On top of that he only just recently won gold at the Olympic sailing test event in Weymouth, England, showing his competitors he is the one to beat at next year’s London Olympics. Tom is a total sailing legend!

I’m really looking forward to seeing Nathan Outteridge battle it out on the bay. That guy sure knows how to work a boat. Nathan has just been named a finalist for the 2011 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award. Him and his sailing partner Iain Jensen just had their third consecutive win at the 2011 Sail for Gold regattas and also won gold at the Olympic test event.

Nathan Outteridge at Audi Victoria Week 2011

 

We’ve also got local Melbourne girl Krystal Weir joining in on all the action aiming for gold in the Laser Radial class. Krystal has had success in the Yngling class with Karyn Gojnich and Angela Farrell, winning silver at the 2008 Yngling World Championships and going on to place 10^th at the Beijing Olympics. This year’s Sail Melbourne will see Krystal return to the Laser Radial class. She’s definitely come a long way from her local beach in Elwood!

Krystal Weir at the Qindao International Regatta 2007

 

Another athlete you simply MUST watch out for is Sam Kivell. He’s a strong sailor aiming to represent Australia at the Olympics and is a favourite at this year’s Sail Melbourne. Sam is a member of the Australian Sailing Development Squad in the Men’s 470 helm and trains at Sandringham Yacht Club. He claimed sweet victory in 2008, coming 1^st in the 420 Class at the National Championships. Sam and his sailing partner, Max Taylor, also placed 3^rd at in 2009 at Sail Melbourne.

Sam Kivell before competing at Sail Melbourne in 2009

I’m buzzing in anticipation with the incredible amount of talent we’re about to see battle it out on the bay. This is one very excited boat!

 

Sailing off,

 

Vicky