Locals get set to sail
READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD
SEVEN cadet sailors have taken inspiration from Geelong world champion Thomas Alexander ahead of maiden voyages to Germany.
Ashton Rawstron, Oliver Grieve, Emma Kelly, Jarrah Harris Moore, Elliot Hughes, Peter Allen, Evie McDonald and Cate McCoy join Geelong coach Tony Bull in the Australian team that will compete in the annual world cadet championships held in Bodstedt, Germany, in late July.
Alexander, who won the Weymouth edition with sister Sophie in 2014, returned to the club last weekend and spoke to the crew as it prepared for the biggest event on the cadet sailing calendar.
“Thomas actually came back with a number sailor, Emily Goodfellow, and they actually spoke to the kids last weekend as part of the preparation, which was very well received,” Bull said.
“They were very interested in the psychology of winning, keeping a level head, don’t get too stressed out and take each day as it comes.”
Bull is in his sixth year as Australian coach and said Geelong had an even bunch of sailors set to represent Germany this year.
“They’re all very even and we’re really encouraging them to try and work with each other,” he said.
“One thing Thomas and Emily really stressed was that you have to have a strong team to have a really strong performance. I think any one of them could do really well.
“In the Netherlands last time we did very well. We had some Geelong sailors in the team, but the Tasmanians in our team did very well.
“All we can do is train as hard as we can and try as hard as we can and give ourselves the best chance of doing well.”
One advantage that levels the playing field is the fact it’s a one-design class, meaning all crews will race in the exact same boats.
“It’s an under-17 class, so our age group basically ranges from 16 through to eight years old — usually you have an older skipper with a younger crew — and basically they have their Australian championships and the top seven boats are selected to compete,” Bull said.
“We’re chartering boats over there from Poland, so we’ll get there into the regatta in a place called Bodstedt in Germany, which is right up north near the Baltic Sea.
“We'll be doing a week’s training in the boats before the world championships, just getting used to the area.”