Two women add SailGP experience to rsums
Erica Dawson and Liv Mackay are stamping their mark in the New Zealand sailing history books.
The pair have been named in the New Zealand SailGP Team after being selected through the female development programme.
They’ll compete under co-chief executives Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, and alongside a team made up of Olympic, around-the-world and America’s Cup sailors from around the country.
Dawson is relishing the opportunity to become someone women in sailing could look up to.
“It’s really great for younger girls to see other females in the highest level of our sport so that they believe they can do the same,” she said.
“It’s an important step for this sport to be taking to make it more gender-equal and is sending a really cool message.
“For us to be on equal playing fields means these girls will get the chance to upskill, which could help them meet the requirements to be on the Cup team, so it’s definitely a good step in the right direction.”
The selection process was no easy feat for Dawson and Mackay, who both had to submit an application before undergoing a weekend of trials which featured six of this country’s top female sailors.
“We sailed small foiling boats, single-handed, did some racing and also did a theory session where they saw how we worked as a team and how quickly we learned,” she said.
The initial phase of the programme will see Dawson and Mackay immersed in the team for the opening event in Bermuda in April.
Dawson was unsure exactly what her role would be, but said the team would be getting straight into data analysis from last year’s boat before physical training started on the water.
Dawson and Mackay are up for selection to join the team for the season, following their pre-season training and development.
In a bid to secure her spot, Dawson said she would do her best to be the most valuable member of the team.
Last year, Dawson qualified for the New Zealand Olympic team to compete in Tokyo, and said even if she doesn’t get chosen to continue on with the SailGP team, she’ll learn a lot that will help towards the Games.
“It’s really complementary to my Olympic sailing so it will put me on a great path to keep chasing the gold medal,” she added.