Aussie sailors looking for better Olympics performance

Aussie sailors looking for better Olympics performance


Sailing is one of the Olympic sports dependent on nature, and nature has thrown a lot at the Olympic sailing venue of Qingdao.

A million tonnes of algae this year, a jellyfish swarm last year and the ever present threat of a typhoon.

Australia's Olympic sailing team captain, Malcolm Page, is wondering what is next.

"China's an amazing place," he said.

"It's going to be probably one of the most difficult places I've ever raced in.

"The current, the light wind, shifty wind, as we saw the algae and those killer jellyfish and what not.

"But at the same time I really do believe that the Chinese will put on a great show."

The Australian team wants to put on a great medal show.

The world number one ranked team has three world champions, three world number one ranked athletes and is keen to make up for failing to win a medal at Athens.

The disappointing 2004 campaign was a great surprise, not least to Australians like Page.

"It's funny, we were favourites and world number one going into Athens and for us it was a noose around our neck and we choked," he said.

"But this time around we are again world number one and the favourites but I've actually got the mindset that it's their problem; all the other countries have to catch us.

"Just do our job do what we do best and what will be, will be."

Competitors such as 22-year-old Elise Rechichi say she and her team-mate Tessa Parkinson want to be chased.

"Personally I probably prefer the pressure on a little bit. Tessa and I seem to race better when we've got someone chasing on our heels," she said.

"I mean whatever? Favourites, not favourites. We're just going to try and do the same thing as we do every other race and hopefully it'll go well."

The other countries to look out for are Britain, France and Italy.

To maintain its edge, the Australian team has spent a lot of time in Qingdao over the past two years.

Page says they are a more professional outfit and Rechichi says they feel very well prepared.

"We really got a lot done and our preparation's got us to a point where we've got everything we need to go to the Games," he said.

"We're really happy with our equipment, we've got good speed, we have a really good understanding of the conditions.

"We've got all the tools, so it just going to be a matter of performing on the race days."

Taking algae and jellyfish out of the equation, the only variable left is the prevailing weather conditions and Page says there are wide expectations for smooth sailing.

"I think all the predictions we've been getting over the past three years will be the same. Light breezes of 4 to 5, 6 knots and about 2 knot current range," he said.

"So yeah, we know what current phase it's all going to be in and I can't see the wind being much different. If it does it'll be a bonus."

The sailors have left Sydney en masse for a three-day assembly and preparation camp in Hong Kong, before moving to Qingdao for the Olympic sailing competition which starts on August 9