February 7, 2025 • 10 mins
The Sail GP is making its way to Sydney this weekend.
The Black Foils has a disappointing showing in Auckland, failing to make the final as Australia claimed the victory.
Flight Controller Leo Takahashi joined Piney to discuss their hopes for the weekend.
“There were definitely some points in our game that definitely weren't up to standard that weekend, and I think, y’know, we’ve definitely regrouped and made some solid plans to attack it in Sydney this weekend.”
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB sale GP.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
He hit Sydney Harbor this weekend for the third event
of the season, fleet racing, involving all twelve boats today
from five and again tomorrow, followed by the three boat final.
This is the first event since sale GP Auckland three
weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Here we go, I'm gonna get to do it in.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Front of the Kiwi fans and the Emirates fly time
eighty two percent for Tom Slingsby and the Flying Ruse.
As they bring it home and there's the finish line,
the sold out crowd will bring them home. They'd rather
see black Pools, but they're gonna see green and gold
as they come to the line, the Emirates woody moment
(00:51):
goes the way of the Australians.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yes it does so. After two events, Great Britain and
New Zealand tied on seventeen points, with Australia's winning Auckland
taking them up to third equal place with Spain. Those
two are just one point behind Great Britain in New Zealand,
so tight at the top after two events, but still
a long long way to Go. Black Foils flight controller
Leo Takahashi joins us out of Sydney. Leo, before we
(01:16):
talk about this weekend and what we can expect on
Sydney Harbor, how do you reflect back on the Auckland
event three weeks ago?
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Yeah, it was an awesome event. I think, you know,
for everyone that came and watched and supported, they could
definitely say it was a very iconic event and another
event hopefully that you know, it can be held every
year in Auckland.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
What about the Black Foil's efforts there, Leo not making
the final, which I know was a disappointment. How do
you reflect on the weekend on the water.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, I think there were definitely some points in our
in our game that definitely went up to standard during
the weekend, and I think, you know, we've kind of
definitely regrouped and made some solid plans to attack it
in Sydney this weekend. But yeah, we definitely saved the weekend.
To be honest, we started in very weak positions and
then we kind of, you know, showed that we can
(02:06):
make it through back through the fleet and and yeah,
I think, you know, it was a very frustrating result,
but I think, yeah, we sailed very well in terms
of saving the weekend and getting those important points in
the championship.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Peter Berling talked afterwards about some equipment problems which hampered
you across the weekend, particularly on the second day. Can
you unpack that first. Tell us a bit more about
the equipment problems you had.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Yeah, I think it's just, you know, one of those
things where there's so much tech on these boats, so
you can have fails here and there. And on this
particular day we were there was a lot of water
spraying and flying around just with how windy the conditions were.
So there was a couple of issues with the wing,
you know, the big big wing on the on the boat,
and some buttons that weren't you know, working as they
(02:51):
should be, so you know, Blair was kind of troubleshooting those,
and you know, it's when your equipment's not working one
hundred percent, you can't trust it. It's it is frustrating
and quite scary in those conditions. So I think we
did well to kind of get it fixed on time,
and yeah, kind of you know, definitely made a little
impact on how the structure of the day went. But yeah,
I think you know, it's with Iron those issues out
(03:13):
with the with the league and make sure that we
can kind of bounce back when we get situations like that,
and and it's I think it's definitely for the better.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
You mentioned earlier about a couple of the starts which
I know didn't work out the way you would have hoped.
You didn't get yourself into the best possible position for
the start of a couple of the races. Have the
starts been a focus for you ahead of the Sydney event.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Yeah, I mean the start is an ever changing, dynamic procedure.
You know, every venue is different, and in this on
the in the Auckland there was lots of title flow,
a tight course. So yeah, there's a there's a there's
a strategy and and Pete live and and the coach,
Sam Meach does a really good job of coming up
(03:55):
with a strategy and it's our job to execute it well.
And yeah, we we just would on the back foot
in that sense. And there's definitely Sydney is a very
iconic venue. There's an island right in the middle of
the race course. There's it's a big harbor, and there's
a lot of traffic as well, so we could potentially
have a similar kind of strategy, but I think, yeah,
we just have to refine it. And now there's twelve
(04:16):
words in the start line, so it's going to be
very dynamic and we just have to be you know,
accurate and make sure that we're on the front foot
because the start is just so important.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
There was a lot of talk ahead of the Auckland
event and during the event about the tfoils, the new
titanium falls used for the first time in Auckland. Did
you start to get the hang of them? Have you
got the hang of them? Or will they be very
much your work in progress?
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, I think it's with anything with development and a
class and a boat, and you know, these high technology
is going to be a lot of rapid improvement. So yeah,
I mean we've kind of reviewed everything in Sydney from
definitely haven't We've definitely put a lot of work into
reviewing Sydney and whether it's the start to the tfoils,
all the way where we sell the boat and communicate
(05:01):
on the boat. We've looked at every little aspect and yeah,
we've made some big changes, so nothing too crazy, but
I think, yeah, the t foils will will be a
big point between all the teams again for at least
you know, halfway through the season, and.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
There's flight controller obviously a lot of what you do
is based on getting up on the foils and sailing
effectively once you're up there. Did you notice the difference
Could you tell the difference between the T foils and
and the L foils which you were using previously.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Yeah, absolutely, Yeah. These these foils are really high aspect,
they made a titanium, they're developed to go faster, so
that adds another new challenge as a flight controller. You're
going faster speeds and when it could go wrong, it
could go wrong. And you know, Orkland was a very
spicy event in that sense. There was a lot of
crashes and these boats are on the limit. So Sydney's
(05:53):
definitely one of those events where the wind could come
up and it could be really windy and challenging. So
I think, yeah, Orkham was a good warm up for that,
and I think we have to be ready for anything. Sydney's.
It could be nice and sunny, or it could be
and a couple of clouds and thunderstorms as well, So
we're going to be ready for anything. And these t
fours with all these new added controls and higher speeds
(06:15):
and you know, just new to everyone. I think it's
still going to be a pretty pretty big challenge for
the flight controllers and for all the teams.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
So we saw eleven teams out there in Auckland. Unfortunately
France didn't make it to the start line, but they
will be there in Sydney, all going well. So twelve
boats on the race course. Eleven was a lot in Auckland,
particularly on the tight race course up there. How will
we go with twelve leo And what is that like
in the heat of the battle when pretty much everywhere
you look there's a boat on this course.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Yeah, no, it's it's it's hectic, and it's I mean
what you see whatever one saw in Auckland, it's it's
definitely as hard as it locks. And yeah, with another boat,
it's going to be tricky as another boats keep high
awareness of and the guys and lived as a really
good job of you set her job and Pete's job
is to keep awareness of all the boats and where
(07:05):
they play, and their job to kind of jigsaw our
way in through and make sure that we you know,
go through the fleet well and start well, so yeah,
they're definitely going to have their hands full with another
boat in the mix, and for the rest of us
on board, it's all about getting the boat flying and
going fast through the water, so those guys can put
the boat in a really good position for us to succeed.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And you're new to the Black Foils of course this season,
taking the place of Andy Maloney, So how has that
integration gone for yourself into the team. Are you enjoying
being a part of the Black Fawls.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Yeah, No, I love it. It feels like home. Yeah,
everyone's just been so kind and so supportive of the
move and the signing, so yeah, it's a really cool
team to be part of. And yeah, like I said,
it feels like home and the culture is just like
what I'm used to being in New Zealander. So no,
I love it, And yeah, I'm just really looking forward
to Sydney. It's definitely one of my favorite events, just
(07:59):
with the birthplace of sal Dup where it all began.
And then you know, I've done force our GPS here
Japan and the US and now with the Black Force,
so definitely holds a special place in my heart. So yeah,
looking forward to getting going.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, well let's finish on this weekend's event. Australia of
course won the Auckland event, they won your home event,
So how keen are you to reverse that in Sydney.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Yeah, well, I mean it's nothing. You know, there was
always a good trend Tasman rivalry there and yeah, like
I really want to just you know, just start well,
get the boat going well here and as my job
as a flight controler, just fly the boat really well.
It's just the team can use that to kind of
place the boat really well and in a good position.
(08:44):
So it's all I can really do. But yeah, there's
always going to be a rivalry there and through it
through my ears when I was with Japan, the Hoosies
were always beating us, and then now it was really
cool opportunity for us to come over to Sydney and
beat them on their home turf. As a great opportunity
to make statements. So I think we're all really excited
to get the job done here.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yeah, well we're excited to watch. Thanks for joining us
on Race day or Race one day. All the best
on Sydney Harbor this afternoon. Leo Takahashi there the flight
controller for the Black Foil, so race times three o'clock
local time over there, so five o'clock for US, So
between five and six thirty there's that ninety minute race window.
(09:25):
Same again tomorrow. And you might remember in Auckland, the
fact that the race course was so was smaller than
some of the others and conditions were good meant that
they got four races on day one and then a
further three fleet races and a final on day two,
So eight races for the price of what would normally
be six in Auckland. Whether they get the opportunity to
(09:46):
do that this afternoon, we wait to see. There will
be at least three conditions obviously permitting between three and
four thirty this afternoon, and then more fleet racing in
the final tomorrow on Sydney Harbor. Will keep you right
up to day, across the afternoon and into the evening,
and again tomorrow as sal gp hits Sydney.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB sale GP.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
He hit Sydney Harbor this weekend for the third event
of the season, fleet racing, involving all twelve boats today
from five and again tomorrow, followed by the three boat final.
This is the first event since sale GP Auckland three
weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Here we go, I'm gonna get to do it in.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Front of the Kiwi fans and the Emirates fly time
eighty two percent for Tom Slingsby and the Flying Ruse.
As they bring it home and there's the finish line,
the sold out crowd will bring them home. They'd rather
see black Pools, but they're gonna see green and gold
as they come to the line, the Emirates woody moment
(00:51):
goes the way of the Australians.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yes it does so. After two events, Great Britain and
New Zealand tied on seventeen points, with Australia's winning Auckland
taking them up to third equal place with Spain. Those
two are just one point behind Great Britain in New Zealand,
so tight at the top after two events, but still
a long long way to Go. Black Foils flight controller
Leo Takahashi joins us out of Sydney. Leo, before we
(01:16):
talk about this weekend and what we can expect on
Sydney Harbor, how do you reflect back on the Auckland
event three weeks ago?
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Yeah, it was an awesome event. I think, you know,
for everyone that came and watched and supported, they could
definitely say it was a very iconic event and another
event hopefully that you know, it can be held every
year in Auckland.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
What about the Black Foil's efforts there, Leo not making
the final, which I know was a disappointment. How do
you reflect on the weekend on the water.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, I think there were definitely some points in our
in our game that definitely went up to standard during
the weekend, and I think, you know, we've kind of
definitely regrouped and made some solid plans to attack it
in Sydney this weekend. But yeah, we definitely saved the weekend.
To be honest, we started in very weak positions and
then we kind of, you know, showed that we can
(02:06):
make it through back through the fleet and and yeah,
I think, you know, it was a very frustrating result,
but I think, yeah, we sailed very well in terms
of saving the weekend and getting those important points in
the championship.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Peter Berling talked afterwards about some equipment problems which hampered
you across the weekend, particularly on the second day. Can
you unpack that first. Tell us a bit more about
the equipment problems you had.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Yeah, I think it's just, you know, one of those
things where there's so much tech on these boats, so
you can have fails here and there. And on this
particular day we were there was a lot of water
spraying and flying around just with how windy the conditions were.
So there was a couple of issues with the wing,
you know, the big big wing on the on the boat,
and some buttons that weren't you know, working as they
(02:51):
should be, so you know, Blair was kind of troubleshooting those,
and you know, it's when your equipment's not working one
hundred percent, you can't trust it. It's it is frustrating
and quite scary in those conditions. So I think we
did well to kind of get it fixed on time,
and yeah, kind of you know, definitely made a little
impact on how the structure of the day went. But yeah,
I think you know, it's with Iron those issues out
(03:13):
with the with the league and make sure that we
can kind of bounce back when we get situations like that,
and and it's I think it's definitely for the better.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
You mentioned earlier about a couple of the starts which
I know didn't work out the way you would have hoped.
You didn't get yourself into the best possible position for
the start of a couple of the races. Have the
starts been a focus for you ahead of the Sydney event.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Yeah, I mean the start is an ever changing, dynamic procedure.
You know, every venue is different, and in this on
the in the Auckland there was lots of title flow,
a tight course. So yeah, there's a there's a there's
a strategy and and Pete live and and the coach,
Sam Meach does a really good job of coming up
(03:55):
with a strategy and it's our job to execute it well.
And yeah, we we just would on the back foot
in that sense. And there's definitely Sydney is a very
iconic venue. There's an island right in the middle of
the race course. There's it's a big harbor, and there's
a lot of traffic as well, so we could potentially
have a similar kind of strategy, but I think, yeah,
we just have to refine it. And now there's twelve
(04:16):
words in the start line, so it's going to be
very dynamic and we just have to be you know,
accurate and make sure that we're on the front foot
because the start is just so important.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
There was a lot of talk ahead of the Auckland
event and during the event about the tfoils, the new
titanium falls used for the first time in Auckland. Did
you start to get the hang of them? Have you
got the hang of them? Or will they be very
much your work in progress?
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, I think it's with anything with development and a
class and a boat, and you know, these high technology
is going to be a lot of rapid improvement. So yeah,
I mean we've kind of reviewed everything in Sydney from
definitely haven't We've definitely put a lot of work into
reviewing Sydney and whether it's the start to the tfoils,
all the way where we sell the boat and communicate
(05:01):
on the boat. We've looked at every little aspect and yeah,
we've made some big changes, so nothing too crazy, but
I think, yeah, the t foils will will be a
big point between all the teams again for at least
you know, halfway through the season, and.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
There's flight controller obviously a lot of what you do
is based on getting up on the foils and sailing
effectively once you're up there. Did you notice the difference
Could you tell the difference between the T foils and
and the L foils which you were using previously.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Yeah, absolutely, Yeah. These these foils are really high aspect,
they made a titanium, they're developed to go faster, so
that adds another new challenge as a flight controller. You're
going faster speeds and when it could go wrong, it
could go wrong. And you know, Orkland was a very
spicy event in that sense. There was a lot of
crashes and these boats are on the limit. So Sydney's
(05:53):
definitely one of those events where the wind could come
up and it could be really windy and challenging. So
I think, yeah, Orkham was a good warm up for that,
and I think we have to be ready for anything. Sydney's.
It could be nice and sunny, or it could be
and a couple of clouds and thunderstorms as well, So
we're going to be ready for anything. And these t
fours with all these new added controls and higher speeds
(06:15):
and you know, just new to everyone. I think it's
still going to be a pretty pretty big challenge for
the flight controllers and for all the teams.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
So we saw eleven teams out there in Auckland. Unfortunately
France didn't make it to the start line, but they
will be there in Sydney, all going well. So twelve
boats on the race course. Eleven was a lot in Auckland,
particularly on the tight race course up there. How will
we go with twelve leo And what is that like
in the heat of the battle when pretty much everywhere
you look there's a boat on this course.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Yeah, no, it's it's it's hectic, and it's I mean
what you see whatever one saw in Auckland, it's it's
definitely as hard as it locks. And yeah, with another boat,
it's going to be tricky as another boats keep high
awareness of and the guys and lived as a really
good job of you set her job and Pete's job
is to keep awareness of all the boats and where
(07:05):
they play, and their job to kind of jigsaw our
way in through and make sure that we you know,
go through the fleet well and start well, so yeah,
they're definitely going to have their hands full with another
boat in the mix, and for the rest of us
on board, it's all about getting the boat flying and
going fast through the water, so those guys can put
the boat in a really good position for us to succeed.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And you're new to the Black Foils of course this season,
taking the place of Andy Maloney, So how has that
integration gone for yourself into the team. Are you enjoying
being a part of the Black Fawls.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Yeah, No, I love it. It feels like home. Yeah,
everyone's just been so kind and so supportive of the
move and the signing, so yeah, it's a really cool
team to be part of. And yeah, like I said,
it feels like home and the culture is just like
what I'm used to being in New Zealander. So no,
I love it, And yeah, I'm just really looking forward
to Sydney. It's definitely one of my favorite events, just
(07:59):
with the birthplace of sal Dup where it all began.
And then you know, I've done force our GPS here
Japan and the US and now with the Black Force,
so definitely holds a special place in my heart. So yeah,
looking forward to getting going.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, well let's finish on this weekend's event. Australia of
course won the Auckland event, they won your home event,
So how keen are you to reverse that in Sydney.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Yeah, well, I mean it's nothing. You know, there was
always a good trend Tasman rivalry there and yeah, like
I really want to just you know, just start well,
get the boat going well here and as my job
as a flight controler, just fly the boat really well.
It's just the team can use that to kind of
place the boat really well and in a good position.
(08:44):
So it's all I can really do. But yeah, there's
always going to be a rivalry there and through it
through my ears when I was with Japan, the Hoosies
were always beating us, and then now it was really
cool opportunity for us to come over to Sydney and
beat them on their home turf. As a great opportunity
to make statements. So I think we're all really excited
to get the job done here.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yeah, well we're excited to watch. Thanks for joining us
on Race day or Race one day. All the best
on Sydney Harbor this afternoon. Leo Takahashi there the flight
controller for the Black Foil, so race times three o'clock
local time over there, so five o'clock for US, So
between five and six thirty there's that ninety minute race window.
(09:25):
Same again tomorrow. And you might remember in Auckland, the
fact that the race course was so was smaller than
some of the others and conditions were good meant that
they got four races on day one and then a
further three fleet races and a final on day two,
So eight races for the price of what would normally
be six in Auckland. Whether they get the opportunity to
(09:46):
do that this afternoon, we wait to see. There will
be at least three conditions obviously permitting between three and
four thirty this afternoon, and then more fleet racing in
the final tomorrow on Sydney Harbor. Will keep you right
up to day, across the afternoon and into the evening,
and again tomorrow as sal gp hits Sydney.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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