SSL Team Australia will enter the SSL Gold Cup quarterfinals in Rio on December 7. After finishing ninth in Gran Canaria three years ago, the Australian team is now aiming to go further. With sailing legend John Bertrand on board, the team from Oceania is ready for the next challenge. So far, they know just one of their potential rivals: the Netherlands. How far can the Boxing Kangaroos go this time?
John Bertrand is one of the defining figures in Australian sailing history. In 1983, he skippered Australia II to victory in the America’s Cup, ending 132 years of American dominance and securing the only America’s Cup victory in Australia’s history. We wrote more about Bertrand here.
The team began its preparations during the summer season in Grandson, Switzerland, bringing together a new squad and plenty of energy. Alongside Bertrand is Ben Lamb, a three-time world champion, including in the Etchells class, who also brings America’s Cup experience from 2017.
For the Australians, the first step is to build a strong foundation on the water. Before they can focus on tactics and racing, they need to master the boat and develop the coordination required to compete at the highest level. The challenge is particularly interesting for a team still getting to grips with the RC44. Boat handling, manoeuvres and teamwork are the priorities before the real racing begins. - Well, for a lot of us we haven't sailed the RC44, so it's been quite good to just spend some time here, and we're watching hours of videos, and everyone's all doing their homework, and it's coming along nicely, said Ben.
For Australia, success will depend not only on individual talent but also on how quickly the crew can become a united team. With the quarterfinals approaching, every manoeuvre and every training session matters. - The most important aspect, well, I think it'll be just a united team. Every day we're hanging out, we're getting closer as a team and getting the boat handling happening, so then we can just deal with racing itself. And I think it's going to be a tricky venue, sailing on that shoreline where they had the Olympic finals, so you know we've got to be able to sail the boat mechanically without having to think, so we can actually worry about shifts and the other boats, he added.
With the venue expected to present its own tactical challenges, the Australians will need to combine smooth boat handling with sharp decision-making and the ability to read the conditions and their opponents.
SSL Team Australia is already ranked fourth in the SSL Nations Ranking, while Australian sailor Matt Wearn, the Olympic champion in ILCA 6, leads the SSL Skipper Ranking.
The credentials are there. The experience is there. Now, the focus shifts to Rio, where the Boxing Kangaroos will look to turn their potential into results.
Why is the team called the Boxing Kangaroo? Stay tuned to find out!
