We are running a live for this press conference; it’s the first pre-race press conference since the massive accident in Auckland, so we are looking to hear good information with regards to the outcomes of the investigation as well as updates on the vessels involved.
Updates during the event:
First panel
DS Team France driver Quentin Delapierre comes on with Russell Coutts.
Quentin gives an update on Manon Audinet. She is coming along well. The team is supporting the recovery to make sure she physically and emotionally comes on well.
Quentin gives an update on the team progress: tells us that its unfortunate situation; it’s hard to stay onshore and just watch the others. This weekend, they will be monitoring the progress of other teams and working on their skills.
Russell Coutts gives uan pdate from the review conducted:
Manon will appear on the CANEL+ coversation this weekend, she is coming along well.
Louis is taking longer to recover after this two broken legs.
Analysis is ongoing into exactly what happened. Exactly how high the boat was travelling, the sideways slip, and the positions of hardware—they can reproduce exactly what happened in the virtual environment. Also considered were the tapes on the response, and the emergency teams who came on board to account for the teams and rescue unaccounted-for athletes.
Engineers are going through looking to how the boats could be safer, future modifications, etc. Control systems are being analysed, the clothing and equipment the athletes wear – every aspect.
Russel considers the split fleet format is good progress; it’s no secret that it was being tested in practice and is expected next year when the 14th team joins. He notes that spliting the fleet would not necessarily remove the risk that happened in Auckland; in specific parts of the course, it will not help but in others it does not. Splitting helps in congested areas of the course.
Russell adds that the French team’s boat is almost ready to be painted in Auckland at Southern Spars – and will be on the start line at Rio.
Quentin Delapierre feels France was going well before the crash in Auckland. He looks to Artemus to do well in Sydney, also the Spanish team started the season hard but he thinks they are primed to do very well this weekend.
Second panel
Joining the panel now: Tom Slingsby, Hannah Mills, Martine Grael, Giles Scott, Nathan Outteridge.
Tom highlights that the Roo-crew will be at the water this weekend in Sydney. He seems to have a bit of a hometown advantage.
Hannah Mills from Emirates GBR highlights that they feel good looking back to last year’s win in Sydney. UK is considered one of the leading teams and feels the weight of expectation on its shoulders.
AU and GBR are feeling a strong rivalry in many domains of sailing sports. Tom is impressed by how the Brits did last year, AU is aiming to maintain their winning streak from the last GP in Auckland.
Nathan Outteridge loves sailing on Sydney Harbour, he has done it since he was a kid. Lots of friends and family are coming to the event. Nathan watched every GP last year. Sydney was the one he really wished he could be at.
Martine Grael: Last season was really snakes and ladders for Brazil. Lots of changes this year and challenging to get the team fully united. This weekend, they are missing two crew members who are out for personal issues; those changes will mean the remaining team will have to pull harder together and perform even better. The condition this weekend reminds Martine of those in Brazil.
Giles Scott reports that stepping into a mature team like Canada is hard. Highlights that the leaderboard is so tight, small changes will make a massive difference.
Giles Scott wants to doff his cap to his former team members at Emirates GBR (he came from GBR to Canada).
Hannah thinks that the concept of evening sailing in Sydney will make the day a lot longer, but ultimately, once you are on the racecourse, you will deal with what’s in front of you, with the hand you are given. The Aussies will be out there cheering and having a few drinks.
Nathan thinks the easterly wind will give big challenge. It’s going to be a stressful weekend for the drivers and tacticians to get the boats around the course at speed. Eyes will be out of the boat. The best view in the house, Shark Island, will be the decider in the races; the wind will rip around the island and managing that will be a challenge.
Goobs (Iain Jensen) from the AU team has been cleared to sail this weekend; he will try out again today.
— Conclusion of the press conference, we will have a detailed article available shortly. —
