SAILING: It was Australia’s most successful sport at London 2012 and our next generation of Olympic sailors are hoping to continue that tradition at the Rio Games later this year.

Making their Olympic debut in Brazil in the Nacra 17 will be cousins Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse.

It will be a full circle for the pair, who both grew up in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. They’ve been sailing together for eight years and claimed their first overseas medal together at the ISAF Youth World in Buzios, Brazil in 2009.

While the Nacra 17, or Nacra mixed multi-hull, will also make its Olympic debut having been added to the program after the London Games.

Darmanin and Waterhouse were selected on the Australian Team last December and since then it’s been non-stop training and competing.

Darmanin said the intense preparation puts them in good stead to chase a medal at the Marina da Gloria.

“Since being selected, Jason and I have been pretty busy both training and competing. We flew straight to Rio for the Copa de Brazil regatta where we finished with a silver after racing for a week on the Olympic race courses.”

After Rio, the duo trained at their home base in Sydney’s north for two weeks before heading to the USA for two competitions.

“In Miami we had a good training block before the regatta with our New Zealand training partners in which we test equipment and settings to try to get the most out of our boats.

“Last time we were in Miami we had a terrible regatta so we were stoked to come home with a silver medal at this round of the Sailing World Cup in what was a very difficult week of sailing.”

After their medal in Miami, they faced tough weather in Clearwater, Florida.

“We were met with crazy conditions with strong winds and big waves, we placed fifth at the World Championships after a gruelling week. We were a bit disappointed dropping back to fifth but it was a very important week of racing for us in terms of highlighting our strengths and weaknesses.”

Currently in Rio testing out what equipment they will use at the Games, Darmanin said it’s great to be with her Australian teammates.

“It’s a really exciting time because most of the sailing team that will be at the Olympics are here as well, so were are having some good Aussie team bonding time. We are spread out across a few apartments and things in Rio that aren’t new at all so it feels a little like you’re staying at you grandma’s place. Lots of wood and lace.”

“We have 24 hour doormen for security but in general the area we are staying is safe and people are happy.”

After winning gold at the Rio Test Event last year, Darmanin said they’re expecting a lot of colour and flair when the city hosts the first ever South American Games.

“Rio is amazing, I love it here. We are based in Flamengo which is inside the bay opposite Sugarloaf and under Christ the Redeemer, this is where we are staying for the Games.”

With less than 90 days to go until they take to the water, they’re testing out every possible equipment and movement change.

“Our on water training involves a lot of manoeuvring practice as it is really important Jason and I are in synchronisation and each of us is doing our job and the communication is flowing. We have to keep building on our technique to see if we can do things faster or quicker by trying different methods.

“There is a lot to do before the Games. The biggest goal at the moment is to choose our Olympic equipment. There are so many variables and combinations that we can choose so we are doing a lot of hours on the water testing and comparing to try narrow it down. We have got a few ‘go to’ options but still looking for the fastest gear.”

The course in Rio has a strong tide, which makes the start of each race even more difficult with the crews needing to ensure their boat isn’t over the start line but is close enough to get a good start ahead of other boats.

“We do a lot of racing practice with other boats which is really important in a place like Rio. Getting a good start is really important and something we have been working on but in the bay in Rio there is a lot of tide so we are trying to wrap our heads around that to make sure we handle the boat well on the start line and also not be over the line.”

The pair, coached by Andrew Landenberger, will train in Rio for three weeks before heading to Weymouth, UK, the home of sailing at the last Olympics, for their final World Cup before the Games.

“Most of the teams are going so it will be the final shoot out before the Games. Weymouth was our first World Cup win last year so it would be nice to defend that title as the last event leading into the Olympics.”

Darmanin is looking forward to some well-earned family time after that competition and before heading back to Rio on July 10 ahead of the Games kicking off on August 5.

“June will still be pretty crazy but it’s always good to come home and try to settle in to a ‘normal’ lifestyle. I still live at home with mum and dad so it’s good having them take care of me and ground myself before heading to the Olympics.”

And once she gets the Games, her eye will be on stepping onto the podium

“It would be amazing to win a medal in our Olympic debut. We have had our eyes set on a gold medal for Australia in Rio since the day we started campaigning and that hasn’t changed.”

The sailing competition at Rio 2016 will run from Day 3-12 (August 8-17).

ANNIE KEARNEY
olympics.com.au