Podcast appearances and mentions of jimmy spithill

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Best podcasts about jimmy spithill

Latest podcast episodes about jimmy spithill

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
Francesca Rudkin: I've got an idea for the next Netflix hit

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025 3:26 Transcription Available


Have I got an idea for Netflix - although I'm unlikely the first to have it. The shock announcement late this week that Peter Burling was leaving Team New Zealand made me wish Netflix would take us inside the world of match racing and the America's Cup. It's got everything that's made F1 such a TV hit - big money, big personalities, big egos, big competition - with a solid dose of life-threatening risk thrown in. Who wouldn't watch it? You would, right? I don't really give a flying hoot whether the America's Cup comes back to New Zealand. I don't think a lot of Kiwis do, even if they have cherished memories of past Cups. I think we all now understand the nature of this sport. It's driven by a wealthy few, and paid for by aspirational brands. It will do whatever it needs to thrive as an event. It doesn't stop us getting behind the sailors and the incredible design teams when racing begins. But we don't feel attached in the same way we once were. But back to my point - it would make for great TV. There's always some kind of potential ‘blowup' lurking near the running of the America's Cup and Team New Zealand - location negotiations, rivalries and disputes, and fascinating characters all over it. In January, skipper Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS chef Jim Ratcliffe suddenly split - and in the last couple of days, INEOS Britannia announced it was abandoning its challenge for the next America's Cup after failing to reach a settlement with Ainslie's team Athena Racing. Can't you just see Jimmy Spithill being the resident expert talking us through it all? What good fun! The parting of Peter Burling and Team New Zealand is probably as simple as it sounds. This is what Team New Zealand Chief Executive Grant Dalton told Ryan Bridge on Drive on Friday when he asked what happened…. AUDIO: We just ran out of time basically….. we couldn't get going… we're in new territory trying to win it for the fourth time… We got to get going.” Who knows if Burling was aware of the time constraints on him to make a decision. Dalton says money and time were issues. Burling is apparently surprised it has come to this. But they both claim to be parting on good terms, and I believe it. Burling stepped up when he was 26 with a bunch of cyclists and his trusty sidekick Blair Tuke to win the America's Cup in Bermuda. He then went on to defend it twice more. It's an incredible record for such a young athlete, and it's no surprise that in-between the four-year America's Cup cycle he's gone on to lead the Black Foils Sail GP team and set up an environmental charity. I wish him well. But once again, isn't it fascinating to watch a team do whatever they have to do to win? If you hate participation certificates, you'll love the cut throat nature of the America's Cup. Just like we do with F1. Except when it comes to Liam Lawson of course. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Devlin Radio Show
Jimmy Spithill: Italian SailGP CEO ahead of the upcoming Auckland regatta

The Devlin Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2025 6:48 Transcription Available


Italian SailGP CEO Jimmy Spithill is pleasantly surprised at how competitive the newcomers are. Despite having a new team and limited time to get to grips with the SailGP yachts, the Italians are 5th heading into this afternoon's final stanza of the season's second regatta in Auckland. Spithill was rapt with their two 3rds and two 7ths on Day One- and told Piney being competitive so early in the season is a major first step. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voci Sottocoperta
S2 Puntata speciale. Per Natale è passato Sottocoperta James Spithill.

Voci Sottocoperta

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 18:01


Per Natale volevamo mandare un biglietto di auguri a tutti gli ascoltatori di Voci Sottocoperta che anche per questa seconda stagione ci ha seguito e sostenuto. E invece abbiamo pensato ad una puntata speciale con un MITO della vela, Jimmy Spithill che oggi è a capo del team italiano al Sail GP. Tra un volo e l'altro Jimmy ha risposto alle nostre domande e quindi abbiamo deciso di regalarvi una puntata "veloce e fuori dagli schemi". Un modo per dire grazie a tutti voi che ci avete seguito in questo bellissimo anno 2024 dove abbiamo incontrato personaggi pazzeschi e raccontato storie bellissime. Grazie quindi ai nostri ospiti che sono stati fantastici e in perfetto stile Voci Sottocoperta. Per questa puntata un grandissimo ringraziamento a Francesca Capodanno per averci permesso di avere Spithill a Voci. Ci sarà una terza stagione di Voci Sottocoperta? Noi siamo già pronte con tantissimi ospiti e tante novità. Benvenuti a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voci Sottocoperta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, il podcast che racconta le storie di vela, di nautica e di sport, ideato e condotto da Laura Doria e Cecila Zorzi e prodotto da HiNelson, il tuo brand di fiducia per gli accessori nautici. INSTAGRAM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hinelsondotcom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FACEBOOK ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/hinelsondotcom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Usa il codice sconto PODCASTHN10 per i tuoi acquisti sul sito di ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HiNelson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Illustrazioni di ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kemiemo Art⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/light-patterns/grassland License code: SHWSK57U8UXCSUDT

The Mike Hosking Breakfast
Mark the Week: What is it with this country and ships?

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 2:23 Transcription Available


At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. Ships: 1/10 Two in a week with issues, one admittedly more serious than the other. What is it with this country and ships? Nobel Prizes: 8/10 They get scant coverage in a world that has never been more desperate for brilliance and individuality and the celebration of the human spirit and achievement. Home ownership: 8/10 Surely the hero number out of the census - more of us own a home. That's not what the rhetoric will tell you. Keir Starmer: 3/10 Have you ever seen a politician take a victory the size of his and cock it up quite so quickly? Jimmy Spithill: 7/10 Good guy, great athlete and a very big contributor to the America's Cup. He's quite possibly leaving a bit too soon. School holidays: 6/10 They're almost over. Well done all grandparents who did the heavy lifting of grandkids, who on day one seemed cute as but by day seven were ungrateful little snots. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mike Hosking Breakfast
Commentary Box: NRL grand final, America's Cup, NZR changes

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2024 12:26 Transcription Available


Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss Ryan Fox in Mississippi, the Penrith Panthers beating the Melbourne Storm 14-6 to win their fourth-straight NRL premiership, Team New Zealand's America's Cup opponents confirmed and Jimmy Spithill's retirement, ongoing issues at NZR and the All Blacks' end of year tour, and Mike's new 77-inch TV. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Into The Wind
[REDIFFUSION] - #41 Philippe Presti - Un été de coaches

Into The Wind

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 90:14


Chaque vendredi du 26 juillet au 16 août Tip & Shaft vous propose sa traditionnelle série estivale Un Été de Coaches, en hommage à tous ceux et toutes celles qui passent des heures sur l'eau sur un semi-rigide et en salle de débriefing, avec la rediffusion de quatre épisodes d'Into The Wind. Vous pourrez ainsi (ré)écouter vendredi 26 juillet Christian Le Pape, puis Philippe Presti le 2 août, Tanguy Leglatin le 9 août et Jeanne Grégoire le 16 août.--Les mômes qui apprennent la voile sur le lac de Cazaux ne gagnent pas tous la Coupe de l'America. Mais on en compte au moins un, et il s'appelle Philippe Presti.A 56 ans, l'Arcachonnais est un coach très recherché par les teams qui se lancent dans la conquête de l'aiguière d'argent. Avant de devenir une référence, ce prof d'EPS a appris la voile à Bordeaux, avant de tomber dans la régate, presque par hasard.Lasériste à l'origine, il passe sur Finn et, trois ans plus tard, devient champion du monde en 1993, à 28 ans, puis champion d'Europe en 1995, avant de partir aux Jeux d'Atlanta en 1996 (14e) et d'enchaîner avec un nouveau titre mondial ! Il se lance ensuite dans le Soling (9e aux Jeux de Sydney) qui lui permet de découvrir le circuit mondial de match-racing, à l'époque antichambre de la Coupe de l'America.En 2003, il découvre la Coupe pour de bon, avec le défi français 6e Sens : c'est le début d'une longue histoire, toujours en cours, près de vingt ans plus tard. Luna Rossa (2007), BMW Oracle (2010), Oracle Team USA (2013 et 2017), Luna Rossa (2021), Philippe Presti participe comme coach aux cinq dernières éditions, en remportant deux, dont la mythique remontada face aux Kiwis à San Francisco en 2013.Enfin, depuis 2018, il cumule la Coupe avec le circuit SailGP, gagnant la première édition avec l'équipe australienne, avant d'être transféré dans l'équipe américaine à l'arrivée de Jimmy Spithill, avec qui il a collaboré lors de cinq des six éditions auxquelles il a participé.Une carrière - toujours en cours ! - incroyable, que Philippe Presti prend le temps de nous raconter avec chaleur et précision tout au long de cet épisode diffusé en deux parties.Diffusé le 3 septembre 2021Rediffusé le 2 août 2024Générique : In Closing – Days PastPost-production : Clovis TisserandHébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast
Series 4 - Ep21 - 37th America's Cup Preview - Part 1

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2024 75:31


This month on Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast we preview the 37th America's Cup, as the city of Barcelona readies for what promises to be one of the most exciting editions of the famous trophy.Five Challengers are set to battle it out on the fastest foiling monohulls ever built, as they go head to head in the Louis Vuitton Cup, in a fight to take on the Defender, the current holder of the trophy, Emirates Team New Zealand.Robertson talks to representatives from all six of the Cup teams, chatting to team members with a wide range of roles, to get a real insight from across the fleet into what to expect come race day.In this edition, Part One, Robertson kicks off with Emirates Team New Zealand naval architecht, Dan Bernasconi, the brains behind the AC75, the foiling mono-hull that all six teams have built for this edition.  With all six AC75s now blasting around the waters off Barcelona at speeds of up to fifty knots, Bernasconi discusses some of the differences between the race boats, as well as discussing changes to the rules for this edition, and the issues that the lumpier sea state off Barcelona may bring.Robertson also then talks to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's port-side helm, Francesco Bruni, helming partner to Jimmy Spithill in the last Cup, the pair that pioneered the dual-helm setup now favoured by all of the America's Cup teams.  While at Luna Rossa, Robertson also caught up with match racing guru Philippe Presti, to take a look at how the increased manoeuvrability of the version two AC75s may lead to more engagement and closer racing as the Challenger Series kicks off.Robertson then heads to  AC37 HQ, to catch up with Abby Ehler, the offshore sailing legend and sailing logistics supremo now tasked with delivering the Youth and Women's editions of the America's Cup.  Twelve teams will compete in the AC40 race boats for both the UniCredit Youth America's Cup and the Puig Women's America's Cup, the youth event making a return to the regatta after a break in AC36 due to covid travel restrictions.  This is however the very first time a women's regatta will take place at the America's Cup, a first that is heralded as a landmark event in sailing's long road to gender equality.This edition of the podcast is in two parts - in part two Robertson catches up with representatives of the remaining four teams.Support the Show.

The Devlin Radio Show
Taylor Canfield: Driving for a new boat a "massive undertaking"

The Devlin Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2024 9:05


Piney catches up with Taylor Canfield, the new Driver for USA, taking over this season from Jimmy Spithill. They discuss his baptism by fire, and taking over from a legend of the sport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mike Hosking Breakfast
Jimmy Spithill: US skipper on the international coverage of SailGP

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 6:44


The international spotlight is on Lyttelton as competitors prepare for SailGP this weekend. Tickets have sold out for the New Zealand leg of the highly anticipated series, with thousands expected to descend on the port town. US skipper Jimmy Spithill told Mike Hosking that thanks to international TV audiences the competition has exceeded targets so far. He says that so far the streaming of the races on CBS in the United States has surpassed multiple major sporting events - including Formula 1. The Australian adds that it's a sign of the event's broader appeal, and an important milestone for the growing sport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why I Run
I run for simplicity with US Team Skipper Jimmy Spithill

Why I Run

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 23:36


It's our first episode of season 2 and hosts Erin Azar and Ayo Akinwolere couldn't be more excited about it. To mark this ceremonious occasion, Ayo chats with highly decorated yachtsman Jimmy Spithill. Jimmy has won world championships, been named World Sailor of the Year and currently leads the U.S. team on the global SailGP tour. Jimmy tells us about growing up in the Australian outback and how he uses running to get back to basics on busy sailing trips.Find every episode on redbull.com/WhyIRunWant to run with us? Join the Why I Run Podcast Team at https://www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com/whyirunteam We'd love to hear from you! Tell us about your run this week or let us know what you thought of our guest… whatever it is, you can drop us a note on our team feed at www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com/teams, leave a review, or, message us at @wflworldrun @immrsspacecadet @ayoakinwolere

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast
Series 4 - Ep4 - Tom Slingsby Part 2

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 66:29


This is the second part of a two part interview with one of the most decorated sailors of the modern era, as multiple Olympic Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson finally sits down with one of sailing's contemporary greats,, multiple World Sailor of the Year, Tom Slingsby.In the wonderfully diverse sport of competitive sailing there can be few athletes whose accolades are as wide ranging as Sydney born Australian Tom Slingsby.  At just thirty eight years of age, he boasts an unprecedented roll call of success that includes an Olympic Gold medal, an America's Cup win, two Moth World Titles, two SailGP titles, multiple Laser world championship wins, he's even won line honours in both the Sydney to Hobart and Middle Sea Races.In Part One of this podcast Robertson and Slingsby discuss the Aussie's early career, so Part 2 here picks up as Slingsby is about to play a pivotal role in one of modern sailing's most fabled of regattas - the 2013 America's Cup.Regular podcast listeners will have heard the 2013 story from many of the key players from that San Francisco Cup, but this telling is perhaps the most revealing.  Slingsby's memories of the comeback are recalled from the perspective of the then rookie young America's Cup sailor somewhat overawedby his surroundings and the characters around him. His memories of the initial losses and the awkward meetings that followed are insightful and revealing, a must-listen to all fans of the modern Cup era..."I was getting yelled at by Russell Coutts, and I still remember sitting there thinking 'I can't believe I'm sitting there with these legends, Grant Simmer, Jimmy (Spithill), Ben Ainslie,  Russell Coutts', I remember I was really in awe!"What follows is a fascinating discussion on the dramatic turnaround of 2013, who made what decisions, and how the match was finally won.From the America's Cup to Sail GP, the displacement Laser dinghy to the foiling Moth, Slingsby's talent has seen him become one of the most applauded sailors of his generation.  Getting a glimpse inside the mind of the man that's created such success makes for a truly fascinating two part podcast and is a must listen for any modern day sailing fan.This edition of the podcast is in two parts and is available to listen to via the podcast page of Shirley's own website - www.shirleyrobertson.com/podcast or via most popular podcast outlets, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcast and aCast. The podcast is produced and written by Tim Butt - for further enquires, please contact podcast@shirleyrobertson.com. Support the show

Into The Wind
#41 Philippe Presti, le Frenchy devenu cador de la Coupe - 2e partie

Into The Wind

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 93:47


Les mômes qui apprennent la voile sur le lac de Cazaux ne gagnent pas tous la Coupe de l'America. Mais on en compte au moins un, et il s'appelle Philippe Presti. A 56 ans, l'Arcachonnais est un coach très recherché par les teams qui se lancent dans la conquête de l'aiguière d'argent. Avant de devenir une référence, ce prof d'EPS a appris la voile à Bordeaux, avant de tomber dans la régate, presque par hasard. Lasériste à l'origine, il passe sur Finn et, trois ans plus tard, devient champion du monde en 1993, à 28 ans, puis champion d'Europe en 1995, avant de partir aux Jeux d'Atlanta en 1996 (14e) et d'enchaîner avec un nouveau titre mondial ! Il se lance ensuite dans le Soling (9e aux Jeux de Sydney) qui lui permet de découvrir le circuit mondial de match-racing, à l'époque antichambre de la Coupe de l'America. En 2003, il découvre la Coupe pour de bon, avec le défi français 6e Sens : c'est le début d'une longue histoire, toujours en cours, près de vingt ans plus tard. Luna Rossa (2007), BMW Oracle (2010), Oracle Team USA (2013 et 2017), Luna Rossa (2021), Philippe Presti participe comme coach aux cinq dernières éditions, en remportant deux, dont la mythique remontada face aux Kiwis à San Francisco en 2013. Enfin, depuis 2018, il cumule la Coupe avec le circuit SailGP, gagnant la première édition avec l'équipe australienne, avant d'être transféré dans l'équipe américaine à l'arrivée de Jimmy Spithill, avec qui il a collaboré lors de cinq des six éditions auxquelles il a participé. Une carrière - toujours en cours ! - incroyable, que Philippe Presti prend le temps de nous raconter avec chaleur et précision tout au long de cet épisode diffusé en deux parties. Dans cette 2e partie, on retrouve Philippe au moment où il quitte, Luna Rossa à l'issue de la Coupe de l'America 2007 pour rejoindre James Spithill chez les Américains d'Oracle team USA, pour des aventures extraordinaires, en multicoque, cette fois. Générique : In Closing – Days Past Post-production : Clovis Tisserand

Into The Wind
#41 Philippe Presti, le Frenchy devenu cador de la Coupe - 1ère partie

Into The Wind

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2021 90:07


Les mômes qui apprennent la voile sur le lac de Cazaux ne gagnent pas tous la Coupe de l'America. Mais on en compte au moins un, et il s'appelle Philippe Presti. A 56 ans, l'Arcachonnais est un coach très recherché par les teams qui se lancent dans la conquête de l'aiguière d'argent. Avant de devenir une référence, ce prof d'EPS a appris la voile à Bordeaux, avant de tomber dans la régate, presque par hasard. Lasériste à l'origine, il passe sur Finn et, trois ans plus tard, devient champion du monde en 1993, à 28 ans, puis champion d'Europe en 1995, avant de partir aux Jeux d'Atlanta en 1996 (14e) et d'enchaîner avec un nouveau titre mondial ! Il se lance ensuite dans le Soling (9e aux Jeux de Sydney) qui lui permet de découvrir le circuit mondial de match-racing, à l'époque antichambre de la Coupe de l'America. En 2003, il découvre la Coupe pour de bon, avec le défi français 6e Sens : c'est le début d'une longue histoire, toujours en cours, près de vingt ans plus tard. Luna Rossa (2007), BMW Oracle (2010), Oracle Team USA (2013 et 2017), Luna Rossa (2021), Philippe Presti participe comme coach aux cinq dernières éditions, en remportant deux, dont la mythique remontada face aux Kiwis à San Francisco en 2013. Enfin, depuis 2018, il cumule la Coupe avec le circuit SailGP, gagnant la première édition avec l'équipe australienne, avant d'être transféré dans l'équipe américaine à l'arrivée de Jimmy Spithill, avec qui il a collaboré lors de cinq des six éditions auxquelles il a participé. Une carrière - toujours en cours ! - incroyable, que Philippe Presti prend le temps de nous raconter avec chaleur et précision tout au long de cet épisode diffusé en deux parties. Générique : In Closing – Days Past Post-production : Clovis Tisserand

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast
Series 2 - Ep23 - AC36 - The Final Word

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 56:58


As the sailing world comes to terms with the withdrawal symptoms brought about by the conclusion of AC36, Shirley Robertson takes one final look back at the three months of Cup action with co-commentator Kenny Read.  Throughout this single episode extra edition of the podcast, there are also appearances from Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Pete Burling, Luna Rossa's co-helm pair of Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni, and an exclusive chat with INEOS TEAM UK front man, now representing the AC37 official Challenger of Record, Sir Ben Ainslie.Commentating at his third America's Cup, North Sails President Kenny Read joins Robertson to talk through their experiences from three months in New Zealand, including some insight into the broadcasting of AC36.  They discuss the winning differences between the Defender and the Challenger, but also reveal some  amusing moments from three months spent living in the sailing obsessed city of Auckland...:"I walk around the corner and there's a guy standing there with his shirt sleeves cut off, it's about ten thirty at night, and he's got a Burling tattoo on his bicep, he's a big guy, with a big bicep, and I lean over and say 'Is that temporary?' and he goes "Hell no mate, this is the real thing!" and he flexes!  The passion!!  He has a BIG Pete Burling tattoo on his bicep!  So, you know what, this passion is what we want to see behind the curtain, inside Team New Zealand, because it's there!"The pair discuss the passion and culture they've experienced while working in Auckland as well as the differences between the two teams of AC36. They look at the personalities involved, and go through some of the rumours circulating around the future of the Cup. Recorded before the official announcement regarding AC37 by Emirates Team New Zealand, Reed and Robertson look at what they already know, and discuss the new AC75 Class and how they have matched up to the foiling classes of previous Cups. And they also talk about how the end of the Cup usually then signals the start of the transfer season for both sailing and back room Cup staff...:"This is a professional sporting event right, and free agency just started at about 6:05 last night.  You don't think there's phone calls being made to key players right now, then you're dreaming!  Do you think the Italians will be back...?  I would imagine they would love to be back, but back to what?  You have to preface by saying nobody knows where, when, how or what.  And until that happens, I know the New York Yacht Club, they're sitting there saying 'show me the rules and I'll let you know if I'm gonna come."Robertson ends the podcast by talking to INEOS TEAM UK skipper Sir Ben Ainslie, fresh from the announcement that the team will be the Challenger of Record for the next edition.  Amongst other things, Ainslie reveals his thoughts on the declared intention to commit to the retention of the fully foiling mono hull, the AC75, for AC37 and beyond...:"The fact that we're committing to the AC75 Class is a massive boost for the Cup, I'd like to see that class committed to for the next ten years or more.  One of the most successful Cups we've seen in the modern history of the Cup was in Valencia with version five of the IACC Class, so sticking to the AC75 Class is really key for the short to medium term future of the Cup."Ainslie's interview with Robertson concludes this edition, which marks the end of Season Two of the successful Sailing Podcast.  After a short one month break, Season Three will see the podcast return with a host of new interviews lined up from some of the biggest names in the sport."Since July 2019 we've published thirty eight episodes of the podcast, at an edition a month for almost two years, that's well over forty hours of audio posted, with interviews from the biggest names across the massive spectrum of ou

The Blue Planet Show
Rob Whittall wing foil interview- Wasp V2, Armstrong A+, Episode #5

The Blue Planet Show

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2021 85:37


Rob Whittall is co founder and head designer at Ozone and a partner at Armstrong.  He talks about his background the Wasp V2 design, the Armstrong A+ system, and how to live a good life, enjoy! Interview transcript:  Hi, it's Robert Stehlik with Blue Planet. Welcome to the show right here in my home office, in the garage. And I interview foil addicts, like myself.  I wanna say a big thank you to our sponsors. This show is brought to you by people like you, Blue Planet customers who support our business and you know when our business does great, I can do fun stuff, get on the water and do interviews like this and share it with the world. So thank you so much to our customers for your support. And I just wanted to mention to the wasp V2 wings we're talking about here in this video. Are available at blue planet or, they're on the way. So they're being shipped and we should have them within a few days after this show airs. And if you're just call our shop, we can take pre-orders or ship them out right away. Were probably going to be one of the first dealers to actually have them in stock. I'm stoked about that. And of course the show is with Rob Whittall. He is the co-founder and head designer at Ozone. And he talks about the Wasp V2 design really gets into detail on that after we go over his background and so on. And then after about 46 minutes, we start talking about the Armstrong A+ wing system. Or basically upgraded fuselage system. That's really interesting stuff too, that was just released by Armstrong. And then my favorite part was at the end when we just talk about life in general, the pandemic and you know how to live your best life. And so thanks so much for being a great conversation partner, Rob, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did at home, or you can listen to it on as a podcast or watch it on YouTube either way. We do, I do have pictures and video in the, on YouTube, but listening to it as a podcast is another great way to listen to these super long interviews. So thanks so much for welcome to the show, Rob widow. Great to have you. This is actually the first time I have a designer on the show is someone who actually designs the products that we love to use. Thanks. Thanks so much for joining us. Your w where are you right now? Thank you so much for that. I'm currently in a regular New Zealand. Let's start a little bit just with your background. What, where did you grow up and how did you get into water sports? And, what's your business background and design background and all that. Just start from the very beginning and take your time code details and tell us a story. Knows me, knows I like to talk. So you'll be you're good. So it all started actually with in my youth with hang-gliding. My father was a pioneer in the UK, in the hang-gliding city. And so we grew up with time gliding from the age of four and five onwards. I got my first hang glider flight with my father on his back sort of piggyback style when I was about five years old. Those memories stuck in my head until I was 16 when I was actually allowed to go flying. And illegally the flying solo. In those days, the prerequisite was you have to be sick. So at 16 I'd shown a lot of interest in motorcycles, but my father steered me away from motorcycles and offered me handwriting lessons. Instead if I would stay off the motorbikes I said, yes, went hang-gliding for my first lesson and just knew straight away that I'd found something pretty special. And from then on it just blossomed into a handline in Korea, I run around the world, competing hang-gliding ended up working for some factories in first I was just testing gliders to check that they'd come out of the factory to spec and, they flew straight and everything felt how they should feel. Then I started tuning hang gliders and charming hand gliders and working with the sail makers. But then after a few years of that paradigm and came along, moved into paragliding because it seemed like a good thing to do anything that got me was attractive. So I was handwriting and paragliding together, and I had quite a successful competitive career in both those sports. And it just everything kept pushing me towards the design. It wasn't something that I was prepared for. I was prepared for it because I've spent so many years already working with designers and working within the trimming and testing of these things. And one day the sort of the design became available and I sat down and Started to learn to to actually process these imaginary ideas into reality. And it's been a lot of fun and giant. So the 3d computer stuff you taught yourself or did you get any formal education in that kind of like engineering or design like that? It's all self-taught, it's, self-taught, I'm fortunate. I'm very lucky that the ozone program, for instance, is something that I've grown up with. So for me to use it, it's very natural because it's progressed from, very basic design program in the early days to what it is today. And because I've grown with that I can use it very quite effectively. Some of the other cap programs, obviously that. Complicated and written by other people and such a solid works in these kind of things. I can't use them, but nothing with nothing like the the knowledge, because really when you know a program intimately, then you can get the most out of it. It might not have the most features, but if you can use the features that does happen yeah, it can work well for you. Okay. So I guess your earliest childhood memories that kind of got you into these kinds of sports was flying with your dad on a hang glider, basically. Yeah. My, my thought has always been an adventurer, the. Sort of inspired us to, and, gave us the freedom to go and explore and to push ourselves and to to enjoy all these things. Again, he was amongst cyclists. So we also grew up with motorbikes. He'd take us, he'll walk in, let us climb rocks and trees that most parents nowadays would be, going, Oh my God, it's too dang gross down that and do that. And my parents were just gone to the top of that. Let's see your plan to the top of that. It was just encouragement all the time, which was, it's a very positive way to bring a child up. I think a lot of things I hear today or where their parents is that it's the parents' fear that, that holds the kids back. The kids have got tons of skills and they're ready to learn skills, but the parents are afraid. So they don't really let the parents, they don't want the kids to say what the kids should be doing, what she's climbing trees and rocks. And occasionally you might fall off a breaking out, but guess what? It's good learning. So they never tried to hold you back from trying crazy things. I don't think of them as Gregory. I think of them as normal. I consider the things crazy because you're here on this planet for some great experiences in a very short time. And with what I know is available to us and sensory stimulation I want to try all these things and do all these things because. Th this there's a beauty and a, an expression in all of them. And so why wouldn't I want to do all of them. So I pretty much do all of them. That's awesome. So I guess your background was like, I guess first hand gliders and then paragliders and then when did you first start getting into cutting? How did you even, like, how did you hear about it first and how did you get into that? The cutting we actually we just started ozone back in, this was the first, at the very beginning of ozone. It was made two friends and we started it as a paragliding company. And so we were fully ensconced in the in the paragliding world at that time. And. Basically kite surfing had just started, but I was a snow sport man at this particular juncture in my life. I was flying in the summers and snow sports in the winter, heavily in snowboarding and speed. And of course, cause I like to do everything. What actually attracted me was snowcats in that syllabus. First they mentioned the magazine and snow collecting and literally, the following weekend I was Jason Snow because it was just, Oh my God, whatever that is, I need to do it because how were incredible in the mountains where the Kelly, I could see flying already. I could see a skiing and snowboarding, these three passions of mine all mixed together. Oh my God. I got to get up there and do that. So pretty much the following weekend, myself and Matt Taga one we were in the car driving out to this place that we knew you could smoke. And we had literally two days on full line handle counts and, full line handled guides. And we went back to the office on Monday morning. And when the people that were buzzing, like there was no chance that I found was, could do anything about from say, okay, let's try and smoke because me and Matt were just fully induced and yeah, we wanted to make snow accountants. So we set about making snow accounts and after a few years of snow, mainly because we wanted to wait until the patent, but Bruno like a now hat. Finish because we didn't want to step on anybody's toes. We couldn't afford to get into the business in that time, but just a fresh paragliding business and all the constraints of a new business normally financial. Yes, we couldn't afford to pay that back. So we just said, let's just wait, we're not in the area. We're in John Snow. And then the patent ran out and we decided it was time to take a 4:00 AM to the water as well. And so then I in a roundabout way, I've ended up enjoying now all these sensations in the water, which is fantastic. Yeah. I guess when you started ozone, that was before there was even like the instate of leading edge credits and all that kind of stuff. It was this Ram here. Wings or, yeah. So that was the very early days and that it was you and a friend who started ozone? Yes, it was me and two friends. We started the CAD department lights later. That's when Matt came in, but in the beginning, yes, it was, we were, one of them was the British team manager for the British paragliding team. Then there was myself and I was on the paragliding team and my other friend, Dave, he worked for AirWave paragliders back in the day, they were quite a big brand and our big manufacturer. And yeah, we just decided to get together and do our own thing because, you always think you can do better than the people that we're working for. So we set out to. To have a go at doing that because maybe there was a little bit of dissatisfaction in that, it's a long time ago now and it's a lot of water under the bridge. Yeah. By the way, we have a really bad thunderstorm here right now and there's like rain just pouring down and it's probably, I don't know if you can hear it in the background, but it's it's really raining pretty loud right now here at fender and everything. But no worries. But and then, so this was all like you, I guess you grew up in, in Raglan as well, or is that, and you're where did you grow up in? Was it, yeah, I'm an English man and I came from Yorkshire, a place called elites which is a very beautiful parts of the country on the very few days that the sun does shine. Okay. And then what brought you to New Zealand? Oh, it's been a long trip. I guess what will happen to us? My sort of international hang-gliding and paragliding career took me all over the world. I've ended up living for quite a few years in Germany, quite a lot of years in France, the States Spain, Dominican Republic. And then I always had this idea that I needed to go and spend time in New Zealand because of the small population. There's only 5 million. And so I decided this 15 years ago and here we are I made the decision to go to New Zealand. I have left in between, but I've left only for work, but now it's been almost 13 years. I've been basically in rattler. And it's a great place. It's facilitated some amazing aspects of my life. Yeah. Ragland is really a beautiful spot. We've visited there a couple of years ago and yeah, it's just a beautiful place so I can understand why you settled there. And then ozone is based where's the headquarters of ozone or is there a headquarters? There is a headquarters. There, there's a couple of them. The sort of kite surfing department is in spreading and near Barcelona and the paramedic department is in France and they are nice. And then for some reason because I can hear the design department for the colleagues in New Zealand, so also Matt, the owner, one of the owners lives here in Ragland. We've got a great test ride at Tara and Brian lives nearby as well. And if we need help, everybody wants to come to New Zealand for a holiday. So we only have to put the word out, Hey, if anybody wants to a bit of testing time down in New Zealand, normally there's somebody to come along. So yeah, it makes a lot pretty easy. Yeah, no doubt. And then I guess you're also, I guess you're the head designer for ozone, but you also design for Armstrong, right? For army Armstrong and Armstrong foils. You do all their foil designs and the wings as well, or. No, not at all. I'm a partner in the business obviously is from New Zealand. I met army he's an infectious character is my really great spirit. And at that particular moment, he I've known him for five years before this, but so five, 10 years ago, I've known him for about 10, 12 years. And then about five or six years ago when it started the foil business he needed a little bit of financial help. So I got involved helping him financially and the business got kick-started and it was working, but it was a massive strain on him. Because we are working between here and China and also being new to all this kind of business, it was a pretty difficult. So I sat around a set about finding some other partners and we'll pump it up. And that was how Armstrong really came into life. But in terms of design and development, I just help out with the testing. I give her some ideas on what are, I work with which profiles we might use on some files, but I don't do anything apart from that. The AUA news, all army, the actual, the true design is all. He's the guy who's. I'm not plugged in to the water. He's plugged into the water I'm plugged in. So I stick to what I do for sure. There's theory that crosses both. But my sensitivity or, I believe my sensitivity for design is in flying things because I just, I feel that I have just a better connection for that. Once we go into the water, just like I can jump on all kinds of hang gliders and paradigms and feel what I want to feel. It can do the same thing with all kinds of files. And if I don't protest with the foils, he's testing for the high-performance guy and I'm testing for the kind of the average Joe, because I just don't have those super skills Ollie's through Waterman half. I'm just a, I'm just a wannabe. You're born in there. Like you said, that was your early childhood experience flying. That's probably in your being, so that makes sense. So the funny thing is that he's grown up on boats and sailing around the world with his father and, just has absolutely that connection. So it's, the similarities are crazy, but it's just with different mediums. Neither of us have the mathematicians or scientists. We're all which is something I always like to remind people Because some people are surprised that neither of us have had any sort of formal education in this. But what we have to understand is that mathematics and science are only explanations of nature, something religious plugged into nature, and they don't need the mathematics and the science to be able to find the right answers, the math, mathematics, and science are there so that we can try and have a broad spectrum of understanding of how something actually happens or why something happens. But it's only a language that doesn't mean it's actually better than actually being connected. And someone like I just say that these plugged in and because you watch the last weekend, for instance, we went and tested some files, just telling him to some waves that ABI can jump from the very most high aspect weighing with. The fastest tail on with the most shims in the backs of it, the whole thing is as fast as possible. And he can just get straight on that ride, come back, change the whole rig down to something like something made way with a slow tail on them, notions in the back and just an HS front wing or something and write it incredibly. The second D stands on it. I crushed both at both of them for a couple of waves until I find your YouTube and then I can be a lot of work. I got it, but I don't really feel comfortable. So I'm the average guy tester and the guy of itself, because you obviously need a sounding boat because it's very easy to get carried away with performance, but. I always feel like, Hey man, just don't leave me behind. It is so true what you said about the science part aspect of it, because you can't really, there's so many things that you think in theory, they should work, but then when you try it, it doesn't work. So it's all about the feel and testing and R and D that's, you can't really predict how somebody is going to work until you try it. It seems like these sports. So that makes a lot of sense to me. And yeah. So the, it's more about the background of understanding what is actually involved in sport. Then the theoretical part is really the secondary or afterwards, you can explain it maybe with the science, but why? I think what's also important is that everybody only goes home with a feeling right. That feeling isn't tangible in it's only tangible through yourself and through expression. You don't put that feeling into maths and science, do you to go home and say honey, I had this amazing day. I re I, I released the power of the wave and at 2.5 tons of volume just behind man. That's not what do amazing the feeling out there was insane. So you're taking a feeling home, so you don't have to break it into silence, or it doesn't have to be developed from science. Just, the testing for example, whether I'm testing a a paraglider or a wing or Italians or fathers, I'm only testing the feeling, it's what is the sensation that this thing is giving me that, is it easy to define that? Is it smooth? Is it progressive? Is it forgiving? Yeah, I'm thinking too much to try and get the power out of this thing, or, there's the handling slow. Those are the things that are actually the relevant things for me. When something isn't working then, and in my mind, I'm drawing this picture of what I've built and then I'm trying to think, okay, so why is that not working? Why is it not doing that? And go back home and look at the computer. And when I say, look at the boot, so I just started, you see the drawing, all the, the the 3d image rendering of it. And yeah. Okay. So it wasn't doing this. So maybe if I do that, it'll give me that result that I'm looking for with its better handling on whatever. But it's all through just feeling. I can't plug in some mathematical formula, but to say, give me better handling. It's only imagination. Imagination. Yeah. Also just I always tell people like for Santa Palio and all those sports, where balances involved and things like that, you can't really use your mind to your mind is in fast enough yet. It's almost like your nervous system has to take care of those adjustments. And if you try to think about it, it's just too slow, you have to have that confidence that your body will automatically regulate it. And then just it's really too, it happens too fast for your mind to think about it almost, yeah. It's definitely to be able to analyze it. Okay. So tell us how you got into making the wings. Like how, why did ozone decides to make a wing. or whatever, this, a great scenario, because because I was getting into, in the business with army and I was very supported untainted that I really enjoy sub filing. I still love stuff for more than going toeing into the biggest stuff or whatever. I just really love catching waves on stuff. And then, I saw one of the Slingshot weightings, and I suddenly felt with a guy riding it with writing us up with a foil and the wagon. I just thought now that actually is a really good way to get lots of time on the folder. And, cause I was subtitling, I just wanted more time on the foil because I wasn't that good at the time. It was crushing way more than I want it to be. So I just, yeah that's the way. And literally went to the guys in the office and said I've been to make a wine and a couple of days later and literally just all happened at the same time. Kai had just started riding Rios and he just randomly sentiment. He might have out of the blue saying, Hey, I don't suppose you're going to make any of those wings. Yeah. It just so happens. It was a good little match as well because we were going to do it, but it's definitely a little bit of an incentive having. The idea that Kai wants one as well. So I'm not the only guy here with my hand up and we should be doing this. Yeah. It started from that. Obviously I can economically we've just launched the V2 and a big one I can just say is it was a reaction to something starting. And that was my reaction to this thing starting we are in business at some point you have to put out a product and I was very happy with it at the time because it did what we wanted it to do. And it's been, relatively successful and people enjoy it. But I can definitely say that the two, because there's been more time is much more refined and yeah, just Has a multi giving character, much more forgiving characteristic than the bit you want, but it was a new sport and everybody was just Hey, this is what I got. This is what I got. So it was nice because there, there was quite a few different types of designers out there and development doesn't just happen in one person's mind that happens through, seeing what other people are doing and all right. Okay. Maybe I should try that. So now we understand the pros and cons of the boom having a booth yes. And not having a booth and lots of other little things, bits and pieces that, the Slingshot, the inflated trailing edge, it was an interesting concept. It probably isn't a viable in terms of consideration, but maybe we'll come back to. But, yeah, so you've got to see all these new ideas and people edit what they have and that we get to refine the ideas and perfectly make them better and better. So the sport becomes easier and more fun, more accessible. It's pretty amazing that you had Kailani as a test pilot, from the beginning. That, that's pretty awesome. So tell you, so let's talk a little bit about that V2. The, it looks pretty similar, like visually the design didn't doesn't look like it changed a lot, but what are the things that you find on this V2 version of it? Okay. The first thing that we were looking for was a better balance in the hands. The pretty one, I felt that you had to pull the handle too out all the time to get the power out of it. And they worked enough power in the front end. What I would like is more power in front of him. And as you pull, look back on that power increases on the backend to match the front of that. And so you ended up with a of that. So we spent a lot of time on this, working out that balance a lot of times, moving the handles up and down just to, to get exactly what the thing that's required. The next thing we did was so when you, sorry, when you're flying it, which channel do you use the most? Or what, I guess it depends on the size of the wing too, but as a design team. So you would use mostly the middle back handle or the backpack handle or just to, there are different, various different styles and understandings our concept predominantly built, but the way that I like to STEM and I'll wings. Okay. I liked the Wydown stamps. I find it more controllable in many ways. Stance. So predominantly I'm using the, and the pivot in the front, and I'm always on the backhand, unless it's flowing pretty much around the most power is when you're on the back Campbell. But our wins are designed around either on the front, the lower end of the vape. And then on the very back handle is once it starts getting rid of windy and you're feeling like that too much, then that's where the big towers. Okay. It's a, it's quite a wide stance, but if you want to bounce well, normally it's good to have your outs out. Most people don't bounce very well. So that's another reason why they have . Okay. Putting on the headphones. Cause it's so noisy here with the rain. Yeah. It's a real downpour here. Crazy. I hope it doesn't flood. We're right at the quotes close to the water. So we, I guess this garage flooded before, so hopefully it doesn't get to that point, but yeah, it's coming down, but yeah, like I find myself using mostly the back handle myself as well. Just feel I get more power out from having my hand all the way back. Okay. And then you added windows two. It looks like do some words. Oh, when windows looks like you added windows, you didn't, the original ones didn't have windows. We actually, we have some on order. And they're going to have like our little blue planet logo on it. So I think that's super cool that you're you let people put on their own logos on your w on the ozone wings. And then I have to say too, that the way you have your factory set up and the ordering system is, cause we're also dealers, obviously we sell the ozone and we, we saw Armstrong as well at our shop, but just being able to go online and place the order and then see what's happening with the order, make the payment. And then, and this is just a very nice system and it very clear about how long it's going to take. And when you get to get it and stuff like that, which unfortunately is not the case with most of the other brands. So that's something we're doing our best, that those guys have done an amazing job with the production facility. And just so you know, the listeners can understand Please with the ozone wings at attention to the detail, but it's taken in the manufacturing of these things because it's actually our factory that we set up 20 years ago now in now it's literally like a massive extended family. We look after our work is very well. We give them a breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and if there's overtime, which they really enjoy with them again we have health care pay above all the average wage. We try and when people say we're a little bit expensive, yes, we are a little bit expensive because we don't produce in China and we have our own factory and paying our work is more than what is normal. But the reason for this is the quality that they produce for us. Because we look after them and we have great systems and they get us their best work. Literally, if you look at the stitching, it's all straight the factories in Vietnam and yes. Do you go there often? Do you travel to the factory often? Obviously it's not last year, but usually do you go there regularly or yes. Yes. It's important that the developments of movies spend time and not sometimes for both parties, it's good to see the difficulties in some, in the manufacturing and construction of these things, because it's very easy to get. Karen away with complexity, but someone has to make the stuff. And then someone has to make the stuff, within a time schedule because we can't produce the craziest things in the world, but we're going to cost an absolute fortune because the summer time I put into the production, nobody wants to buy them all by phone. So everything has to be understood. So sometimes you can go there and just see a process of struggling with, and literally modify the design. So the selling machine just has, 10 mil clearance next to a seat. And so that it can run free instead of them having to stop lift out over a foot down again. We, so it's very small things, but we have a massive attention to detail and construction, and I hope that listeners and viewers can see that cat that is tempted. Yeah. I just had an interview too, with Annie Reichert who, one of your team writers and yeah, she said, one of the nice features too, is that there's two valves, so it's easier to deflate the stress now. And I've noticed like a lot of guys here on a wall who had problems with the the stra bladder folding in and then popping. So w what did you do to fix that issue? It's basically now tethered on the inside. That's why the zip is up front. So it's easy to get to that. Yes. Now it's tethered. So a strings attached to the end of the end of the bladder to the strep. You can see that I've got a street with a back hole in the center where it was the previous model has described running all the way down. Along the side of the day, tried to match the reason we've done message to lower the center of gravity, because obviously by this time, then the white, which isn't really ideal. And so now we're down lower back minus the wind sit more stable because now low, it seems, it also loves and loves better when you have that little panel, because it just allows the wing to flutter easier, right? Yeah. Yes. Exactly. One thing we've done is we brought tips, so that helped him to bear with the water as much. Because definitely again, the video was was the winglets. We did that. They happen in the beginning. We loved it that much anyway, because we needed 25 knots. We didn't even know how to talk. As we got better at that lead him to ride and lots of wins, the tips got into the layer. So they've been sheltered by about 2,250 millimeters on baby for winter. So it's quite a big difference in that way. You've got much more without tip interference. Okay. That's nice. Another thing I noticed is like your, the, your window placement is pretty similar to the Armstrong wings and whatever people say is that. It's hard to see through the window because the top window is too high to look through. And the bottom window is covered by the strut, so I dunno what made you place the windows right there? Is that from feedback or I'm just curious the reason that when does a person that believe it's the best place for them to be, I would like to be scratch it. for those listening, we just got interrupted by, took a while to get get it back up again. What were you talking about? We're just talking about a windows. Yeah, and I did, I was just explaining out, making an excuse. I'm not quite sure which it was the reason the windows are where they are is first. You do have the ability to see that's the most important thing you might have to move the wing to be able to see. Yes. Okay. I agree. But what I didn't want to do is put it in the next panel out because that panel is too far out. And so the reason it doesn't cross a panel is because I don't like to have things like different materials in a panel crossing because sewn together, then you have different stretch characteristics. And in, especially in seams, it's better to not have different spectral characteristics because that love is in every seat. Obviously there's more load and At some point, if there's different stretch characteristics, it's not going to want to live next to each other properly throughout life. So that's why the window count be a bit further up or because diamond needs to do in the next panel, which is too high or it's where it is. And like I say, it only takes a quick I'm good. Oh yeah, you can count. So I'm a total advocates at the window since the sport is getting bigger. People need to be able to see, especially on the, so when you are with Kelly surfers, Windsor , all these different crops now that are on the walls, they all go up when to very different, random angles, compare to each other. So you need to be able to see what's happening when and where on a regular basis. But if you have to look for it and look for that, it's still not job to be aware of. Who's around given a window, but it's still that. Just move your hands 10 centimeters and you consume plenty. And I guess another concern with the windows is that you want to be able to you don't want to increase them right when you're rolling it up. And so I guess it's probably easier to roll it up without creasing it when it's right next to this truck, then when it's in the middle of the window. Yeah. It doesn't matter whether it's because you can produce that stuff. We've got the special space center stuff. Oh, okay. So it's not a concern now. Yeah. We've had all the windows in a minus 25 degree conditions and no way, and we've been using them and, off desert conditions. No problem. So are these pictures taken in Raglan or where is it? Where are these waves here? These waves are in Ventura. Oh, Fuerteventura okay. Yeah. Yeah. I guess ozone is a pretty cool global company. Huh? The good thing is the Spanish guys buy the main sort of parts of the hub of the Chinese certain departments. It's very easy to go to flight to Ventura or the Canary islands under the Spanish flag. So it's just very cheap flights that you can probably get flights for 50 bucks, right? Yeah. Yeah. Very cool. All right. So basically the advantages of the new wing are that handles handle placements better. The tips are less likely to catch the, is the leading edge diameter changed at all, or it has only four minutes or it's gone slightly bigger, but on the other sizes, it's virtually the same. The other thing is with that baffled in the, the baffle rip down the center, it's allowed us to increase the fitness of the profile. So there's a, there's more power and it's easier to access that power. The back handle is very, what's the word responsive in increasing the pal. Cause we've got quite a high CAMBA profile. This is what you call the baffle here. Yes. That's the battle, it's one of those things that, does it have a deeper profile? Did you change the curve of the profile at all? Or? Yeah, so it's deeper in the front, deeper in the front end, the overwhelm, and another reason why it has small, but the main things that you're going to notice when you fly it is it's much more stable. You just get on it and it feels a plush is the best way to describe it. It's just blocks to the standard. Oh yeah. This is very effortless. Nice progression on the power. You will notice. Now the front hand is loaded quite nicely. For instance, on the beat one, I was always getting my My lights, aching, like crazy on the backhand side would just be, Oh my God. Cause you're just pulling them the whole time. And now being more balanced in the backhand, it's just a much more relaxed. So it's more comfortable to ride. It's more stable when you have just surfing on the front one. The V one had a tendency to flip over slightly regularly. But the two, it just sits there and doesn't do anything it's making generally it just makes it more comfortable. It's more user friendly. Is the weight similar about the same or the weight of the wings? It's about the same as you want or to tell the truth? I can't tell you the right, because it's probably on the website. But not really much, but it will have been weighed. I can only imagine that with the window compared the new handles a little bit lighter, we're probably looking at virtually the same light. So it's quite a lightweight especially with the CG, with that struct it automatically feels in the ed lights up because it just sits that, if you just get it up in a bit of Oh my God, it just flies into the cell. So it feels water, but I think it's actually manufactured infection lights. Okay. Very cool. All right. Do you get, can you talk a little bit about the new Armstrong, a plus system? Do you know much about that? Or were you involved with that? With the work on that you were okay. I'm going to share some pictures of that and this, I guess when the time I'm posting this interview Armstrong will have this up on their website. And so the new they're, they just announced it to the dealers, but this is the A-plus system. So they made some changes to the, as far as I can tell the fuselage has these barrel nuts that go through the fuselage kind of horizontally, right? Or why don't you explain the differences. Yeah no, it's a you started with the right thing. The first thing that everyone should understand is that everything that we currently have is compatible with being the plus system. So every, all the wings you've got, it's not a problem at all fit for work. It's all good to go. The A-plus system, as you can see here in this one, in this diagram that we have up now in the photo, you haven't, now you can see now that there's a barrel that's on the top of the front line, right? If you go to the top of, yeah, exactly. That, so that barrel nut is now going through top to bottom, which just locks the front ring on and then you've got the barrel nuts on the side of, yeah. So that's that one. Exactly. Yep. And then you go to the side of the fuselage and we've got one going in horizontally. Yes, exactly. Inside of the mouth side. So we've got going in horizontally, that goes all the way through the fuselage and on the other side. So basically these are opposing forces that tighten themselves together and squash whatever's in between just that little bit more. And as you can see with this new high aspect where the ha 1125. This has got an aspect of 9.8 to one, which is very high aspect. These wings have due to that enormous span and the fact that they are very powerful for their size. They have massive forces being created. We needed to develop a system that would cope long-term with those forces. Now, what I can just tell you is you can stick that wing straits on the rear that you have with no A-plus without the A-plus fuselage and it will work and it'll probably be fine, but over a long period of time, you might notice that there's a bit of wet between the fuselage and the mask, because these leverage loads, when they just keep working effectively, it's like super fine grit, sandpaper. Over a very long period of time. We'll start to love each other and they'll make it a little bit of Slack. And so that's why we've come up with the A-plus system just to minimize that micro movement so that when not wearing out the fuselage of the mask, but as I said, you can still use that one tomorrow on any rape. This is of the outlet. Yeah. And then they also offer a kind of a retrofit where you can actually a kit where you can basically it has a jig and you can drill out that hole yourself and add the nut and strew basically to an older or an existing Armstrong mass and fuselage. So that's kinda cool that, sorry, just to make one thing clear at the heart of the A-plus system is the fuselage. And the reason for that is. Because the the barrel nut that goes through the mask and then through the fuselage has to go through that time Tanium. And this is a new hole. So you won't be able to have this barrel, not today on if you have the old system, because fuselage has a solid titanium and account pro presenter of it. So the key thing for the whole thing is the fuselage. If you wanted to upgrade it, you can buy a new fuselage and then you can, re-drill the mosque with the Oh, you can drill the master, put in the barrel, not to cross the mask and you can drill all your front lens to have your front load. Okay. For the battlements at the front. So basically that's why. Even, but you can still ride with everything. You've got just putting new wings on. You just won't have the battle of knots and Mustang in the front way. So yeah. So basically that basically though, the older fuselage, you cannot you can't add those barrel nuts on an old shoe slash cause basically you're saying, because you can't drill through the titanium rod in the middle, is that the issue you can't drill through the titanium rather than tap it, it takes interesting. Yeah. There's still no problem writing it without it's just that climb and that is going to get slopping because of the fact that I'll not sloppy, but there is going to be some play in that because there are massive forces with those supervisors. Sure. And that's the app, in foiling, you don't want any play between the mass and the fuselage and the front wing, especially if there's any kind of looseness that makes the whole thing feel sloppy. Like you say, you said, you want that to be super rigid and stiff. So I guess the other differences, the tail wing as different as well. Yeah. Instead of having those titanium 3d printed shims, you're using plastic shims design. Yes. Now the title of mine can go directly on to the fuselage. All existing title. Wings can go directly to the fuselage as well. Although the new eight plus system tailwinds, or just been slightly modified to, to basically fit it more elegantly. But oldest stuff, you've got some, there's no water to that. And the reason we did this was it's just easier to have. A solid fitting with the master and the tailwind and just have the small shin adjustment if required because the titanium ferrings, although they were great, they were quite expensive. Whereas we're giving these things away for you. Yeah. That was one of the things I, like what retail, I think they're like $70 or something for one shim, so that's definitely not cheap. So I guess these ones cost a lot less to manufacturer I'm sure. Yeah. With the fact of the matter is that the Armstrong, ethos and philosophy is we basically want the best stuff that we can have to ride because, w when now the age that we've been through enough sports and used enough, Averaging crappy equipment and some very good equipment to, to know that it's much nicer to have really good equipment. So yes, we may be outside and expensive, but that's because we're not really compromising because we don't want to compromise because we've got to go out of there and ride it. And I'm out there for the best feelings I can possibly get rather than something that we'll do. That's why, we had the tie to it and ship it and because of the time, that's what we thought was the best thing. Okay. We've now love that. There's another way of doing it and it's simpler and it's cheaper. If we can, anything that we can make cheaper, then we can, we will, because obviously it's good for the customer and man. Yeah. As long as it doesn't affect the performance. Yeah. I've noticed definitely with Oilers, once you get addicted to the feeling of foiling then price becomes less of an issue, for beginners, they always. Worried about price, but then once people get hooked, then I guess they're willing to pay for the drugs. You call it price insensitive, yeah, you don't care about the products you just want the next day fairly like start, I don't know, but it definitely the case that people just want to get. Whatever's the best thing they can get, but tell us about this new wing. The H S 1125 it's I guess the first, really super high aspect wing that Armstrong make made. Right? Is that the case? Yes. I think it's the highest aspect when available on the market. I'm not sure about this, but basically we've been in the throws of making this for a year and a half. Development is. Of these kinds of things is very difficult and time consuming because you're already looking for definite progress as such. And so yes, this has been the result. And it really is quite interesting if you, Oh, if you're winging it. Okay. Obviously with the big span, you're going to lose some reactiveness, but you're going to be very surprised that how quickly this thing can turn. It still turns pretty damn good. If the tips come out again, we've been working on the section of the tip to stop the tips ventilating. So the tips can come out, nothing happens. You just carry on. The glide is amazing. So you're pumping and the timing that it takes or put it this way, you don't even have to really contemplate. Your tax, you just to have the thing up wind and slowly move your hands over and I'd bring it down. I'm just still gliding with loads of speed and super easy. Just January, take the wing again and fly off. It's yeah it's pretty amazing. It's a great step in our progress. We're not going to talk about the rest of the market because the rest of the market is whatever the rest of market is, but for us, it's certainly amazing and we're all enjoying it. When I first saw it. I just thought there's no way I can like that. It's just, it's too out there. And now I'm riding it all the time. I just love it. This is pretty smallest surface area, but like in terms of. Lyft. Obviously a high aspect, you always get a little bit more lift than on a low aspect wing for the surface area, but compared to the other wings what is it similar in lift to a 1250? Or is it more like a 1550? Or what would you compare it to, in terms of the feel for the lift wise? That's difficult to hunt competitive like that. I normally think there the only limitation to a witness getting up, getting the thing for them. This is how it's how much speed it takes to get it. Yeah, because it's high aspect. It doesn't have grounds, but once you get it going, it's got glide. Like you can't believe. And yeah, I love drag. So in that trade off, yes, you lose the grunt at the bottom end. So you've got to pump a little bit more, needs a bit more wind to get going, but once you going, the speed is phenomenal. The glide is phenomenal. I'd say you've probably got the speed of the eight 50 with the glide of the ADT, but in a very different, but a much faster it's. Firstly, I haven't tried other hot before Ohio that follows on the market, but from what, from within what we do within the Armstrong range, something completely abstract because it does everything very differently. It's still, an easy enough to use foil, in the glide in the way it reads it, it does well, but it's not like anything else. It's it's quite busy. But I think you're going to see a lot of people. Maybe a little bit of an initial hesitation, but once they get going on, there's certainly you're on flat water. Oh my God, this is the way this is the way. If you're wanting to ride waves, you can still cruise on wipes with it, but it is a bit more technical and you don't have quite the maneuverability, but, I was with army just the other day and he was, yeah, he was riding the wave. I guess once people get good enough and used to it, Yeah. Yeah. I find too, when you have a really high aspect, weighing it, with the wider wingspan, you just, if you have a longer mask that allows you to tip it over more, or, if the mass is too short and relations to the wingspan, then then the wing ends up breaching real easy or the, the tip comes out too easily. And then that makes it a little bit harder. But I think with a longer mass you can go you can go wider on the wingspan as well, but let's talk about, sorry, just to recap on that's a very good point. We have that wing is best used with an 85 master longer. For sure you can't use it with a 72. But, the wine Spanish, huge, the tips are going to be out quite long, then the tips can breech and it's not a problem, but you know that the trade-off with high aspect is that you are going to need the longer masks really. So this tailing, is this telling the same as this one? This one looks like it has like more V2 it or something. Yeah. Yeah. This is the flying V and this is a little bit this is inspired a little bit by sky drama. And then because the America's cup is going on. Oh, incidentally, the front follow the the Halm 25 has been through the team, New Zealand computer that, that design computer to be analyzed and refined. The best guys in the world have actually been looking at that have input and in what it is. So it really is about as cutting edge as we can get right now. And it's the segment of the tail. If you notice the tail, and if you look at the the foils that are on the America's cup yachts at the moment, obviously there are all these so army is very good friends with the sailors Jimmy respectful of people very good friends like out towing together that followed into we need together. They're there, they're all involved. There's been a lot of. With this run up to the America's cup. Cause you're going to sit in the America's cup now, but obviously for us, it's been happening for a long time because it's happening in New Zealand, but New Zealand is a very sailing, orientated place country because it had a lot of coastline and a lot of people live on the coast. So we're very water orientated. And we've also got a museum, has a big history and segment. So that has affected how I would design that Armstrong has happened because of spending time with those guys and those guys being involved with us. And it's all just played off on itself. So it's been fantastic. And the knowledge that those designers have is phenomenal and the computing power they've gone through something and you can dream. Okay. These are the, these are some of the most. I think people in the world throwing money at designing the best things as they possibly can so that there was some very educated eyes run over those smiles. Yeah. I believe it. Yeah, it sounds pretty cool. I was looking for this somewhere. There's some pictures of Jimmy Spithill foiling and stuff like that, but I don't have him on my computer right now. Try to look it up. Yeah. Jimmy and Pete head to head. Awesome. Fantastic. As well. Super high. I am Stu and these guys are training. These guys are fit. That they're not sat down drinking champagne on the back of the bed. Now, this is lovely. He's got a Holly and it's just, I find it phenomenal that in their free time that they're running around chasing for them because of the feeling they're on the way doing dabbling quiz, towing it with Amil, with the East coast and the West coast. It's just yeah, this is put it this way. The job is sailing, but I passion really is for, yeah. So for yourself personally, do you spend most of the time on the water now on a wa Wayne foil board? Or do you still go sub foiling or what do you do the most when you get? I'm in a lucky position. I'm involved in everything designing tights and loss. Know so basically messing around on cars. So the 50% of the time, and then I'm missing around sub 20% of the time and maybe with the women 30% of the time. Obviously our work and colleagues is still the majority of my work is we have a big Reagan ship, always needs tending. But for sure, I'd love to, to go from a way now for a couple of hours of that, and then get sat behind the computer for a while. Wait till the wind comes up and then go for a constant prototypes. Then obviously I'm intent on other types, whether that's, but otherwise it's either work a little bit of flying. Yeah. For me, I just find like you were talking about it earlier too. Like when you get on the wing if you have a two-hour session, let's say if you're sub foiling, you might catch maybe five to 10 ways and maybe spend, you get 10 or 20 minutes on actually up on the foil. If you're really good, that would be probably the max versus when you're winging, you can be up on the foil, probably like 90% of the time, so in terms of, that's why I think too, like when I started wing flailing, actually my foiling progressed a lot faster because I spent so much more time getting comfortable on the foil and all that kind of stuff. It's helped my standup foiling as well, but now I kinda, yeah, when I'm set up for anything, I feel like, Oh man, it's I'm not getting enough time, yeah, but. It's all good fun. And I just love riding waves too. And yeah, sometimes the wind gets in the way but still it's like my friend Derek says, it's you have an Uber ride back out, like with the wind, it's like you, yeah, you got your Uber ride back out to the break, so you never have to paddle and stuff like that. So go ahead. I think that's why I love the way quite a long at the moment. I'm sure there'll be something else come along. So maybe not the same thing, but there'll be something that's going along. But what I like with the winning is that you get so many, you get so much diversity with the foil because I can go set up and then, if there's a sweat and. Do some downwind in the wing and ride some waves or some bumps. And then if there's some real waves, then I can ride the waves with the way. And if there's no way, just going around and messing with them, just practicing your taps in jibes and some three sets there's and blah, blah, blah. It's just, it's all very better for you to can enjoyable. It doesn't matter. There's no wires. No problem. Let's do this. Yeah. It's a great tool for a diverse sort of enjoyment. Yeah. And it also opens up the sport of foiling to pretty much the whole world, as for, before you had to have a wave or, a certain type of wave even for foiling. And now it's just yeah, all you need is some water and a little bit of wind. And and you have a huge wind range, too. If you have a big wing, you can go and really light, wind, and a few, strong winds. You can still link for me now I'm either in the four weeks or the three minutes. And then if it's strong, but if it's lights are a big enough for me to, I'm happy to change the wing under the water to have more fun riding than I always prefer to have a small one, just. Maneuverability and comfort it's much nicer, but maybe the big guys feel happy with the five, but the fullest good for the three super nice as well. I can normally pump up with, three the same in the same strength. One was a Canada four if I just throw up. So just I'd much prefer to ride it. 1250 is my standard, but I'd much prefer 1550 on the state of the three meter in my hand, then compromise that because once this is small, you can do, you have to worry much less, so the attacks and jobs and trips, and once you get on the letters, Yeah. Having a small wing just makes everything so much easier, but so when you on a four meter wing, what's the lightest wind would you say you can go out and with the 1550 or, in a four meter wing? I'm pretty confident that I'm good at 10 to 12 and 1250 and the full meter one. Okay. It's not pumping up electric fit, but we get it down. And sometimes it's just waiting for that little Gus to, I guess what people, when you start out, it seems like you need a lot more wind to get it going, but once you get good at popping up on the foil, maybe waiting a little bit for the right Gus and then quickly popping up once you're up on the foil, it's so efficient that you really it's almost like you, you could almost go down half to half the size once you're up on the foil, once you get it going and you have that apparent wind coming up. Yeah. What do you think, how far it's come in? Such a short time? Both the foil development and the development isn't happening just because of the wings, but now we, the wings that definitely helped them with development. Because, it's giving us another opportunity, but we went up the fall. Just in a year and a half, we've come so far with some nice far wins now, and the happenings are getting better. It's only going to get easier and more fun in the future. So do you have, like you're saying, there's probably going to be another thing coming in the future. Do you have any thing any ideas or crazy ideas about what could be next or things you want to try or she's your technologies you're playing around with, I've got a feeling the advent of the electric battery age and about the electric power age is, w we're scratching the surface now with with the folio boats, but. I can imagine a little electric power pack on your back or something where it's more of a fan rather than just like a powerhouse, but electric it's waterproof a bit like the diving things that they use in the water, but about that. And it's just a fan, whether you'd go out there just to accelerate up on top of the foil, the wings are so defaulted that you can just some little pumps every now and then go out, catch some waves, the hood. Who knows that the human imagination can take us anyway. Know, it's just a, it's a case of a little bit of time and effort. So I'm sure we're going to see some things. Yeah. I was wondering too, if there could be like a combination between kind of winging and kiting, like where you have some short lines that you can like, kinda let the wing of final at higher may not my friend Derek actually does that. He has this long line on his wing and then he just lets go and holds it by, by the line and that's higher up in the air and he gets no light wind that helps because you get a little bit more wind once the way is a higher right. You have more power and yeah, no worries. Oh, your battery technology is not quite there yet. Yeah. Cool. Yeah. W what else do you want to talk about? Any, anything else? You want to get into I'm not really well. I honestly, Rob, I think we've covered a lot, but it was good. Yeah. I think we're about that. But like I say, it was a total pleasure. I hope that it brings some form of entertainment maybe. Yes. Yeah. Entertainment is the best thing. You know how people that are addicted to foiling, they'll spend the money to get the best thing, things that they want, but also in terms of consuming information, like I'm always surprised how many people actually listen to these interviews and listen to the very end. But especially all, all this stuff you talked about is super interesting. I'm really interested in it and I'm sure there's going to be plenty of people who are going to eat it up, yeah. I, I certainly don't I'm a positing is my understanding of my feelings. So everybody's different. Some people like this, some people like that, I've got no problem. We're just doing what we can do and enjoying what we can enjoy. If you're not an expert, I don't know who is, but I guess none of us are experts if people like it. People like the things that, the themes that we create, then that's fantastic because that's what it's about. Really. We're just facilitators and we're just sharing that common feeling. And so people that are feeling that fantastic and people that another brand is feeling. No problem. Don't enjoy it. Just the main thing is people are out there experiencing and enjoying sports and nature. Yeah. Actually there's a couple more questions I wanted to ask you. I almost forgot. So usually I ask all my guests who should I interview next? Who do you think would be good to get on the show and talk about wink, flailing? Unfortunately I think. I'm going to say someone who's probably difficult to get on the show, but I think it'd be interesting to know what Kelly, hi Kailani. Oh yeah, for sure. Mainly because I'm not I'm impressed with this guy because I have chosen to ride some. I was by the, by I'm impressed with the guy because he can cross over all these sports and, just are still looking at me without if they'll do I find that just the crossover between some forms set up messing around with, but this guy can go pretty much next level on everything all the time. He obviously loves this because he took all that to Jones. I, yeah. Some of that footage, he's just on a regular 12 foil board, but let's say he catches air and it's he's floating down the face, almost like a Pelican flying along the front of the wave, the sun, the updraft of the wave. Just almost, it's almost like paragliding, yeah. What he's doing, it looks like he's just hanging in there for a long time email. I'm not pretending although I'm sure we're friends, but you tell me by email is that expressed that he had expressed once a week to be able to fly down Jones. And of course, my background in flying, I can see straight away. And obviously now what I do in the stuff, I know how the through the water just creates its own up graph. And as soon as he said, I'm just thinking God it's possible. And so we are working on a special one for him to do that. You can't hold a drip man down and the guy wants to do it now. So I didn't really think was ready for that kind of thing. But he decided it was Oh, that's cool. So you actually working on that kind of a glider wing that can basically float in that updraft, that's coming up the face of the wave. And just I wouldn't say at the moment, we're just working on the special link, especially when we're just working on a way for him to satisfy what he would like to find that. So I don't know if that's a win for everybody else or whatever, it's just. Look at what the guy can do. If we can facilitate him to do something kind of something else, then let's do it. Yeah, totally. That's good. Yeah. Okay. The other thing I wanted to talk a little bit about is just, the whole pandemic and the whole situation in the world and how you've been dealing with it. I know, like in New Zealand you guys have been probably one of the, one of the few countries where you're like, I guess pretty much unaffected by it at this point. Like you can just go out as normally and go shopping without a mask on and all that kind of stuff. But how has it affected your life and was there like, is there a silver lining to it and how have you been dealing with it personally? Okay. Excuse me. So the silver lining to it is that Basically society. The Cuban spin sees is also like a muscle. If you don't stress that muscle from time to time, it doesn't get stronger. The muscle is currently being stressed and already we're beginning to show signs of strength and we weren't weak and we were vulnerable. And that we're beginning to understand that this bigger than is applying to them. It followed you. And the potential of the human existence to go forward is probably with a little bit more awareness than we were displaying before. So in that respect, yes, there is still the line for myself personally appearing very lucky I have to go to the States right in the middle of this thing, which I didn't want to do. But I have to go to the States. Then I went to the Dominican Republic. Then I went to Spain. Then I went to UK. I think I went somewhere else to Germany. And then I finally came home and I managed to Dutch. COVID the whole way I came back to New Zealand where life is just carrying on totally as loss, which is a blessing. Fantastic. And as I came here and just drove into town, so people everywhere and restaurants for people living normal life after the full month, I've had nothing was normal. It was very galvanizing in my gratitude for being here. In New Zealand, because with a small population it's relatively easy to control. And at the same time might have me truly appreciate the, there are people who are having a massive discomfort, an auction because of this this event. Yeah, I hope that it gets played up soon and we can return to some form of normality, but I hope that normality is where a lot more awareness of and gratitude for life. We take it for granted and we're also better considering myself, and so if there's anything that opens our eyes to that, then I think it's a good thing. Yeah. I think just being able to connect with people like we are now over zoom. I never used zoom before, before the pandemic and now it's like normal. Everybody knows how to do it and then send someone a link and we can talk like this and see each other and talk like we're sitting across from each other. So that's pretty cool. Okay. So when you came back to New Zealand from all the travel, what was the procedure to go back? And I dunno, what is it? I thought New Zealand was completely shut down that you couldn't travel back and forth, but you can only travel to DC, London rested. And when you came back, you had to go into that two week quantity and it wasn't it was relatively strict, but it wasn't terribly strict. And yeah, I got tested twice. And if you were playing and you were allowed out, it seems to work quite well. But like I say, this is a big Island where there's lots of satellite communities. There's only 5 million people. Everybody's relatively well educated. If you couldn't control it here, you couldn't control it anyway. And although it was a lot of praise for the prime minister, she did do a relatively good job. But like I said, if you couldn't control that hair, then you know, you're pretty helpless because this is being able to control it. Hawaii is an even smaller Island or islands group of islands, even less population. And we weren't able to keep it out. You know what I mean? Cause we were so a tourism dependent, they just waited too long to shut it down. But But, I don't know. You can, it's also like it's a trade-off, is, how much economic damage is it worth to save those lives? It's a hard question, so yeah. Yeah. It's a hard question, but the biggest problem is, and stuff. I find the question, disappointed how much economic damage we have, so economically minded, but we've lost really the true value to life because economics comes before and to a certain degree, it has to, or it has to come in unison. But let's face it. Economics has been at the forefront of the modernized existence. So let's say at least the last hundred years, it's all about economics now. And we forgot to nurture any of the requirements around nature that can help people's fit recognize that, we were overturned, again, we were over tourism, everywhere and everything. And it's not, we've actually found that it's not helpful. It's happy to make some money, but at the same time, there's people traveling on planes everywhere. And basically all they do is consuming and leaving junk behind, but blah, blah, blah. It's just, okay. T

The Yacht Racing Podcast
Kyle Langford

The Yacht Racing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2021 90:15


Justin Chisholm's guest this time is Australian professional yachtsman Kyle Langford.Kyle won the 34th America's Cup as wing trimmer for Jimmy Spithill with Oracle Team UK and also won the first season of the SailGP international series as wing trimmer for Tom Slingsby's Australian SailGP Team.He is now based in Gothenburg, Sweden but the conversation takes him all the way back to his first experiences of sailing as a demanding four-year-old in Australia on Lake Macquarie, his early years of dinghy sailing, and an aborted Olympic campaign in the Tornado class that turned out to be the trigger for him to set his sights on somehow finding a route into the America's Cup through the World Match Racing Tour.It's a long interview in which the pair dig into Kyle's two America's Cup cycles with Oracle Team USA, his first ever ocean racing experience on the last edition of The Ocean Race, as well as his new found love for ice boating which he tried his hand at in Sweden earlier this year.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yacht-racing-podcast/message

RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan
Will it be the last day of racing in the America's Cup

RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 10:02


After notching up another win, Emirates Team New Zealand are at match point in the America's Cup challenge. Newsroom LockerRoom editor, Suzanne McFadden's been covering the event from the challengers' series through to the final days of racing. She talks to Jesse about whether Jimmy Spithill can stage another come back with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli or whether Team New Zealand has the edge.

Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby
Kate Hawkesby: The America’s Cup is anything but boring

Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 2:47


Well it was about this time yesterday morning we were talking about the America’s Cup racing being a bit of a drag race, a bit boring, and saying that we wanted to see some action. And boy did we get action.What an insane couple of races, what a difference a day makes.Yesterday was true sporting excitement, the stuff of adrenaline, the stuff that makes competition what it is.The twists and turns,  it was no drag race was it? We were seeing absolute scenes on the water, and even if you’re not a yachting or sailing aficionado, it was a thrill to watch. The determination, grit and drive of these sailors is something else – Burling, and Tuke, are world class, Jimmy Spithill,  a total fighter never willing to give up. They’re such great competitors.But imagine being at the mercy of the wind like that. And at the behest of the boat.In one shot on the TV when Luna Rossa was falling behind, the look on Jimmy Spithill’s face said it all. If he could will the boat to go faster he would’ve. But the whole race was a salient lesson in never giving up wasn’t it?Emirates Team NZ, for all intents and purposes were losing that race, they were more than 2 kilometres behind Luna Rossa, and and then from nowhere, like a phoenix from the ashes, they rose up and took charge just as Luna Rossa got stuck,  it's the stuff of movie scripts. And it’s that kind of determination that makes elite athletes what they are isn’t it? That refusal to give up, picking yourselves up and going for it.It was an extraordinary day and you couldn’t help but feel so excited not just for Team NZ and their well deserved wins, but for the crowds watching, who were truly gleeful. The elation erupting from that viaduct was palpable.But for Burling at the end, a wee bit of emotion there, you could see he'd faced down a battle, what he did was nothing short of historic. They’re tough boats to sail, they’re tricky conditions, and one tack can make all the difference, and that’s part of what makes the race so gripping to watch in conditions like that – it can all change in a heartbeat.But those grinders, the amount of work they’re doing is phenomenal, especially in lighter winds, they have to do so much more. They’re the engine room of the boat and the shots of the Team NZ grinders yesterday at the end.. they looked absolutely spent. I can’t even begin to imagine how much blood sweat and tears goes into that.But all of these factors together, the conditions, the wind, the boats, the tactics.. the fragility of it all.. it’s what makes the whole thing so gripping to watch. It’s what grabs people, even the ones like me, who start off by saying oh it’s boring, it’s just a boat race. Well I think what yesterday taught us.. is that it’s so much more than that.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
Chris Steele: What to expect from fourth day of America's Cup racing

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2021 7:32


Locked 3-apiece, Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa will be looking to the weather gods - and the possibility of strengthening winds - as a key factor in the coming days.The America's Cup rivals return to the Hauraki Gulf today for two more races and what could be a decisive day of foiling - they each need to win four more races in the best-of-13 series to lift the Auld Mug.The first six races have been in lighter airs - with the leading boat at the start gaining a massive advantage - and those breezes are set to continue today and tomorrow. But the regatta deadlock might be broken if a low-pressure system moves in this week.Today's weather may not be as superb as yesterday, but it's again expected to smile on America's Cup sailors and spectators.The on-water spectacle took place under bluebird skies in Auckland yesterday, but a weak, warm front may bring a few showers to eastern parts of the city late this afternoon, MetService meteorologist Andy Best said."It's not a major, but it does mean we'll see a few showers developing."Wind won't be an issue – a 10 knot sou-easter is expected to rise to 15 knots by the time Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa are on the water for the 4.12pm and 5.12pm races.Swells would be around half a metre and a high of 25C is forecast, Best said.Winds will be lighter for the next day of racing on Monday, with a nor-easter reaching only 10 knots by race time, again 4.12pm and 5.12pm.The minimum wind speed for racing the foiling monohulls used in this America's Cup is 6.5 knots. The sea swell is expected to be half a metre.Again, cloudy periods may be punctuated by the odd shower and, again, it'll be warm - a high of 25C is forecast, Best said.Beyond tomorrow, though, we could see some strengthening winds. Both Team New Zealand's Peter Burling and Luna Rossa's Jimmy Spithill have acknowledged a low sitting off the east coast of New Zealand. That could push the current high away, and with it bring some stronger breezes.Higher winds are likelier to allow a trailing boat more opportunity to push past the other. Right now, the leading boat, in lighter airs, has a massive advantage, casting a hugely disruptive wind shadow in the lighter airs.Tens of thousands of yachting fans soaked up the high-pressure stakes of day three of racing for the America's Cup yesterday – watching on as some "Italian Magic" initially unfolded on the Hauraki Gulf, before the holders hit back.The army of supporters soaked up vantage points both on the water alongside the race course, as well as packing out the official America's Cup Village at the Viaduct, and nearby hospitality businesses, as Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli continued their battle for yachting's prized trophy.The scoreline in the best of 13 series was locked 2-all after Friday's at-times very tense racing.And by the end of yesterday's duo of races, the score remained locked at 3-3.The Italians initially won the opening race after taking advantage of a calamitous Team New Zealand showing in the pre-start jousting.But Team New Zealand hit back in stunning style in the second race of the day, this time making the most of Luna Rossa's own pre-start woes to power away.Yesterday, the excitement was in the air from mid-morning as fans flocked to the official Village.Out on the water, an estimated 3000 boats headed out to seek good vantage points.At the Village, many fans were decked out in black clothing and face paint to support Team New Zealand.And as through the earlier Prada Cup series, and first two race days of the America's Cup, a hearty contingent of Luna Rossa fans also decked themselves out in Italian colours and team gear of the challengers.The influx of fans was good news for hospitality operators at the Viaduct, with the return to level 1 meaning earlier crowd size restrictions were lifted.Those on the water on race days were warned to stick to the rules after a race start on Friday was abruptly halted due to a specta...

RNZ: Morning Report
America's Cup: Even stevens after first two races

RNZ: Morning Report

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 5:48


Honours are even after a captivating start to the America's Cup final between defenders Team New Zealand and challengers Luna Rossa. Early indications were that the Auld Mug would be staying put in Auckland as Peter Burling steered the hosts to a comfortable 31 second win in race one. But counterpart Jimmy Spithill won the battle of the start box in race two and the Italians held on to claim a seven-second win and leave the best-of-13 series tied at one-one. Former New Zealand sailor and veteran broadcaster Peter Lester spoke to Corin Dann.

Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford Afternoons
Brad Butterworth: I think Peter Burling is the better sailor.

Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford Afternoons

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 6:48


Brad Butterworth is one of this country’s finest ever sailors.  He was tactician to Russell Coutts for New Zealand’s breakthrough Cup victory in San Diego in 1995, was there for the successful defence in Auckland in 2000 and went on to win another 2 America's Cups  He told Simon and Phil he's hoping it will be a tight race from a spectator's point of view. But says he believes Peter Burling has the edge over rival Jimmy Spithill.LISTEN ABOVE

Beyond the Ordinary
What it takes to sail a boat at 100kmph and win the world's oldest sporting trophy

Beyond the Ordinary

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 21:22


Jump on board Jimmy Spithill’s AC75 yacht as we take you on an immersive ride to the centre of one of the planet's wildest races - The America's Cup. Hear what it sounds like being in the middle of the action with a team functioning in high pressure, at high pace and using the latest global technology to go faster than anyone before on water. Australian Spithill - the Luna Rossa helmsman - shares how his upbringing equipped him to be one of the best in the sport, how he remains unimaginably calm in the heat of battle and how the team work together to hopefully win the biggest prize in sailing. Make sure you follow for free to be the first to hear the latest episodes. Discover more about Beyond the Ordinary at redbull.com/beyondtheordinary.

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast
Series 2 - Ep21 - AC36 Preview Part 1

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 52:54


With the final races of the 36th America's Cup Match now just moments away, Shirley Robertson previews the action in another two part podcast from the heart of the action in Auckland New, Zealand.The two part podcast kicks off with an interview with the port side helm of the successful Challenger, the AC36 Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa's Francesco Bruni. Bruni has been at the forefront of the Italian team's significant improvements in performance over this campaign, and is both realistic and candid as he discusses their Prada Cup success. He attributes much of that success to the calm and level head of co-helm, Jimmy Spithill, and is both respectful and hopeful when quizzed about their Cup opponents, Emirates Team New Zealand."We know they've ben pushing a lot their package for speed, they have small foils, a small rudder, sometimes they lose control a bit because of that. They are not unbeatable I think but they will definitely be hard opponents to be sure. And they have experience, their whole campaign, package , people, experience I think is the biggest asset they have."Following on from the discussion with Bruni, Robertson talks to Emirates Team New Zealand super coach Ray Davies. Davies is a mastermind of the new world of Cup racing, and has been a proud member of the Kiwi outfit for almost two decades. The gossip around the harbour side in Auckland of late has been of the team's sensational speeds out on the water and Davies is quick to dispel any chat that the team are anything but race ready. While the Challengers have all been fighting out against each other, the Defender has been clocking up the training miles out in the Hauraki Gulf, and as competition draws near, Davies is clear on how pleased he is with the team's progress...:"We just get more comfortable all the time now, sailing in breeze. With these type of boats you get a little nervous when you hit that fifty knot mark, but now it's just standard but once you get comfortable with that, you're just looking for more and more. The guys are doing an incredible job, sailing the boat, but once you know the limits of the boat and the boat's working well then you can just push harder and harder."Both Bruni and Davies discuss their thoughts on their respective opponents, their thoughts on how the racing has been to date, and how and where the match may be won and lost. Ahead of the first to seven wins match, it's an insightful listen to augment enjoyment of the upcoming broadcast.

The Cup
What's got the Aussies cheering for Team New Zealand?

The Cup

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 27:25


With Jimmy Spithill racing for Luna Rosa, why are the Aussies cheering on Team NZ? This week Mel and Tom talk to Aussies Tom Slingsby and Nathan Outteridge to find out and to get some insight as to what held Australia back from entering a challenger in the 2021 America's Cup. Nathan Outteridge is an Olympic gold medalist and an America's cup finalist and Tom Slingsby is an Olympic gold medalist and was the strategist for the America's Cup winning Team Oracle USA in 2013. For more, visit newshub.co.nz/podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RNZ: Morning Report
America's Cup: Luna Rossa triumphant but wary of what comes next

RNZ: Morning Report

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2021 4:00


Luna Rossa faced little resistance on the water, but plenty off it, as the Italian syndicate won the America's Cup Challenger Selection Series finals. Team UK, skippered by decorated Olympian Sir Ben Ainslie, was no match for a Luna Rossa team helmed by the formidable duo of Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni. With a 7-1 victory, Luna Rossa have picked up one piece of silverware but what they're really in Auckland for is the oldest trophy in international sport - the America's Cup. First they'll need to get past Team New Zealand. Felicity Reid has more.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
Matt Brown: American Magic beat Team New Zealand in final race of first day of World Series

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2020 7:04


American Magic have made an early statement on the America's Cup stage, following up their first-up demolition of INEOS Team UK with a solid victory over the defending Team New Zealand.In the final race of the opening day of the America's Cup World Series, Dean Barker's crew were hard to fault from start to finish; beating Team New Zealand at the start, matching them manoeuvre for manoeuvre and sailing a smooth race.It was a different story for the Kiwi outfit, who made a slow start and struggled to stay up on their foils in a race which was a far cry from the performance they had in their first-round win over Luna Rossa.Team New Zealand coasted into the starting box against American Magic, keeping a fair distance away from their opponent and while American Magic flew into the starting line, the Kiwis struggled to get up on their foils for the start of the race.Once they did, however, Peter Burling and co had a slight speed advantage and began to close the gap.Facing a slight deficit of 15 seconds after the opening leg of the race, the Kiwis maintained the distance down the second leg, but splashed down while tacking around the marker and went from trailing by 200m to trailing by 400m.The mistake proved costly down the third leg as American Magic held a 26-second lead halfway through the race.Team New Zealand were able to make up six seconds on the fourth leg and, with two legs to go, the final race of the day proved to be the competitive spectacle people were hoping to see.After a fifth leg that turned into a tacking duel, Team New Zealand managed to get the inside track around the marker, drawing a penalty against the Americans in the process, providing the opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the race.Whatever lead they had was shortlived, as they again touched down and lost some speed for just long enough for American Magic to sneak back ahead of them.Down the final leg, things were neck and neck between the teams – with just 12m separating them inside the final 900m of the course.Ultimately, American Magic found the right wind and burned off Team New Zealand late in the final leg to claim a 12-second win.It was the second win in as many races against the Kiwis for Barker, after the Yanks beat the host in a practice race earlier in the week.Team New Zealand made a big statement with their crushing opening win against Luna Rossa. Photo / Dean PurcellIn their opener against Luna Rossa, Team NZ led from start to finish, and the race looked over at the first mark.Te Rehutai crossed the line a staggering 3:13 ahead of the Italians, in what was an absolute, good old-fashioned smashing.The New Zealand crew was faster upwind, quicker downwind and better with their transitions in a result that will send shock waves through the Challenger fleet.The boats made an even start, though Burling had got over the top of Jimmy Spithill in the last period of the pre-start.There was a big split early on – well as large as possible with the narrow boundaries – and Team New Zealand made good ground on the left-hand side of the course.They made further gains – as the Italians struggled to stay on their foils – with plenty of positive talk on the Te Rehutai.Team New Zealand had a 41-second lead around the top mark, and extended further downwind, reaching speeds of more than 40 knots.They were more than a kilometre ahead at the bottom mark and the race already seemed a complete mismatch, with the local boat more than a minute ahead (1:13).The Italians weren't exactly slow – they hit 45 knots during the downwind leg – but couldn't make an impression on their opponents.Team New Zealand held a 1:15 lead when they went around the top mark the second time, and were flying at 47 knots when they completed the second lap.Nothing had changed at the bottom mark (1:17) and it was obvious that Team New Zealand have something special under the hood.Their advantage was 1.3 kilometres as they rounded the mark for th...

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame
Jack Tame: Get on board with the America's Cup

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 4:32


In 2013, I was living in the U.S and charged with covering most of North America as a reporter for TVNZ. I remember ringing my manager early in the year and asking about our plans for the San Francisco America’s Cup.“No one really cares about the America’s Cup.” She said. “If it was here in New Zealand, maybe we’d do a bit more. We’ll have one reporter in San Francisco but that’ll be more than enough.”To be fair, my manager at the time was from overseas and had only been living in New Zealand for a year or two. Subsequently, I felt obliged to push back a little bit.“Ummm…” I said. “I think you’re underestimating what this competition means for New Zealanders. “I get it… sailing’s a bit off-Broadway. But there’s something about this competition in particular that Kiwis just LOVE. Between events, sure everyone’s a bit ambivalent. Some of us moan about the court battles and the politics. But just wait! Just wait. When the America’s Cup rolls around, every New Zealander is suddenly a match-racing, hydro-foiling, sail-trimming expert.”By the end of the Louis Vuitton cup a few months later, such was demand, about a third of our entire newsroom had relocated to San Francisco. But I’m sure that same pattern applied heading into the Bermuda competition. Call it the lifecycle of the average Kiwi America’s Cup fan.We love the event. We’ll plan our day around the regattas, and turn out at victory parades for our sailors. Then in the years the follow, we only pay a little attention to the new rules and the squabbling between different syndicates. Maybe we whinge a bit about how it’s a sport for rich guys and who cares about sailing anyway. And it takes us a good few rounds of match-racing to pay any attention to the next competition. Then, though, Team New Zealand starts winning. We’re reminded that their budget is a fraction of the budget some of the other big players enjoy. Jimmy Spithill gets a good couple of digs in our collective, and whattaya know?! Talk about fair-weather sailors. All of a sudden we’re all back onboard the boat.I’ve been in isolation this week, sitting in my hotel room, watching all the videos of the new Team New Zealand boat, Te Rehutai. The Ocean Spray. It looks spectacular. Several of the boats do, and when those monohulls are up and foiling, my mind boggles over the physics at play. And sitting here in managed isolation, I’m reminded of just how lucky we are to have an event like this to host, given the state of the World. An event where any and all of us can theoretically go and gather on the North Shore beaches or North Head, and watch those yachts compete. If ever there was to be an advertisement for New Zealand… however many million-people tuning in from shuttered countries, to a jewel in the South Pacific with glorious scenery and no community transmission (touch wood). This is a significant opportunity. So. Enjoy it. You owe it to everyone around the world counting down to a miserable winter of lockdowns. That’s my challenge. If you’re one of those who blushed just a little when I described the lifecycle of the average America’s Cup fan, and you usually leave it until the last minute to get on the Team New Zealand bandwagon… do it differently this year. This America’s Cup will not be without scandal. It won’t be without scrutiny. And nor should it. But let’s not be cynical for the sake of being cynical, as I think we sometimes are when it comes to the America’s Cup. We always say this competition is an opportunity to showcase New Zealand. But on and off the water, never has that sentiment been more true. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Broad Reach Radio - The Yachting New Zealand Podcast
Ep 20 - Coastal Classic Special

Broad Reach Radio - The Yachting New Zealand Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020 59:14


In this podcast we bring you a special edition on New Zealand’s great race. The Coastal Classic was first contested in 1982 and now attracts more than 150 boats for the annual blast up the coast from Auckland to the Bay of Islands. Matthew Flynn took part in the very first race and was also on the organising committee that brought it all together and he's still doing both all these years later. Matthew talks about the race’s origins, some of the changes over the time and what makes it so special, and also explains why he's taken to doing the Coastal Classic single-handedly in recent times. We then catch up with Bianca Cook who will tackle the race on the Volvo 65 she hopes will feature in the next Ocean Race. The Coastal Classic will actually be the first outing in a race for the boat as plans for the New Zealand Ocean Race team step up a gear. We talk to her about the significance of hitting the race track next week and also get an update on her campaign to put together an all-Kiwi team in the next Ocean Race starting in 2022. Our final interview is with Simon Hull, who has done the race more than 30 times, including claiming line honours 10 times, and he also held the race record until last year. Simon talks about chasing race records, the social element and the time he choppered in America’s Cup skipper Jimmy Spithill to join his crew.

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast
Series 1 - Ep10b - Jimmy Spithill Part 2

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2020 59:23


This is the second part of two time America’s Cup winning skipper Jimmy Spithill's chat with Shirley Robertson which saw the pair settle down for an extended two part interview ahead of the first round of the America’s Cup World Series in Sardinia.In Part 1 Jimmy discussed growing up in the Australian sailing enclave of Pittwater, recalling the endless days spent messing about on the water. From childhood, through Australia's Young Sailor of the Year, to his first appearance in the America's Cup at just twenty years of age, and eventually onto his first Cup win in Valencia 2010, Part 1 is a great insight into the early life of one of sailing's leading stars.in Part 2, things get real serious, as Jimmy recounts the early days of the frighteningly quick AC72, as theCup turned to foils, wings and a massive leap in performance. In this interview Jimmy tells us the inside story of that incredible comeback to win the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco, his insight and memories of that sensational victory both candid and illuminating. Starting with the capsizing of the brand new AC72 just days after launching, to the cut and thrust of the daily press conferences and the eventual comeback against an incredibly quick and accomplished New Zealand team. The comeback propelled the sport into the spotlight, and was the start of relentless victory celebrations across the US…:“For the next couple of weeks you’re on all the late night shows, Jay Leno and Colbert, all the big ones going around and I’ll never forget we were on the Colbert show, and Tom Hanks was there doing a recording of something, so I’d done my piece and was having a beer and chatting to some of the guys….and it was surreal, sitting in the green room with Tom Hanks, and he’s asking questions about the racing, he’d seen it, we’re having a beer and the whole time his assistant is saying ’Tom, we’ve got to go, the plane’s waiting’ and he’s saying “No, tell them to wait”, he was genuinely interested in what had happened.”Jimmy goes on to discuss the disappointment of losing the Cup in Bermuda, and talks about his current role with the Italian team Luna Rosa Challenge. But he's also very open regarding his time spent sailng with french offshore legend Francois Gabart, and how much he loves the prospect of heading offshore on a foiling multihull. From his passion for surfing and foiling to his competitive spirit and drive to succeed, Spithill’s chat with Robertson is illuminating, engaging, and a thoroughly interesting listen.

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast
Series 1 - Ep10a - Jimmy Spithill Part 1

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2020 51:53


Two time America’s Cup winning skipper Jimmy Spithill joins Shirley Robertson this month, as the pair settle down for this the first of an extended two part interview ahead of the first round of the America’s Cup World Series in Sardinia.Spithill has long been a fixture in the America’s Cup scene, having first led the Australian entry to the 2000 Cup in Auckland, as skipper of ‘Young Australia’. He’s skippered in every Cup since, winning for the first time in 2010 at the wheel of Larry Ellison’s BMW Oracle Racing. That first win, helming the giant 90 foot trimaran, secured his spot as the Cup’s youngest ever winning skipper. In 2013 a successful defence of the Cup in San Francisco saw Spithill lead the unlikely comeback against a New Zealand Team that was, at 8-1 up, just one race win away from reclaiming the oldest trophy in world sport. Having then lost the defence of the next Cup in Bermuda in 2017, Spithill is now in a key role at the long established Italian team, Luna Rosa.Spithill grew up thirty miles north of Sydney, Australia in the stunning sailing hotspot of Pittwater. He talks fondly of his childhood, taking a boat to school, where he’d whistfully wait for classes to end so he could head back out on to the water. He’s also very candid about his upbringing, and discusses with Robertson how his formative years have contributed to the character we see today out on the race course…:“We have a running joke, between Tom Slingsby, or anyone with red hair, and that’s there’s two things you get good at growing up with red hair, and one is running, for obvious reasons. The other is fighting, because you just get sick of running!….At some point you’ve got to decide what you’re going to do, are you going to continue to take this, or is it time to stand up, and when you do it’s an incredible feeling, and it’s an important lesson in life. That at some point you have to stand up for yourself.”This is the first of two instalments of Shirley Robertson's interview with Jimmy Spithill, and concludes with his take on how he skippered that 90 foot trimaran to victory in the 2010 America's Cup. Be sure to download Part 2, which sees Jimmy recount the fascinating story of how Oracle Team USA overcame that 8-1 deficit to defend the oldest trophy in world sport.

Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast

Double Olympic gold medalist Shirley Robertson catches up with Australian sailing star Kyle Langford for an hour of revealing chat that covers much of his of his stellar career.Langford rocketed into the spot light when just three days before the 2013 America's Cup he was announced as the Defender's Wing Trimmer on BMW Oracle's giant foiling AC72. It was a daunting prospect, controlling the power as the team learnt to race the largely untested beast throughout a regatta famous for the unlikely comeback from a seven point deficit against a fired up Emirates Team New Zealand. Langford's honest and open chat with Robertson here reveals the backstory behind that decision, a tribunal that saw the Defender docked points before the Cup, the build up to that dramatic turn around and the faith that skipper Jimmy Spithill had in the young Aussie.As Oracle Team USA then went on to Defend the Cup in Bermuda Langford kept his seat on the downsized AC50 that would see them again face the Kiwis in the match up in 2017. Here he reveals how the team prepared for Bermuda but were out thought by the innovative Kiwi team, their grip on the Cup slipping away to the greater pace and adaptability of a New Zealand outfit hungry for sporting redemption.Having been on the losing side in the Cup, Langford immediately took on a new and different challenge, turning to the Volvo Ocean Race to try and forget the disappointment of Bermuda. But it wasn't long before he realised that one of his team mates around the world would be the skipper of that winning Kiwi team. It's an interesting chat as Langford discusses the politics onboard, racing in the Southern Ocean and his tenacity in getting to grips with offshore sailing.At just thirty years old, Langford is one of a new generation of stars in the competitive sailing arena, he's crammed an awful lot of high end sailing into a to date short sailing career, and is a revealing guest as he discusses the last decade and his stellar rise into the ranks of the sport's elite.

The Devlin Radio Show
Jimmy Spithill: Luna Rossa can win in 2021

The Devlin Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2019 14:35


Jimmy Spithill says it will be tough, but he is confident that he can win the America's Cup once again.Spithill became a controversial figure in New Zealand after the Australian skipper thrice won or defended the prestigious sailing cup for Oracle Team NZ.He will be aiming for a fourth victory, this time for Luna Rossa, when the Cup returns to Auckland in 2021.Spithill joined Martin Devlin to discuss how the tournament has changed, his team's chance of winning, and what is different with Luna Rossa. 

Dennis Conner
25: The Latest Scuttlebutt

Dennis Conner

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2018


Louis Vuitton Cup? Jimmy Spithill?

Radio Sport Breakfast
Peter Lester: Spithill's move spells the end of Oracle Team USA

Radio Sport Breakfast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2018 4:55


Surprise at Jimmy Spithill's latest move.The former Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill will join challenger of record Luna Rossa for the 2021 America's Cup regatta.The Australian was part of the Italian syndicate in 2007, before switching to Team USA with whom he won the Auld Mug in 2010 and 2013 but lost to Team New Zealand last year.Yachting commentator Peter Lester told the Radio Sport Breakfast it is an interesting decision."They're showing three helmsmen at the moment, with Francisco Bruni, Chris Draper and Adam Minoprio so Spithill will put that up to four helsmen on board."LISTEN ABOVE AS PETER LESTER SPEAKS WITH THE RADIO SPORT BREAKFAST

Radio Sport Breakfast
Peter Lester: Spithill's move spells the end of Oracle Team USA

Radio Sport Breakfast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2018 4:55


Surprise at Jimmy Spithill's latest move.The former Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill will join challenger of record Luna Rossa for the 2021 America's Cup regatta.The Australian was part of the Italian syndicate in 2007, before switching to Team USA with whom he won the Auld Mug in 2010 and 2013 but lost to Team New Zealand last year.Yachting commentator Peter Lester told the Radio Sport Breakfast it is an interesting decision."They're showing three helmsmen at the moment, with Francisco Bruni, Chris Draper and Adam Minoprio so Spithill will put that up to four helsmen on board."LISTEN ABOVE AS PETER LESTER SPEAKS WITH THE RADIO SPORT BREAKFAST

Ocean Sailing Podcast
Rob Mundle on Jimmy Spithill's America's Cup Journey & Biography

Ocean Sailing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2018 73:29


I caught up with my favourite maritime author - Rob Mundle in late 2017, on 'all things Jimmy Spithill' and his recent project writing Jimmy's biography 'Chasing the Cup - My Americas Cup Journey'. Jimmy Spithill is arguably one of the world's greatest skippers: the youngest and a double winner of the America's Cup, winner of the Sydney Hobart; multiple world champion in match and fleet racing. What goes on inside the head of this extremely focused man, who is a true pioneer in the game called sailing? Rob shares some insights into this rags-to-riches story of fierce determination, court cases, seasickness, crashed boats and cars, the greatest comeback ever in sporting history and the dramatic 2017 America's Cup defence.     Rob also shares a preview of the 2017 Race Sydney Hobart and reflects on his 50th year of involvement in the race (3 as crew and 47 as commentator).   Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Radio Sport Breakfast
James McOnie's wrap of 2017

Radio Sport Breakfast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2017 14:52


From the grumpiest coach of the year, to the Snagglepuss 'exit stage left' award, to the American Pie Award for Being a Little Premature, James McOnie from the Crowd Goes Wild brings us his wrap of 2017.James even found a way to give Jimmy Spithill an award...LISTEN ABOVE AS JAMES MCONIE SPEAKS WITH THE RADIO SPORT BREAKFAST

Daniel McHardy Afternoons
Tom Ehman: Team NZ's America's Cup win an 'epic tour de force'

Daniel McHardy Afternoons

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2017 18:17


Team New Zealand's America's Cup victory is being hailed as one of the most impressive feats in the sport's history.Sailing Illustrated editor Tom Ehman was part of Dennis Conner's team which lost the Auld Mug to Black Magic in 1995.Ehman told Daniel McHardy Conner wasn't as formidable as the Team USA machine with Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts and Jimmy Spithill - and Team New Zealand crushed them.He said it's more impressive than what Coutts and Peter Blake did to his team in '95.LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVEMORE: All America's Cup coverage highlights

Daniel McHardy Afternoons
Tom Ehman: Team NZ's America's Cup win an 'epic tour de force'

Daniel McHardy Afternoons

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2017 18:17


Team New Zealand's America's Cup victory is being hailed as one of the most impressive feats in the sport's history.Sailing Illustrated editor Tom Ehman was part of Dennis Conner's team which lost the Auld Mug to Black Magic in 1995.Ehman told Daniel McHardy Conner wasn't as formidable as the Team USA machine with Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts and Jimmy Spithill - and Team New Zealand crushed them.He said it's more impressive than what Coutts and Peter Blake did to his team in '95.LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVEMORE: All America's Cup coverage highlights

Ocean Sailing Podcast
35th Americas Cup Match Preview: Oracle vs Emirates Team NZ

Ocean Sailing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2017 62:11


Its just 36 hours out from the start of the 35th Americas Cup and Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand pick up where they left off 4 years ago in San Francisco. In this episode we explore what ETNZ has to do to upset a very dominant and confident defender in Jimmy Spithill's Oracle Team USA. Will Oracles comeback from 8-1 down in 2013 come back to haunt ETNZ again or have they closed the door and moved on? We drill into the key differences between the boats and skippers, the battle of the press conference, the impact of the cyclists on sailing and exactly where Jimmy Spithill is likely to focus, to exploit weaknesses and gain advantage. With inspiration from Al Pacino and Jimmy Spithill himself, its winner takes all time in Bermuda. As Queen Victoria was told by her attendant in 1851: ”Your Majesty, there is no second place”. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Sailing Uncovered - the Podcast
Episode 6-America's Cup & Vendee Globe

Sailing Uncovered - the Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2016 20:00


Could Lance Armstrong compete in the next America's Cup? Has the winning boat already been decided? America's Cup veteran and commentator Kenny Read gazes into his crystal ball of forthright views. Sir Ben Ainslie, Jimmy Spithill and Peter Burling also look ahead to their Bermuda showdown in 2017. And we hear about a British project aiming to snatch the Vendee Globe Race from its French masters.

Talk Cocktail
The America's Cup will never be the same

Talk Cocktail

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2013 23:13


This has been an  amazing week for sailing,  for Oracle team USA, for it’s crew and for Larry Ellison.In many ways Ellison is the true manifestation of what creative destruction and Silicon Valley is all about….dreams, passion, vision, innovation and the ability to execute on all of it.Many successful entrepreneurs possess some measure of these qualities.  But often the purpose and the playing field is small; an app, a piece of software, a new design.  All things of value.  But Larry Ellison wanted to play on a much grander scale.  He wasn't happy to just nudge the world, he wanted to change it, to shift it on it’s axis...just a bit.Yesterday’s victory was the culmination of that effort in the world of sailing.  It’s a story that is powerful and complex, and involved people like  Norbert Bajurin and Jimmy Spithill, who would share and complement and expand on Ellison's vision and passion.  It’s a story told with equal passion by Julian Guthrie.  Julian’s book The Billionaire and the Mechanic: How Larry Ellison and a Car Mechanic Teamed Up to Win Sailing's Greatest Race, The America's Cup, sets the stage for all that came before yesterday’s race.My conversation with Julian Guthrie: