News Around the World


problems. We kept pushing, though, to keep a safe margin in case there were calms and strange things at the arrival. Karine, who was in charge of routeing, kept telling us that it was not worth it to push the boat so much! We ended up with a seven-hour advantage, which in comparison to the other categories is a long time. The finish really moved me. Salvador was also the finish for my


two Mini Transats – in 2003 I arrived there in second place and in 2015 I won. That is where my oceanic career began and everything is the same as it was 14 years ago! SH: And now… AP: I feel satisfied. It has been a lot of hard work in the 14 years since my first Mini Transat. In Spain it is very difficult to get support and to make a name abroad is tough, especially if you come from the south. When I think about these last three years I have to pinch myself to check it is not a dream. Winning the Route du Rhum, the Jules Verne with Idec and now the TJV, and all in different classes. I begin to feel that in France they value me a little and also appreciate me personally. That makes me happy. SH: Monos or multis? AP: You cannot compare them. When you sail a multi you do not want to know anything about the mono. The speed is intoxicating. It creates a strong addiction. The feeling of being lifted out of the water is incomparable. Technically they are incredible, they have a lot of potential, almost infinite development possibilities. You are twice as fast as a monohull, there are fewer sails, there is no stacking, you are – usually (laughing) – less wet because the spray is fine due to the high speed, although you do get some buckets of water over you! But they have a great and dangerous inconve- nience: the constant risk of capsizing – and this is quite stressful. *Alex was in Francis Joyon’s crew when they lapped the globe in 40 days to win the Jules Verne... Carlos Pich


AUSTRALIA Everyone grows There is an intensity to Jake Lilley simmering just under the surface which you slowly become aware of as you sit and talk to him. It’s like viewing footage of a nuclear reactor submerged in still water. Super-polite, the 24-year-old Queenslander answers questions clearly and honestly, but he contemplates all before replying. But don’t be fooled: this guy will destroy you out on the Finn course and he is getting better by the week. Jake started out as a cyclist and triathlete, competing up to


national level until he was 15, then on a cycle training run up a mountain he got T-boned by a motorbike in a crash that ‘ended the cycling dream for a while…’ He was then spotted by a coach who saw a Laser sailor in the making, but there were significant lessons along the way, one of which was keeping a grip on his emotions… ‘The emotional side of things is something I’ve realised you need


to be in control of when you are racing because of the constant decision-making. I have seen the red mist in some sailors and it visibly compromises their performance. When I was young my coach, Adrian Finglas, was very strong about staying level-headed and not letting your emotions get the better of you. To be honest it took me a few years; I still get the raw feelings but I have evolved to flatlining my emotions and trying to stay focused on logical decisions.’ Jake joined the Australian Laser squad but it was obvious he


was destined for the Finns. But although 6ft7in Lilley still doesn’t have the massive physique that has historically defined the sailors in this toughest Olympic class, with the weight on his basketball player’s frame currently hovering around 92kg. And he’s still learning a lot about another crucial ingredient to


any Olympic programme: time. ‘The problem with Rio was we had a bit of a time crunch. I was quite young then and we were always pushing to get enough work in, too much sailing, too much gym, too much travelling… We didn’t have a base of Finn sailors in Australia back then and so we were always travelling overseas to train. Now we have the fundamentals: a good base, coach Rafa Trujillo and a strong team, so we can be more domestically based


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and when we go to Europe we are travelling to compete, not to train. ‘Looking back at Rio, it’s funny because everyone tells you the


Olympics will be like this or like that, but until you experience it you can’t really comprehend what is involved in the whole circus. So it’s good to take all that in and gain lessons from the Games. Clearly that makes us stronger and better prepared moving forwards. Olympians win more medals that first-timers, now I see why.’ With the Finn gold medal monopoly held by Team GBR going back


to the Sydney Games with Iain Percy, plans are underway to end that domination spearheaded by Lilley and Trujillo and assisted by the Australian Sailing Team past and present, including recent Finn convert Tom Slingsby. As Lilley explained, ‘People have suggested that I am nuts to train with Tommy, sharing tips and techniques, but I disagree. Tom is the finest sailor in the world at the moment and to have him in the Finn is a blessing.’ Moulding all this fine talent currently in Australia offers massive


potential. Chemistry is all in any Olympic squad, creating the ability to empower athletes to deliver the extra brilliance often needed in the final moments of an Olympic contest – shining examples of which are Tom Burton’s Laser and Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze’s 49er FX performances in Rio. And now having a coach of Trujillo’s stature is a coup for Australian sailing, so I asked Lilley of his thoughts on his coach-elect. ‘His sailing needs no introduction: a total professional and one


of the best, we are lucky to have him. And as a human, straight up you have a very intimate connection with him. He is really involved yet he is not Australian. You can joke around with him but he can be very serious when we need to get the work done. Plus he has that Latin side!’ Rafa does indeed have a massive Latin side, which is impossible


to ignore. Semaphoring his emotions with those great muscular arms, then framing his powerful hands in front of his face, thumb and fingertips pressed together, articulating and punctuating his delight at the success of the Finn squad here at Sail Melbourne. ‘Blue! Did you see today, eh? The senior sailors are great, but


the younger ones! Did you see them! Holding their own with the current world champion!’ Then with a huge smile Rafa turns and skips light-footed out of the yacht club to meet the sailors as they come ashore after another energy-sapping day of free-pumping in 35° on Port Phillip Bay. After rehydrating and a debrief Olympian Jake Lilley may sound


calm and measured but it has been a bumpy 12 months for the sailor. He moved to Bermuda to join Artemis Racing as a grinder straight after Rio and loved the experience, but it took its toll. ‘Towards the end of 2016 I got quite sick with pneumonia in Bermuda and then ended up overtraining. So I looked at all of that, the overtraining, my programme and my body, taking a more holistic approach, and clearly one of the areas to study was diet. ‘I did a lot of research with a lot of professionals and I made the


choice to become a vegan; I feel good for doing so. The minus is it’s quite hard travelling and you have to be well prepared, but the plusses are I can perform better, recover better, my energy levels are high and regular, my mood and emotions are more consistent – which all means I can think clearly. And seemingly I don’t get sick.’ The Australian Sailing Team may be focused on Tokyo 2020 but


the relationships throughout this team are strong top to bottom; at Sail Melbourne I can see the youngest 420 sailors comfortable in rigorous conversation with the wisest 470 sailors and Lilley is quite clear of the value of this. ‘I think what is great about the Aus- tralian team right now is that we are not a collection of individuals, we are a much wider team of 80-100 people, including staff, and we now know each other very well. So when we travel as a large or small group, because we know each other we use that energy and connection to drive each other to get the best out of everyone. ‘That is what Team GBR first achieved in Sydney 2000; when


everyone can just tell if another athlete has had a tough day and looks down. Now there is no hesitation to offer help or just give them a pat on the back. Surely everyone grows from that?’ Blue Robinson


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