Yachting: Weathering heavy demands

By JULIE ASH

"Full-on" is the only way to describe the life of New Zealand yachtie Sarah Macky.

The 22-year-old leaves for Canada tomorrow to compete in the Europe world championships from August 27 to September 3.

On her return she will resume her position on the weather team for Mascalzone Latino, an Italian America's Cup syndicate, as they prepare for the start of the Louis Vuitton Challenger series on October 1.

The world championship regatta is the first chance sailors have to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Macky and Aucklander Sara Winther are up against 150 competitors in their bid to secure New Zealand a place at the Olympics by finishing in the top 10. If they succeed, the New Zealand representative in Athens would be decided at next year's national trials.

Macky, a former Herald junior sports award winner, competed in five major international regattas this year, and finished third in all but one of them - a good buildup for a top-10 finish in Hamilton, Canada.

"In one regatta everything just fell apart," she laughed.

Although she has been happy with her results to date, she said the venue of the world championships meant the field was wide open.

"There are many variables in yachting," she said. "In my last event in Europe it was hugely tidal. This time, in Canada, it is in a lake, so the wind will be shifting around a lot. Anyone could win, in fact it could favour the underdogs."

Macky finished 9th in the Europe class in the 2000 Olympics. In 1997 she won the women's single-handed event at the ISAF youth world championships and the world youth title at the Laser Radial championships.

She is coached by Leslie Egnot, a former Olympian, and is happy with her present form.

"I am still learning so much but I feel my sailing overall has improved. Leslie is an absolute legend and I have learned so much from her."

Immediately after the world championships, Macky will return to Auckland and to her job with Mascalzone Latino.

As one of three members of the weather team, Macky has worked for the syndicate since December 2000. She got the job through cousin Tom Weaver, the team's crew manager.

"It is great to be involved in an America's Cup team. It is such an exciting thing for Auckland. I would love to make a career out of sailing, even a management-type role would be great.

"I am very excited to hear that Dawn Riley is setting up a sort of mixed team for the next cup, which is cool. Long-term it is very exciting."