From Process to Podium: Australia’s Nacra 17 Squad Eyes Kiel Week

Kiel Week gets underway on the Baltic Sea this week, with Australia’s Nacra 17 squad arriving in full force for a crucial hit-out before the European Championships. Four crews will line up carrying a season’s worth of momentum and a clear ambition to test processes and move towards converting consistent performances into podium results.

National Squad coach Darren Bundock explains: “It’s a good regatta for us to do a little bit of experimenting. A few teams will be working on areas they haven’t been able to test at events like the Worlds.”

The regatta offers a strategic advantage beyond the racing itself. Kiel is just down the coast from Eckernförde, where the Nacra 17 European Championships will be sailed later this month, and the conditions are near-identical. 

The squad arrives with plenty to build on. New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Olympians Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown have been the most consistent combination of the season, posting all top ten finishes. Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman (NSWIS) underlined their top-end potential with a fourth place at the World Championships last month, proof that when everything clicks, they can race at the top.

For Gargett, Kiel is about fine-tuning the details before the European Championships.

“The focus for Kiel Week is to use the regatta as a good opportunity to add in some new processes to how we race and prepare for the European Championships in Eckernförde later in the month,” shared Gargett. “Eckernförde is just around the corner, so it’s a great opportunity to sail in similar conditions and against all of the key top teams who will be competing at the Europeans.”

With 20 boats entered, the fleet is strong, slightly smaller than expected at the Europeans, but no less competitive. The Australian crews will use the week to trial small adjustments in roles and decision-making, working through changes that are harder to test under full championship pressure.

Bundock is clear about where the squad stands and what comes next. “We’re knocking on the doorstep, but we haven’t made the big breakthrough onto a podium yet.”

He expects Liddell and Brown to respond after a Worlds campaign that didn’t reflect their season form and sees the next two regattas as a defining stretch for Gargett and Hoffman.

“These next two regattas is their time to prove that it wasn’t a one-off. So, expecting quite a big improvement for them here and at the Europeans as well.”

His goals for the week reflect that ambition: “It’s a bit of an experimenting week, but I still think we’ll have some good results. Hopefully we’ll have three in the top ten, and I’d love to see one of them on the podium.”

As the squad moves through Kiel Week, development is the priority, but the podium is firmly in sight

NSWIS entries at Kiel Week:

Nacra 17 
Archie Gargett / Sarah Hoffman
Brin Liddell / Rhiannan Brown
Ruben Booth / Rita Booth
Jake Liddell (NSWIS) / Niamh Meehan

49er
Kurt Hansen / Charlie Zeeman
Daniel Links / Keizo Tomishima 
Spencer McKay / Benedict McKay

470 
Sienna Brown / Ellis Merrit

ILCA 6 
Sara Bruce
Sylvie Stannage

Images: Beau Outteridge, Sailing Energy