Gladstone sisters Emma and Sarah Berry are about to undertake an intensive eight week training programme leading up to them representing New Zealand at the world open 420 class yachting championships in Greece in July.
Buoyed by the fourth placing the St Matthew's Collegiate students achieved in the same event in
Auckland last year they know they are in contention for a medal on this occasion.
But at the same time their optimism is tempered by the knowledge that some of the better-performed European crews who did not make the long trip to Auckland will very probably be amongst their opposition this time round.
"Yes it will be tougher than Auckland, we're pretty sure about that," skipper Sarah Berry said yesterday.
"It's a lot handier for the Europeans so you'd expect them to be there in good numbers."
Being an open competition also means the Berrys- Sarah is 15 and Emma 16- are sure to be amongst the youngest competitors but Sarah Berry said they won't be fazed by that prospect, as it is something they have had to deal with for some time now.
"You don't really think about it, you just go out there to do the best you can and hope that is good enough to get you a win," she said. "Being 40 doesn't necessarily make you any better, it's what happens on the day that counts."
Overseeing the Berrys' training programme over the next couple of months will, as usual, be father Mark Berry who introduced them to the sport in the first place and who was no mean performer himself. That programme will mean several trips to Auckland where their regime will include workouts with the other New Zealand crews heading to Greece, something which should ensure they are close to peak form when they leave these shores.
Further "sharpening up" will be done in at least two other regattas before the worlds, the first of them in northern Germany and the second either in France or Italy.
The need to be in top mental and physical shape before the racing in Greece begins is of paramount importance because making the premier section, the Gold Fleet, will rely on results achieved in seven qualifying races.
Sarah Berry said it was vital under that process to start well and to accumulate enough points in the first few races so as to avoid being in catch up mode later on.
"You can't take anything for granted, you have to go flat out all the way through,"she said.
