Sailing: Growing up at sea helps Maloneys rule waves

Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech have been a team for less than a year but have already made history. Photo / Gareth Cooke / Subzero

When you consider their start in life, it's not surprising Auckland siblings Alexandra and Andy Maloney ended up among New Zealand's most exciting young sailing talent.

The Maloney kids literally grew up on the water. When the pair were just 5 and 7 respectively, their parents, Jim and Loretta, packed up their life in California and moved on to a 13m yacht, making the South Pacific their new home for three years.

"I think they must have been a little bit crazy. Dad worked really hard when we lived in the States and didn't get to spend a lot of time with us so getting on the boat was a really good way to make sure we all spent a lot of time together," said Alexandra.

It was during this period that a love of sailing was infused in the Maloney children, so when the family eventually settled in Kerikeri it was inevitable Alexandra (21) and Andy (23) would take up sailing themselves. Both quickly climbed the ranks of New Zealand sailing - Andy establishing himself as one of the country's top young Laser sailors, while Alexandra progressed through the junior classes before pairing up with Molly Meech this year in the 49erFX, one of the new classes to be introduced at the 2016 Olympics.

The Maloneys are one of three sets of siblings in the 2014 NZL Sailing team named by Yachting New Zealand this week, with Molly and Sam Meech, and Thomas and Jason Saunders the others.

While Alexandra and Molly joined forces in the 49erFX only this year, their families have long been close friends.

"They're from Tauranga, so when they came up to Murrays Bay for regattas they would always stay with us, and when we went down there we would stay with them. So I've known Molly for a long time and it really helps with our relationship on the boat," said Alexandra.

Their strong understanding was evident with the pair enjoying immediate success in the 49erFX, picking up bronze in the European Championships in Denmark in July, before making history as the first world champions in the class with a gold at the world championships in Marseille.

While their sisters have teamed up in the 49erFX, Andy and Sam are in the more complex position of being friends, training partners and rivals.

As the country's No 1 and No 2 ranked Laser sailors respectively, the pair will be vying alongside Thomas Saunders for one spot to represent New Zealand at the Rio Olympics. Andy was 11th at this year's world championships, while Sam was 13th in the highly competitive class.

Andy said it is sometimes difficult being both teammates and competitors, but the group all understand the benefits of training together.

"One of the best things about the Laser class is that we're a tight group. It is really competitive when we're out on the water, but we also realise to get better than everyone else we need to work together," he said.

Most of the NZL sailing team will be in action on home waters early next year in the Sail Auckland regatta at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.