Believe you can do it, says Fong

By JULIE ASH

Marlborough's Queen Charlotte Sound was where it all began for trimmer Daniel Fong.

"We had a bach in Queen Charlotte and were always out boating," he said.

"I did a little bit of dinghy sailing, but then moved to Auckland and started work at North Sails."

Fong left North's in 1997 after deciding to take on sailing fulltime.

He went to Europe and worked on the Maxi One design Nicorette before competing in the 1997 Whitbread. He then returned to Auckland where he spent some time working for America True in the last challenger series.

"I spent the last three months of their 1999 campaign on the tune-up boat just to get some experience sailing America's Cup boats. It was good fun."

Then, after the mass exodus from Team New Zealand, he rang Barker and asked for a job.

"It is what I expected, and more really.

"It has always been intriguing from the outside as to what the team is about and how professional they are. "I always had the desire at school to work for an America's Cup team after watching Australia II win the cup."

Now he has reached the pinnacle of sailing, Fong's advice to youngsters wanting to reach the same level is to go for it.

"You have to believe that you can do it.

"There are always going to be setbacks along the way, but you have to continue setting goals.

"It is all worth it, living in New Zealand and being part of this."


Daniel Fong - trimmer

Age: 32.

Place of birth: Blenheim.

Cup experience:

2000: America True.
1992: New Zealand Challenge.

Career highlights:

1997: Whitbread round-the-world race.
Other: Fastnet, Kenwood Cup, Sydney-Hobart.

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