Yachting: M&Ms started life at sea

Alex Maloney and Molly Meech in action during the 49erFX class, Oceanic Leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup 2012. Photo / AAP

World champion sailors Molly Meech and Alex Maloney are exhibit A when it comes to the concept of 'a life on the ocean waves'.

Both were raised from an early age on their parents' yachts, on the oceans for years at a time, in a move which clearly prompted their world championship success in the 49er FX class.

"My brother and I travelled around the world on a 52-foot yacht with Mum and Dad for seven years," Meech says.

"We left New Zealand when I was 3, sailed to Australia, through the Red Sea, dropped the mast through the French canals, spent time in England, came back through Panama and on to the Pacific Islands before heading home. Sam and I began sailing on the lake in Hamilton before we moved to Tauranga.

"Unfortunately I can't remember much but the photos and stories suggest it was an amazing way to grow up. I was the scared one who'd hide below decks during high winds and come up when it was sunny. It made our family closer. That was the first chapter of our lives, this is another. We're open to the world."

Maloney says: "Mum and Dad were both sailors. When I was 5, we cruised around the South Pacific for three years, going to Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia and dropping in on Papua New Guinean villages.

"We had an Optimist on our deck which we could take off the boat and sail ourselves.

"My parents did not push us too hard. I wasn't that keen on sailing initially at regattas as a youngster, but I came to realise anything was better than sitting onshore all day."

Meech and Maloney endured light winds in the early stages of their world championship campaign last year but enjoyed a day of stronger winds to seize control of the regatta.

The pair were one of three world champion New Zealand crews last year, joining Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie in the women's 470 and Peter Burling and Blair Tuke in the men's 49er.

Meech and Maloney, the M&Ms, have other similarities as well as parents who sailed them around the world as young children.

Both have older brothers - Sam and Andy respectively - in the New Zealand sailing squad.

Their success in the 49er FX was no fluke - they planned an ambitious assault on the class knowing it would debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics. For the record, 21-year-old Maloney asked 20-year-old Meech if she'd sail with her, knowing they had the same goals.

Their world championship victory off the coast of Marseille in October places the pair in prime position to contest for Olympic gold. It coincides with a New Zealand sailing resurgence after a gripping America's Cup and the first non-boardsailing Olympic medals in 20 years - gold to Aleh and Powrie and silver to Burling and Tuke - at London.

Meech puts part of their competitive instinct down to their training arrangement: "We trained consistently with Peter and Blair last year as well as [fellow Kiwis and world championship 49er silver medallists] Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski. They push us. There's always something to strive for."

"I'm at the helm and Molly works as crew," Maloney says.

"She has a more physical role, hoisting and dropping the kite and working the mainsheet upwind, while I'm steering. My role is tactical decisions downwind.

"We both talk about it but quick decisions are vital, especially when it's windy."

Next year's key regatta for the pair is the Rio de Janeiro Olympic test event in August.