Yachting: Murdoch, Junior set for Rio Olympics showdown in Finn class

Reporter·NZ Herald·

17 Nov, 2015 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Andrew Murdoch (front) says competition will be close in a high-class fleet. Photo / Sailing Energy

The battle for Olympic selection has suddenly got real for New Zealand's premier Finn sailors.

Until recently, Andrew Murdoch and Josh Junior's campaign has been focused on accumulating good performances in the class to secure continued funding and qualifying the boat for Rio. Now those boxes have been checked, it is every man for himself.

The selection battle between Murdoch and Junior for the Rio Games will come alive on home waters in next week's Finn Gold Cup in Takapuna. The regatta, considered the pinnacle event in the Finn, has been marked down as one of the key events Yachting New Zealand's selection panel will look at when making their Olympic nominations.

Murdoch, who made the switch to the heavyweight dinghy in 2013 after campaigning in the Laser for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, says with the top 30-ranked sailors in the class all in Auckland for the regatta, it is crucial he performs next week.

"It's going to be close, and we always knew that at the start of the cycle," he said. "We've still got a bit to go on it, but any event you can do well at is going to help your cause, so it's a case of needing to bring it together next week, really."

Having come through the highly competitive Laser class, the 33 year-old is accustomed to tight selection battles. During the last Olympic cycle, Murdoch faced strong competition from four other sailors, including Junior, for a place at the London Games.

While he is battling just one other for a berth this time, Murdoch says the pressure remains the same.

"The last couple of cycles I've had there's been quite a few people chasing that one spot and it's potentially stressful from that point of view, but I always just back myself and worry about what I'm doing and if I do my job well then all the rest of it takes care of itself," he said.

Coach, John Cutler, who won bronze in the Finn class at the 1988 Olympics, admits he finds it tough knowing for one of his charges to succeed the other has to fail. He said both sailors have similar track records in the class, despite being very different sailors.

"Josh is a very natural sailor, very relaxed in the boat and has a natural flair for it," said Cutler. "Doc [Murdoch] has more of a tactical, grind-away sort of approach. The end result is they both come about the same spot, but they get there in a slightly different way."

British sailor Giles Scott, who will be defending his title in Auckland, shapes up as the biggest competition for the Kiwi pair. Scott is unbeaten in the Finn class since October 2013.