Rising Sports Stars with Kelly Exelby of Eves Realty

Two different sailing companions in the space of 12 months has, at least for now, firmed up one thing in Trent Rippey's mind – his immediate future on the water lies in single-handed yachting.

Trent, one of the new crop of rising stars on the national sailing scene, is back training and racing in a Laser Radial after a three year hiatus, finishing third (youth) in a recent training regatta in Auckland after campaigning a 29er high-powered skiff for a couple of years around the globe.

The 16-year-old Tauranga Boys' College student spent the bulk of last year teamed with Auckland's Alex Munro, with the pair bagging the national 29er title before taking their talents offshore, claiming seventh at the British youth nationals and second at the Irish youths before a meritorious seventh at the youth world championships in Dublin Bay, Ireland.

Trent and Alex parted ways when they got back to New Zealand, with the talented Tauranga teen jumping in a boat with his brother Cole, three years his junior but in charge of steering the boat.

Logistically it was a dream combo – no more three hour car rides to Auckland to spend the weekend out on the water. But in practical terms it was a struggle as the brothers battled each other to get heard.

'It's been good and bad sailing with my brother. We hadn't spent a lot of time in the boat together so practicing out on the harbour was as easy as chucking the boat on the trailer rather than driving all the way to Auckland.

'But there were a few arguments and we didn't always agree on the right strategy.”

It didn't help that 13-year-old Cole was skipper but the junior partner in terms of age.

'We probably had a 50/50 say out on the water but we've come to the conclusion it's better if I sail by myself now, or with someone who's not my brother.

'We get on real well as brothers but all that changed when we got on the water together.”

Single-handed success, should it come in a Laser Radial, would be nothing new for Trent. As a 14-year-old he was the talk of junior yachting as he dismantled a 59-strong P class fleet to bag a boot-load of silverware, including the famed Tauranga Cup that reads like a Who's Who of Kiwi yachting, the Franklin Trophy (for the club of the Tauranga Cup winner), Gisborne Cup for runner-up in the Tanner Cup and the Harry Highet Salver (winner of the first race of the Tauranga Cup series).
He has hopped back into a Laser after three years away and is feeling the aches and pains of sole-charge sailing.

'I've picked it back up easily enough but it's a bit different on the body hiking again rather than being out on the trapeze wire off a 29er.”

Trent is targeting next year's youth world champs in a Laser Radial and possibly the open worlds, with a strong Tauranga Boys' College team also aiming for success in the secondary schools nationals and the inter-dominions, which pits New Zealand and Australia's best schools against each other.

Whatever boat he decides to campaign in the future, whether it's a Laser or Olympic class 49er, Trent has a bevy of ready-made role models from out of the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, with Olympians Jason Saunders and Peter Burling and former Laser youth world champion Sam Meech making up half of New Zealand's entry at September's Youth America's Cup in San Francisco.

'The success they've achieved in the past few years, particularly (Olympic silver medallist) Peter, has given all of us locally something to aspire to.”

Kelly Exelby is a residential marketing specialist with Eves Realty Ltd. Phone 07 571 7751, mobile 0275 501 851, email kelly.exelby@eves.co.nz