Leo Takahashi, a Mastercard Youth Training Programme Graduate, has raced his way to the top, and is now the flight controller for New Zealand’s national SailGP team – The Black Foils.

Leo was the special guest speaker at the RNZYS Annual Christmas Lunch, with fellow YTP Graduate, and The Black Foils Operations Manager Troy Tindill, who ran through a list of questions so that members could catch up on how Leo has progressed from a young sailor who used to run through the RNZYS foyer barefoot, to being a professional of the sport at the top of the game.

Troy kicked off with asking the question “what’s it like to be team mates with Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.”

“Jumping on a boat with them is definitely one of those ‘pinch me’ moments,” said Leo, who raced against Peter and Blair at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where he was racing the 49er for Japan, and where the kiwis won their silver medal.

Troy Tindill & Leo Takahashi – The Black Foils. Photo: Suellen Hurling

TROY: The league has just celebrated its fifth season, so it’s still very young in the scheme of things. But this year, I look at it and think: we’ve had 10 grandstands of over 10,000 people each day. It’s been selling out. The growth has been huge. We’ll see more grandstands and grandstand seating here in Auckland come February. More and more events are happening, more commercial partners are coming on board, TV rights are being sold in more nations, and viewership is growing.

And obviously you’ve joined the national team this year, alongside Peter Burling. As the league has grown and I see the Black Foils’ profile growing nationally and globally, how have you dealt with that? Has it brought extra pressure from a media perspective?

LEO: Yeah, it’s been exciting seeing the league grow and how accessible it is to spectators. The fact there’s a grandstand to watch a sailing event has completely changed the game. I know it’s still more of a TV product at the moment, but the fact anyone can go down to the shore and watch SailGP racing has been super amazing.

Being able to share this event with my friends and family, and I everyone here at the Squadron who were able to watch it as well last year, is really cool. It’s been awesome to see the growth of the league and the team, and to feel more people and the country getting behind us.

Leo Takahashi – The Black Foils. Photo: Suellen Hurling

TROY: You’ve gotten into running quite a lot lately, just did the Kepler Track 60K, and a half marathon. You’ve done a couple of those this year. From the outset you’re certainly pushing yourself, but what are you doing that for? What’s the main focus? How does it help you fly an F50?

LEO: I think it’s just a mental and physical hobby. I’ve really enjoyed taking a different sport and taking it to the next level, doing something different. Recently I’ve actually enjoyed racing on my friend’s GB 8.5 as well. That’s another little side quest. We’ve been racing in the Harbour Series and doing some more social sailing, which has been really enjoyable.

How that helps fly an F50? I’m not quite sure!

TROY: Right – next question: what’s harder, flying an F50 or controlling the mainsheet on a GB?

LEO: I think when you’re getting yelled at by your mates on the GB, it makes it harder! There’s definitely not much yelling on the F50!!!

Troy Tindill & Leo Takahashi – The Black Foils. Photo: Suellen Hurling

TROY: What’s your favourite type of racing?

LEO: It’s hard to go away from sailing on an F50, but if I had to choose, I’d go back to 2017–2018 when we had a full-time match racing team. We were travelling the world, competing at the best match racing events, and it was just four or five of your best friends doing it together. Those were some of the best moments.

The afternoon went on, with members enjoying a delicious Christmas lunch, listening intently to Leo and Troy. It was a fantastic afternoon in the Quarterdeck!