Wilmot and Page intend to contest both the 420 Australians and 420 Worlds to be hosted by Mornington Yacht Club as part of Sail Melbourne from December 26 to January 11.

Asked what their motive was in doing so, Malcolm Page said, ‘we are not title hunting, believe you me, what we are doing is putting ourselves in a pressure situation – there will be around 120 boats at the Worlds, and some tough competitors, it will give us some idea of what to expect come Olympic time when you really are under pressure.’

I expect 80% of the top Aussie 470 teams, including Matt Belcher and Nick Behrens, and the top Australian female pairing of Jenny Armstrong and Belinda Stowell, both our training partners, will also compete.

We will be up against crews like the current World champions, Australia’s Nathan Outteridge/Ayden Menzies and a number of internationals as well – I’ve never sailed a 420 before, so it is a pressurized situation – along with Jenny and Belinda, we are expected to represent at the Olympics, so yes, we feel we have to perform well in the 420,’ Page added.

A large fleet by any standard, up to 150 competitors are expected for the Nationals to be held on the Mornington Peninsula, one hour’s drive south-east from Melbourne’s CBD. Mornington is known for its south-westerly winds, stiff breezes and not so flat water, giving the 420 sailors a lot to look forward to.

‘Yes, we are looking forward to being back on Port Phillip Bay again, the conditions are exciting, hard sailing, plenty of waves, and the Race Management is second to none worldwide, in fact I would go as far as to say they are one of the top two in the world as far as management goes,’ Page added.

The increase in competitors has been made possible with support from P&O Nedlloyd and Schenker in shipping containers from around the world to Sail Melbourne at a quarter of the normal price.

‘All 20 containers made available under the shipping program have been filled and Erich Seifert at Schenker is now busy arranging the logistics,’ said Yachting Victoria’s Regatta Manager, David Staley.

Following on from the 420 Worlds, Wilmot and Page will contest the Olympic Classes Warm-Up Regatta from January 5-8, before participating in the Sail Melbourne Olympic & Invited Classes Regatta (ISAF Grade 1), at Sandringham Yacht Club, from Jan 12-17, their final Olympic Team Selection event prior to the Athens Games.

Currently, Wilmot and Page, who have been sailing together since Kiel Week, in 2001, are in Australia busy training in preparation for the 470 Nationals in Japan in two weeks time, then it is back to training again. The pair is back to their No.1 World ranking after finishing fourth at the 470 Worlds this year.

Page, a 31 year old from Sydney, says their coach, Victor Kovalenko, is primarily responsible for their success.

‘We have been very consistent for the past year and a half. Victor is the mastermind; he is always trying to help you grow in yourself and in the sport. He is very quiet, but he makes you think, he gets the best out of all his pupils, the results speak for themselves and there are no secrets between the different Australian team members he coaches. He has us sailing and training together to make all of us stronger, ’ he said

Married to Bulgarian, Galia, for four years, Page said chasing an Olympic dream is not easy. ‘Galia is a languages expert, we met in Spain and she has supported me and what I am doing for a long time. We have spent a lot of time apart – we have had only six weeks together in the last five months because Nathan and I have been in Europe.

It’s not an ideal situation, especially because money is tight – we (he and Nathan, who will turn 24 in December), get some money from Government sources, but our other sponsors are product and kind, so it’s a lot to ask from any partner. Along with the rest of the current Olympic candidates, we gave up work to concentrate on sailing fulltime for the Olympics,’ Page explained.

Of he and Wilmot’s ambitions, Page said, ‘to not let the girls (Armstrong and Stowell) have their way and beat us, and to get to the Olympics in good form – it’s been a long time dream, to win a world title and to represent at Olympics.’

Sail Melbourne is the only regatta of its type in Australia to offer prize money –the total pool in 2004, to be split amongst placegetters in the Olympic classes, is $25,250, of which Page hopes some will go to he and Wilmot.

Source: Di Pearson