Rob Waddell, from rowing to sailing

By Melissa Bray

In the waters off the shore of Valencia, Spain, some of the best sailors in the world have been fighting it out for one of the oldest trophies in the sporting world, the America’s Cup. Some of them used to be rowers. Rob Waddell of New Zealand won gold in the men’s single at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He then got lured away from rowing and into the lucrative sailing world joining the New Zealand team for the 2003 America’s Cup campaign. Waddell’s endurance and strength built up as a rower got him selected for the position of grinder. The grinders are considered to be the “engine room” of a racing yacht as they have up to four tonnes of sail to raise as fast as possible – 200 rotations per minute.

Waddell on the Team New Zealand boat

Waddell’s physique changed from the lean single sculler frame to the bulky muscular frame necessary to be a successful grinder.

“I had to increase my strength dramatically to make the position in the boat,” says Waddell. “The sport has many different contrasts with rowing, but there are also some basics that I think must apply in any sport.”

Also moving from rowing to sailing, Italy’s challenge team, Mascalzone Latino had two rowers on board. Davide Tizzano, winner of two Olympic golds (1988 and 1996) and Massimo Paradiso, who won two World Championship golds in the men’s quad (1994 and 1995).

Australia’s current men’s head coach Brian Richardson went from Olympic rower to the Australian America’s Cup crew before returning to his career as rowing coach. In the United States several men and women have joined the sailing fraternity for the America’s Cup challenge including Brad Lewis who was a gold medallist at the 1984 Olympics. Ten years after winning Olympic gold at the 1992 Olympics, Great Britain’s Greg Searle was part of the British crew going for the America’s Cup. Searle considered it tougher than rowing because of the long hours and attention to detail.

Former world silver medallist in the lightweight single, and now FISA's chair of the Materials Commission, Paul Fuchs also competed in the America's Cup. Fuchs sailed for the United States and carried on the passion to become a yacht designer.

Will Baillieu rowed for Australia at Munich in 1972, and was part of the winning 1983 Australian America's Cup team with Brian Richardson, now a national team coach for Australia. Baillieu, however, missed some of the racing due to an infection.

The World Rowing team values feedback, let us know if there are other rowers that you know of who have put their skills to racing in the America's Cup.