Local sailors dream big ahead of Asian Games
Members of the SAR’s sailing team are getting ready to head to the mainland, as they fine tune their preparations for next month’s Asian Games in Hangzhou.  The young squad of nine will test waves, winds, and currents at the Ningbo Xiangshan Sailing Centre before going over their race equipment and developing a race strategy. "Each venue has its differences and its specific conditions," said head coach Harris Tsolis. "In events like this, every detail counts and if we can squeeze out half a knot of boat speed, we will do it." The team has spent the past five months training and competing in different parts of Europe, most recently in The Hague for the World Sailing Championships.  Conditions in The Hague were tricky, according to 22-year-old Stephanie Norton, who also represented Hong Kong at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and will be competing in the women's single handed dinghy event next month. "There was a lot of strong current, which you don't often get in sailing. Being quite a slow boat, the current has quite a bigger effect on us than other classes," said Norton.  But Norton added she will use this experience to her advantage in the coming Games.  "Obviously the goal is to win the event, or at least finish on the podium. I think we have a good shot. The event is quite small and we've been training hard." For Tsolis, he is aware of his team's youth and does not want to overwhelm them with pressure. He pointed out these are sailors who could represent Hong Kong for years to come. "I could see this team unchanged going to the Los Angeles Olympic Games [in 2028], or the 2026 Japan Asian Games. They will be older and much improved," said Tsolis. "I see a lot of talent, a lot of motivation. They have big dreams motivating them, independent of the goals right in front of them."