The options appear to be endless for New Zealand sailor Liv Mackay, but she wants to settle on one and get stuck in.
Liv Mackay Photo: SailGP
Mackay is a member of the New Zealand SailGP currently in Saint-Tropez in France preparing for the latest round of the foiling catamaran series.
Mackay and Erica Dawson are a part of the competitions female development programme which was introduced in 2020 to fast-track the inclusion of female athletes in the league.
The pair came through a series of trials to be selected for the New Zealand team and while other nations have just one female involved, the New Zealand team has decided to keep two.
Mackay says Peter Burling and Blair Tuke along with the rest of the New Zealand SailGP team have been outstanding in supporting the female development programme.
"Even during the trial they were the most respectful and want to uphold and support the talent (not just female) in New Zealand," Mackay said.
The New Zealand team has changed a lot during the four rounds so far this year with Burling and Tuke, Dawson, Josh Junior and Andy Maloney all involved in the Olympics, but Mackay has been to every regatta.
While the women aren't a part of the race crew, Mackay says she's had the opportunity to be at the helm of the F50 foiling catamaran during training.
She says it's not realistic to think that women would go straight into a racing position on the boat.
"It would be silly to think that you could just jump on board and be really good, but there are so many other roles so I'm still learning a lot off the guys which hopefully means I will become an asset to get on a boat in the long term.
Photo: SailGP
She'll continue to be a part of the sailing team involved with communications and analysis.
"It's been incredible, I've been the consistent person so far in the competition."
"There is so much data to go through that I've learnt alot and so I really appreciate that they've kept me on board to develope in that role because that's what sailing is becoming with so much technology."
Mackay didn't compete at the Tokyo Olympics, but it remains a major goal, however the versatile Burling and Tuke have shown there are many different options for a sailor.
"I'm still trying to figure that out myself, I'd like to medal at the Olympics but at the same time there's SailGP and the America's Cup and so I'm thinking the same as all the top guys in the sport.
"I just want to go sailing and be the best."
NZ SAILGP team Photo: © Sail GP 2021
She's keen on the high performance 49erFX and Nacra 17 classes at the Olympics, both two-person boats, so she'll need to find a crew-mate.
"Finding someone that I want to win with, it'll take a few years of competing together and you need to be fully committed so I'm excited about trying to find the right person.
However she still wants to be a professional sailor as well.
"I'm loving what I'm doing and I really want to keep doing it, so Pete and Blair are huge role models for that kind of thing .
"I see a lot of opportunities but I'm the sort of person that wants to commit so at the moment I'm in a space of trying to work out what that is an then I'll give a hundred percent.
Mackay says sailing is a sport that no matter what boat you're sailing, it really enhances your skills.
"The more opportunites I get in sailing the more I realise how cool the people are, like the New Zealand team here (SailGP) are amazing, I respect them and enjoy learning off everyone so a hundred percent I want to work in sailing.
"It's a great sport and there are some great people and that's the main thing.... the main thing in life really, make sure you're surrounded by great people"
New Zealand is fifth in the SailGP standings heading into the France round this weekend.
