American geologist Chris Goldfinger has been assisting national sailing representative Viliame Ratului with understanding aerodynamics, as he believes sails and wings function similarly.
Their first encounter took place in February at the Vuda marina.
Ratului, who has been sailing since he was nine years old, will be representing Fiji at the France Olympics in Paris later this month.
The pair were given a farewell at the Boat Shed in Vuda on Tuesday evening.
Hailing from Savusavu, Ratului shares a passion for the water with his American counterpart. They are set to depart for Paris today.
“When we met, the marina was providing him with much-needed support. He didn’t have anyone to discuss sailing with,” Goldfinger said.
“We began discussing various aspects of sailing and how to improve his understanding of different situations. Being a pilot, I have a solid grasp of aerodynamics, and sails and wings are very similar.”
Before pursuing his career, Goldfinger was involved in intercollegiate racing on the West Coast.
“We would train and mentor other students in racing. The boat is similar to the one Billy Ratului is racing now.
“To excel at this level, one needs to perfect making the boat go fast. It’s a very high standard.”
Ratului’s coach in Savusavu, Jeff Taylor, supported him from the start.
“I am eagerly looking forward to the day. I didn’t realize this journey would begin in Savusavu,” Ratului said, appreciating the support from his community.
Vuda Marina General Manager Adam Wade highlighted that Ratului, coming from a rugby-loving nation, is breaking new ground by embracing sailing.
Former national representative Tony Philip Sr mentioned that with the support from Vuda Marina and the backing of the Fiji Yachting Association, Ratului is in capable hands.