Meet Spain's 420 cousins: "I know what to say to her at every moment"

Mallorcan cousins Neus Fernández Darder and Martina Gomila Darder arrived at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Vilamoura hotly tipped to contend for honours having won World Championship gold and European Championship silver in their class so far this year.

But whatever happens on the Algarve, the pair are determined to take a relaxed approach and see the bigger picture as they soak up every minute of racing together.

“We feel confident because we have trained a lot for this Championship and we are going to try our best,” Martina said.

“We are going to try and win if we can but if not, we are going to be very happy with the last two seasons, as we have been having great results we are very happy with.”

 

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Neus added: “We have really enjoyed the whole season. The training at home was great, the Spanish Championships were awesome and the Worlds in Turkey were absolutely fantastic.

“Conditions were perfect, the team was absolutely amazing and the whole summer, with the Europeans, has been great.”

Both began sailing when they were six, inspired by their mothers, and they have developed an almost telepathic relationship on the water since forming their 420 partnership two years ago.

“It was really easy to start sailing in the same boat as we understand so much about each other,” Neus said.

“Maybe some fights that other teams have, we don’t have them because we have spent our whole lives together and grown up together.

“She is almost like my sister. It is really easy to sail together.”

 

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Their tight bond comes into its own on trickier days, with both knowing exactly how to pick the other up when times get tough.

“I know what to say to her at every moment,” Martina said.

“When she is a bit sad about something that has happened, I know how to help her and she knows how to help me.

“That is the best thing about having someone who you trust so much in the boat, you feel better and more comfortable with them.”

A bright future looks to be ahead for the Darders but like all the hundreds of young sailors in action this week, they are balancing sailing commitments with schoolwork.

Both Neus and Martina have ambitions on building careers alongside spending time on the water and never want to lose sight of the enjoyment factor which pulled them into the sport in the first place.

Martina said: “I would like to continue sailing and my dream is to go to the Olympic Games.

“But it is hard because I want to continue studying and pursue a career, and to try and do both things at the same time is really difficult.

“If I have the opportunity to continue sailing, I would like to, but I would also like to study medicine.”

Neus is grappling with a similar dilemma and added: “I know I want to keep sailing but maybe not in a professional way, just for fun.

“Next year, I will probably focus more on my University degree. Maybe we will do one more season of 420, maybe just for fun and more relaxed season.

“If I maybe have the opportunity to do something professionally, I could do my university degree and keep sailing. I will try to do that, and it would be really nice, but my main focus is on going to university to study international relations.”

The topic of Neus’ degree is a fitting one given the global melting pot of young sailors which has descended on Vilamoura – giving the cousins an experience like no other.

“Everybody who sails really looks forward to qualifying for this Championships, it is so well organised,” said Neus, who was also a keen gymnast growing up.

“It feels very different to the other international championships. Everybody is in the same place and the venue and everything makes it feel like a more professional atmosphere.

“It is really nice as you can connect with people from other countries, which makes it a really cool experience.”