Cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin are set to make their Olympic debut at Rio 2016 in the Nacra 17 mixed multi-hull. The pair have been sailing together for eight years, having claimed their first overseas medal together in 2009 winning the ISAF Youth Worlds in Buzios, Brazil. They both grew up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and currently train at Middle Harbour Sailing Club.
2015 was a successful year for Darmanin and Waterhouse, winning the Rio Test Event and finishing second at the World Championships. Darmanin was also named Australian female sailor of the year.
Jason grew up in a sailing family, having spent four years sailing around the world on a yacht as a child. Lisa’s heritage is 50% Maltese and 50% English and she has a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing, International Business and French.
Read more on Jason at: http://www.australiansailing.org/team-members/jason-waterhouse/
Read more on Lisa at: http://www.australiansailing.org/team-members/lisa-darmanin/
Since when have you been sailing together on de Nacra17?
Jason and I started sailing on the Nacra at Hyeres in 2013.
What was your biggest challenge as a team?
The biggest challenge as a team was overcoming our low point in May 2014 and getting the energy and motivation to come back fighting and show everyone what were made of.
What is your best or most memorable result/win on your Road to Rio? Sailing, qualifying, mental, physically?
Winning the 2015 Test Event was the most memorable. To win on the Olympic waters, with many team mates watching at our first time at the Olmypic venue. It meant a lot to us, but also to our qualification. Rio is a tough place to sail, so to do well our first time there was amazing and made us want the real thing even more.
What do you like best about the Olympic sailing Venue?
The scenery in Rio is incredible and the race course is extremely challenging, so racing is intense but so rewarding when you get it right.
What will your last few months before the games look like?
Quite a bit of time on Olympic waters, doing coaches regattas and we’ll also be picking our Olympic equipment. A quick trip to Weymouth for the World Cup and a few weeks at home doing boat handling and refining everything we have learnt.
How and where can your fans follow you on your Road to Rio?
Website: www.wdsailing.com.au
Facebook: Waterhouse Darmanin Sailing
Twitter: lisa_darmanin , waterhousejas
Instagram: lisadarmanin , jaswaterhouse
Pr Contact/Team Manager during the Olympics: megan.mckay@yachting.org.au
