New Zealand yachting was on track and set to apply the lessons learned in the last few months to launch a successful assault on the Olympic Games yachting regatta in Weymouth in England next year.
Yachting New Zealand Olympic director Jez Fanstone said at the announcement of the first sailors chosen for the Games, that he was excited by what had been achieved to date and the job was now ahead to convert opportunities into podium positions at the Games.
Those selected were: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er), Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (women's 470), Andrew Murdoch (Laser), Jon Paul Tobin (RS:X), Paul Snow Hansen and Jason Saunders (men's 470), Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Susannah Pyatt (women's match racing) and Sara Winther (Laser Radial).
Three classes are still to be decided: the Finn, Star and Women's RS:X. As there were class world championships in two of the events in the New Year up until June 1, the decisions would be made after them. The Finn would be held at Falmouth in England in May and the RS:X for women it would be in March in Cadiz.
Fanstone said of the most contentious decision where Jon Paul Tobin was selected in the men's RS:X ahead of the defending Olympic boardsailing champion Tony Ashley that the selectors had been watching the event for the past 12 months and had gone on form.
"These are in-form athletes who are on track to perform in Weymouth in seven months time," he said.
Nine of those selected were 25 years or under and for some of them it would be their first Olympic Games.
"We know that all the tracking we look says that people convert their chances in their second Olympic Games sop for these guys to nail it in their first one is going to take a huge amount of effort but we're lucky we've got a very strong team.
"They are a very strong unit, they'll learn off each other. We've got some experienced leaders in the group who have been to the Games before and who will share their experiences and just as importantly we've got a fantastic group of coaches are themselves Olympic champions or who have coaching Olympic medalists.
"Our goal for the next seven months is to pool all our resources and do all the hard work we need to convert our chances," he said.
Fanstone added that early selection had always been the key to success and the selectors felt the competitors deserved the best chance to build well towards the Games.
New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary general Kereyn Smith said the 2012 Games were going to be special for New Zealand, not only because of the country's links with Britain but more because athletes were training, and performing, with credibility while delivering encouraging results.
The 12 sailors named on Wednesday were a reflection of that and they would form an important part of New Zealand's effort to secure some of the 16 classes open for yachting competition at the Games.
The London Games were also important because the year was New Zealand's centennial year of Olympic history and there will be the chance to secure the country's 100th Olympic medal during the event.