Sailing has been a large part of my life. Starting in my Father's Mermaid, an 11 foot gunter rigged dinghy, I progressed to Fireballs, Cherubs and Contender's reaching 7th in the nationals. One of my sailing highlights was crewing for Nigel Barrow, the ex Cadet world champion in a 470 during 1980. We didn't make the Olympic team indeed theOlympics didn't happen for many because of the boycott. I learnt much though, especially what it was like to go from national level to international level and what was then required for an Olympic campaign. The Olympics never seen to leave however and I am now involved in helping others live that dream
After this campaign I found it hard to get back into sailing, wanting to win but not wanting to put in all the hours of practice and of course coming off the high of international sailing and the five ring circus. By chance i bought a windsurfer, not realising it's particular design made it unuseable (and why it was so cheap and salesman so helpful). It was designed like a small speed boat with a pointed front and chopped rear - exactly what is not required for a board. Later I bought a Windglider in the mistaken impression an Olympic board would be sailable. it was a pig of a shape, long, tapered with a small skeg making steering exciting downwind in a seaway. Not only that but harnesses weren't allowed. later I prgresssed to Division Two boards which became really interesting after seeing the French team on their Crit D2's planing on the board's rails. I then bought a Fanatic Cat after seeing one plane in 7 knots, one of the first course racing boards. This transformed windsurt racing - it became fun, especially when camber inducer sails were introduced giving stability and keeping the center of effort forward.
My last 470
I now have a Yachting New Zealand Regatta Race Coach certificate and have coached Tornado's, 470's and lasers. This has been a two way process learning as much from the boats and sailors as much as I give.
Yacht racing is one the most challenging sports I know of and performance aspects are interesting. There is so much that can be applied to other facets of life and as a means of pure enjoyment it has so much to give back. I'm learning as much if not more now than I ever did.