Heart and Soul of Sailing: Meet the Boys of VOR!

Today's ventures afforded time with Jerry Kirby...again (he's my saving grace to breaking the ice with the boys.) He in turned brought in the boys of Chessie Racing who can't get enough of this race, while they were all on break from Medical Training, which was conveniently taking place next door to the media center.



These guys had me on the floor, their stories from racing together ten years ago were told as though it were yesterday. Where was I ten years ago?!?



Tom Braidwood to left is really talented man having played in everything from AC, past Volvos, Grand Prix, Maxi and the Mini Transat last year! The man to his right, Mike Joubert, the man who vowed never to do this race again is dashing and cool, giving no hint to not wanting to be here.



Jerry Kirby helped break the ice with talking to the boys, but Jonathan McKee just seemed to sense I had questions about what was going on and came over and said, "Hi"...actually it was the American accent! Americans find each other in foreign countries! We had a nice talk about sailing in the US but re-grouped to what their lessons of the day entailed. This lead to meeting Dr. Tommo, teacher and designer of the Team's medical kits.



As I was leaving to go grab an el cafe con leche (white coffee in Spanish) bumped into two members of the Russian team: Skipper Andreas Hanakamp and Watch Captain Stig Westergaard. Might I add, these are two very tall men!

began with race details one would stereotypically share with a "reporter/journalist" but each chat drifted towards normal sailor-to-sailor conversation about sailing, peoples perceptions of the sport and the heart and soul of why these guys are here doing this race. Candid conversation of why this race means something to them all. This is not simply a "day job" for any of these guys, it's too extreme for such.

You have to want to be here. These boys...they each want it. This is a team event though...so which team has the group of sailors who want it the most?

More to come from Alicante ~ Cheers!

Life At The Extreme Demands An Extreme Personality!

My pick for an extremely positive sailing/life role model is Jerry Kirby, crew member of Puma Ocean Racing. Oddly enough, being a sailing fitness enthusiast, caught him on his way to the gym this afternoon. He still indulged me with a lovely conversation about Puma’s pleasure in being apart of the event, having received more exposure than anticipated and some encouraging words for those dismayed with impact the America’s Cup drama has had on the perception of sailing.

For starters, the Volvo Ocean Race is NOT the America’s cup. Jerry reminded me there is not and should not be any comparison. In case folks considered such a though, stop. So for those who only know about sailing through the America’s Cup venue, what are they to expect from this sailing venue.

Passion for sailing at its rawest form and an ocean full of personality!

As scenes from last Volvo played on a screen over head, Jerry watched with earnest and huge grin on his face, the passion Jerry carries for this race is infectious. We paused in conversation while he relived the moment and I realized one of the clips was my “pick-up video” for when you have “one of those days.”

Jerry Kirby has the perfect attitude and personality for this level of sailing, but for the sport as a whole. One knows he tackles life the same way and it was a treat to catch him today. To be reminded that in the shadows of sailing is this incredible race around the world, with participants possessing incredible personalities and a passion for one thing. The purest sailing experience possible.

So while Alinghi and BMW Oracle duke it out, why get caught up in the negative drama? Right now, here in Alicante the start of a new story is getting ready, think of the next two weeks like reading a Prelude to a great novel. Chapter one starts on October 13th but till then, there is much to be sorted! Including an import race on the 4th.

I broke the ice with a familiar face today, but Jerry Kirby is not the only positively spirited sailor here packed with personality. No time to be shy in Alicante...

Media, media, media....

The Volvo Ocean Race Website (sort of obvious I guess..)

Sailing World: My daily blogs, short bits through the day.

SailTrim Blog: I want to keep things short on the SW blog, so scope this out for lenghty bits. If something really major occurs and breaks my 400-600 word limit. I'll post it on SailTrim's News Page.

Photo Album:

Alicante Bound

On the road to Europe with sights set on Alicante, Spain and the start of the Volvo Ocean Race. It’s a bit of a dream come true, since first laying eyes on the 70 foot carbon beauties in Baltimore, back in 2006, its been a career goal to follow this event. Of course the original idea was to be working with a VOR team, this has proven much harder than lugging around sails two times one’s weight.

The current program is proving to be a very satisfying venture, allowing more attention to the entire event. The means necessary to travel to a country one does not speak the language and a town they’ve never been too should make for some colorful tales. Especially when on one’s own, sticking to a pretty low-profile, back packer, nomadic style about it. This should be interesting.

Sailing: Sailing World Blog
Non-sailing: Suite101.com
Odds and Ends: BoatBites.com

As far as writing and event coverage, Volvo does a pretty sweet job in my personal opinion, and they just launched their new site:

Volvo TV
Media Center
Virtual Spectator

My goal is to cover as much of the “happenings” typical media folks do not seem interesting enough to share with the rest of the world. There never seems any real scoop about what is happening around town (i.e. race village events,etc.), what the city does to accommodate the event and maybe some time with shore-crews for insider tales of what it takes to get the campaigns off the ground.

Would really like a chat with the Delta Lloyd folks, seriously on the low with budget, there has to be a great story to how they made it all come together at the eleventh hour. Now, do they have what they need to get around the world? Every boat I’m sure has a story with some a tad more entertaining than another.

Not expecting too much drama from Telefonica or Ericsson, with such well planned and thought out programs, very little has been left to the imagination. The Russians would be a real hoot to talk with, once chatted with someone who told me they are struggling to get their country behind them. The boys need cheerleaders!

Feeling good that both the Green Dragon and Puma have a solid following, though, I’ll be hard pressed if anyone gets me into some candy apple red puma swag. Prefer a more modest means to support.

Really wishing well to all the teams and do not want to say who my favorites are. Do not believe many could even guess which. Maybe that could be a contest later on in this venture.

It’s going to be a great event, very appreciative to be here and excited to share it with those who can not make the Alicante start. Before we know it, they’ll be in Boston, MA.

Cheers!

Creative Break

What is your Muse? What inspires you on a down day or breaks you from a rut in the work day? One’s object of motivation is a powerful tool in reaching goals of many levels.

Recently I was in need of creative break on a few writing assignments. It doesn’t seem to matter what I’m researching or writing about, catching up with a fellow sailor is my best practice to re-inspiring the head: keeping the words flowing. If I can not go sailing, talking about sailing is not a bad fall back plan.

This day I was working on a piece for a web magazine called Suite 101 when a call came in from fellow racer Tom Loughborough and one of the founding members behind the American Sailing League. We had got to chatting in Newport a few months back and with a common passion for more spirited sailing, became an easy conversation and has not stopped since. He rang for a chance to keep the chatter going with the addition West coast heart and soul behind the operations: Chad Freitas, one of two directors behind the San Francisco based Skiff Sailing Foundation and contributing force in the ASL.

Needless to say my work for Suite 101 was pushed aside for the moment because talking with these two passionate sailors about skiff sailing and their goals for the American Sailing League was just plain cool. The hour conversation, sadly cut short by technology’s inability to keep up with the three of us, left heads full of ideas, all which will be but a tease to those who read this - sorry!

Yes, a tease. That is exactly what the ASL did to the guests of San Francisco’s Pier 39. They teased spectators with a spirited display of 18 foot skiffs racing about in front of the pier. Add in live music, commentary, video and any means possible to share the sport. This included a fully rigged 18 footer on display, very nice!

The success of these events sprung from passion and a strong motivation to succeed. The folks of Pier 39 were pleased and the skiffs will return in 2009 to dance for the waterfront guests. The American Sailing League is just warming up and the time to listen and talk with them cured the writer’s block!

Now day dreaming about racing a skiff. Which is right up there with the day dream of catching a ride on a V70. This all leading me to remind folks of the upcoming start to VOR 2008 and that V70s are basically skiffs on steroids. Noticing a theme?

The Volvo Ocean Race will be something like no other sailing event for 2008-09. How so you may ask. Well, for starters, they are pulling all the stops on telecommunications and surely there must be a sudden job market for IT staff in the world of sailing.

Now, I’m not naive to the motivation for VOR to flood the senses with news and scoop, meeting the exposure demands of high paying sponsors is no small feet. But please fall victim! I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of those boys who like riding waves on 70 feet of carbon.

These guys know what they are getting into, are true athletes and great personalities for the sport of sailing. I hope you’ll bookmark the VOR website, take many coffee breaks and watch the action.

NOTE: On-site blogging begins once I get settled on or around September 29th. Aside from off-topic reports, event specific posts will be on my Sailing World Blog thru October 11th.

Cheers!
Jenn

Why do people sail?

Seriously, why?

Can't speak for the rest of you sailors out there. I know why I sail, though today still unable to sit "normal" almost a month after my Black Fly turned Staph Infection incident from doing the Chicago-Mackinac race, an experience which has overshadowed the pages and pages of notes on the amazing time otherwise had.

How a "microscopic" negative can so easily undo a 50 foot boat load of fantastic memories is beyond me. The experience has me reminding self "why I sail."

I sail for many of the same reasons the likely person reading this blog does: for sport, sensations of movement, love of water and being outside, etc., etc. Explaining to people why a sailor sails is pretty easy picture to paint. Despite being a little uncomfortable these days, the love and passion for sailing has not weakened. Just a little jaded about sailing anywhere there may be Black Flies.

Now, if we (sailors) could leave out a few bits on why we sail. For example, sharing the "war stories" for after they go out on the boat a few times. Sailors love to hear other sailors "big fish" tales from regattas past or wild deliveries. Unless the potential new sailor is already an adrenaline junky, they want to hear about the lovely cruise which involved more civilized affairs.

Granted, this takes putting a few feelers out there. Understanding a little bit more about the person one is talking with and then deciding what picture would entice them to scope out the closest sailing center. Sailing does have so many "faces", many "flavors" to choose from, truly an activity, sport for anyone who chooses to give it a try.

For example, some of us choose to race around bouys, go offshore, hang on a trapezes ,etc.. We choose to sail on the boat which best matches our personalities. It is ok if that style includes a 25 foot Cape Dory, sipping wine on a lake or coastal waterway in just enough breeze to keep the iron jib tucked away. As sailors, active ambassadors for our sport, it is our responsibility to ensure all the facets of sailing get properly portrayed.

To grow our sport, increase participation and ensure our favorite events are there for our children's children to participate in: we each have to share why we sail. Though, why we sail may not be why the person listening wants to sail. They may just want the ability to cruise on a gentle boat in gentle waters.

Though, do advise they bring bug spray...just in case!