Tillerman Interview

OK guys, here's a first this is a recent transcription of an interview between myself and Tillerman over in America..

Soulsailor:
So what made you start writing a blog?
Tillerman:
I enjoy writing and for some time had been writing articles for my sailing club newsletter which people seemed to appreciate. Then in the winter of 2004/2005 I became aware of blogs and thought that a blog would be a perfect medium to capture the random thoughts, ideas and observations about sailing that were rolling round my head.

Soulsailor:
What was the earliest sailing "experience" you can remember?
Tillerman:
I was about 13 or 14, and a friend at school invited me and another friend to his birthday party which was a picnic for the three of us on his sailing dinghy on the River Trent at Newark in the UK. I don't remember what class of boat - something big and clunky like an Enterprise. (Only joking Ant.) But I didn't learn to sail myself until I was in my 30's.

Soulsailor:
What do YOU gain from keeping a "sailing blog" and what do you think "your readers" gain from the expeience..?
Tillerman:
Good question. I like the discipline of trying to think of something original to write every day. Don't always succeed but I try. I like the challenge of struggling to communicate an idea as clearly as possible while making it interesting and, if possible, funny. As people started to leave comments on the blog I've enjoyed the on-line relationships that developed with folk from all over the world. No idea what my readers gain from the experience - perhaps a few seconds of amusement every day?

Soulsailor:
What was the worst sailing "investment" you ever made?
Tillerman:
That's a tough one. I have bought 8 sailing dinghies over the years for myself plus 2 Optimists for my sons I and don't regret buying any of them. (Never owned a boat longer than 14 ft.) Many of my own boats got handed down to my sons, they all gave many years of fun and I got good prices when I sold them (the boats, not my sons). I've probably spent as much, if not more, over the years traveling to regattas - some of them overseas - and I can't think of any of those that I wouldn't do again. Then there's "investments" if you can call them that in sailing clothing and gear but none of that was bad. That's a pretty good recommendation for the sport when you think of it - thousands spent over twenty five years and none of it wasted.

Oh - apart from that crappy digital watch I bought in the duty free at Heathrow on my way from the US to the Laser Masters Worlds in Spain in 2003 when my old watch failed on the transatlantic flight. The new watch gave up half way through the regatta so I had to buy another watch in Spain. Then when I sent off the dead watch and all the paperwork to the address they gave me to get my money back the bastards never replied.

Soulsailor:
How many protests have you been in and whats your win:lose ratio like?
Tillerman:
I have only been a party to one actual protest hearing that I can recall. I had been racing for about a year and some guy protested me for tacking too close when I tried to leebow him on the starboard tack layline. I lost the protest hearing. These days I try to avoid the room at all costs and get things resolved on the water.

Soulsailor:
When you get off the water at the end of the day are you the first or the last packed up and into the bar?
Tillerman:
I'm pretty efficient at packing my boat away after racing but not usually the first into the bar. In any case, why wait until you are in the bar? At the place where I do Laser frostbiting, you can get a can of beer from the race commitee before you even leave the racing area though I usually wait until I hit the beach and so can drink a beer while packing up if I want.

Soulsailor:
What was your best ever event you sailed in and why?
Tillerman:
Another tough question. I've won a couple of regattas but don't really count those as "best ever" events. The 2003 North American Laser Masters which was hosted by the New York YC in Rhode Island was an awesome event and is certainly a candidate for "best ever". Partly because of the location - us scruffy Laser sailors don't usually get to hang out somewhere super posh like the New York YC. Partly because of the size of the fleet - 132 boats all on one start line. And partly because of the last race where I made the top ten - it's not often you get the chance to cross the finish line, look back and see over a hundred boats behind you.

Soulsailor:
Racing Or Cruising?
Tillerman:
Racing.

Soulsailor:
Force 5 and waves Or Force 2 and sun
Tillerman:
Force 5 and waves.

Soulsailor:
What classes of boat have you sailed? What was the Worst and Best and why?
Tillerman:
Laser, Sunfish, Topaz, Tech Dinghy, Optimist (as an adult in the parents' race), Firefly, 420, 470, Rhodes 19, J24, Atlantic, Freedom 30, Hunter something, various boats they had at Menorca Sailing in the early 1980s, various Hobie cats, Cape Cod Frostie - probably forgot a few.

The worst was the Cape Cod Frostie - it's just ridiculously small for someone my size.

The best is the Laser because it's the gold standard in single-handed sailing. It's easy to learn but there's always something knew to learn about racing it better, it's economical, rugged, quick to rig and easy to transport, there are regattas everywhere you go in the world, it has some of the toughest competition you can find, the Masters part of the class is huge and hosts fantastic World Championships in great locations every year, it's a strict one-design so you know the racing depends on the skills of the sailors, the people who sail it are friendly and always willing to help, it's exciting to sail in almost any wind speed, it surfs and planes easily, the class organization is superb, and there will probably be over 40 Lasers out racing at my local club this Sunday.

Soulsailor:
Whats the perfect sailing for you?
Tillerman:
Any Laser race.

Soulsailor:
Whats the perfect race for you?
Tillerman:
The next one.

Finally
Soulsailor:
Imagine your at a two day event, you've sailed hard the first day, your in the bar..what would you be drinking?
Tillerman:
Beer.

Thanks Tllerman for agreeing to do the interview and for some great answers...