Croatian team set for the Star Sailors League Finals 2014

Ivan Kljakovic Gašpic is set for the SSL Finals 2014 © Star Sailors League

Ivan Kljaković Gašpić is one of the international sailing scene's top sailors. He has not only enjoyed huge success in the Finn but has also clocked up experience with other classes. The SSL Finals 2014 will provide him with an opportunity to pit himself against a class and a group of champions he has never encountered before. He will be flanked in his debut outing by expert bowman Ante Sitic, SSL Crew #29, who, in 2014, won the national Championship and the Distric XVII Championship as well as finishing eighth in the Star Worlds on Lake Garda.

Let's find out a bit more about him.

Born in Split, May 24, 1984, Ivan has a master's degree in finance at the University of Split. Most of his life has been spent at sea. He started sailing at age of 12 and quickly became hooked. He began sailing Optimist and became the Optis European Champion just two years later. Ivan then changed over to the Laser, before moving to the 4.7, the Radial and eventually a Full rig in 2002. When he won silver at the ISAF Youth Worlds, and was European Youth Champion in the Laser in 2003.

Q&A

How did your Finn career begin?
At the beginning of 2005, I switched to the Finn and the same year won Youth World and European titles in the class. Since then, I have been on a lot of Finn podiums, including six times at the Europeans, and I took one bronze and one silver medal in the Worlds. I've also had a lot of World podiums and I've competed in the Olympics twice.

What other sailing experience do you have?
I've also tried sailing big boats, including briefly in the AC world series on 45ft AC cats with the Green Comm racing team. It was great fun, but didn't last long due finances. I'm still doing a bit of big boat sailing when I'm not with in the Finn. My hobby is windsurfing and my favourite wind is +35 knots when it starts to be fun and tough. The more breeze, the better! I also love free-diving spearfishing which I do in summertime in Croatia in the beautifully clear blue water there. It calms me down and relaxes my mind and body after sailing.

What's your training schedule like?
I do a lot of training. I have been doing my fitness programme since I was 13 with a full-time coach who has become like a brother to me. I like mountain biking, snowboarding and also love spending time in the gym. It's hard to say how many hours I put in sailing as I sail a lot and love it so I don't keep the track. I have my own family now too, a wife and beautiful three and a half year old daughter. So it's tougher to train, mentally and time-wise. It is hard but they are also my biggest support and I am grateful to have them around me.

How do you like being a professional sailor?
Sailing as a life is a great call and I am happy to be making a living out of my passion. For now I can make my living out of sailing thanks to sponsors, mainly Team Fantastica and others, plus the big boats. I definitely would love to continue like this and someday be part of big racing teams in the America's Cup or Volvo. My dream is to participate fully in those events, but only time will tell...

Career highpoints?
The biggest moment was so far was this Silver medal at the Santander Worlds. After having a tough time after the London Games, it was difficult to come back, but I managed to do it and that makes me proud and happy. Back home sailing isn't that popular, but that is slowly starting to change. Sailors are beginning to get recognised as great sportsmen but still it is hard to be seen as on a par with bigger sports like soccer, tennis, etc.

What kind of expectations do you have for the SSL Finals in the Bahamas?
Star sailing is great sailing. Great boat, great sailors and great friends around. I love it as it reminds me a lot of the Finn. The SSL is a great project and a breakthrough in sailing. I hope it outlives all of us now to prove that sailing is a truly great sport with great athletes. Also looking back to last year's Finals, I was wishing I could take a part and now here I am. It is a wonderful feeling being able to sail neck-and-neck with all the best sailors I read about in the yachting magazines in my early sailing days. This is like a dream come true. It will definitely be fun racing with all the Finn sailors around and also a lot of former Finn sailing legends... Can't wait!

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