VX One sailors interviewed at AAM Cowes Week

(l to r) Roger Phillips, Howard Steavenson & Nathan Batchelor at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week © Rick Tomlinson / www.rick-tomlinson.com

VX Ones finished first and second in Sportsboat Division 2 on Sunday. We talked to Roger Phillips, Howard Steavenson and Nathan Batchelor abour their day, the class, moving from dinghies to keelboats and what draws them to Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.

Mark Jardine: You're sailing the VX One at Cowes Week. Can you tell me about your day and how it's gone so far?

Roger Phillips: We jumped in the Ovington boat this morning, and I took it out for the first time. We had about 17-18 knots out there. Nice and sunny, nice chop. And it was a good sail. Very good, very impressive stuff.

MJ: Howard, you've sailed a VX One before at Cowes Week and various other events. What draws you to Cowes Week and the VX One sailing here?

Howard Steavenson: It's just fun. It's fun racing. Most of my racing in dinghies has been short course stuff, and it's nice to get on these big courses where you have to rely on your crew with a GPS to navigate you round the buoys! You can't see them; they're miles away. Long legs mean you've got to get your thinking on the tides spot on, and you need perseverance. It's a marathon job, you've just got to keep going and take the rough with the smooth. So I enjoyed the racing last year, and I'm enjoying it just as much this year. I recommend it!

Abracadabra at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week - photo © Rick Tomlinson

MJ: Nathan, since the Nationals last year and everything that's been happening, how are things going for the VX One class in the UK?

Nathan Batchelor: The fleet is growing nicely. Especially in the north. We've got a concentration at Ullswater. We had good one design fleet racing in the Scottish Series at Tarbet. That was a great event. So, yeah, things are progressing nicely.

MJ: Roger, coming into the VX One from the RS800, what did you find the main similarities and differences were for a dinghy sailor who wants to come into keelboat racing?

RP: I didn't have to wear a harness which was a pleasure! The thing the VX One gives you, which the RS800 has, is the speed aspect. It is light, it accelerates quickly, and it goes over the waves, which is what I'm looking for in a boat after sailing an 800.

MJ: Sailing at Cowes Week - how do you find it compared to the usual windward/leeward racing?

RP: Cowes Week really has the tactical aspect. No longer are we sailing up and down wind, it relies on the crew making sure they are all navigating together, and agreeing on every decision that we make.

MJ: For the rest of the week, what have you learned so far and what are the tactics you are using on the boat?

RP: Unfortunately this is my only day in Cowes, but I'd love to sail in the full week and work on that tactical side. Make sure that the course is sorted, but also the tides. That will be my next target.

MJ: Nathan, same question to you: what tactics for the rest of the week?

NB: Well it's very weather dependant. Obviously the lighter the wind is, the more important your navigation and tide work is. Stronger breeze - it's more about sailing the boat well. We'll see what the weather brings to us.

Ovington Boats at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week - photo © Rick Tomlinson

MJ: You're racing against much bigger boats in the fleet you are in. How are you finding that?

NB: There's been a big split. This year for the first time there are a number of Farr 280s and J88s which are borderline sportsboats. Upwind, they've got the legs on us, but downwind today we had some great speed and beat all of them on the water. That was very pleasing. IRC rates them six minutes an hour quicker... there's some tinkering with the formula... it's difficult to handicap planing boats - we'll see. Some days you have a good day, some days you don't.

MJ: Howard, the social side of Cowes Week - how do you enjoy that?

HS: I thoroughly enjoy it, but it looks like my son - who's crewing for me - enjoys it more than I do! He had a hangover today and that didn't help us... but we won't go into that. I enjoy the socials but I am getting a bit old for all these long nights out with youngsters.

RP: Lots of old [International] 14-ers to bump into?

HS: I walk round the marinas and the number of times people pounce on me and say, "I haven't seen you for 25 years!" So that's lovely, to meet up with people I've sailed against in dinghies over the years... and see how they've aged. Usually better than I have.

MJ: So it's great to catch up with sailors you've haven't seen in a while, and reminisce?

HS: Yes, very much so.

MJ: Thank you all very much for your time.

www.aamcowesweek.co.uk