Interview with the leaders at the SAP 505 World Championships
by Mark Jardine 3 Aug 2016 22:55 BST
30 July - 5 August 2016
I went to visit the SAP 505 World Championship today at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy where 140 boats are competing from around the world. I spoke with Nathan Batchelor and Ian Pinnell who are currently lying 1st and 2nd respectively overall in the rankings after a breezy day in the bay.
Mark: It was a big day on the water. Ian, can you tell me a bit about it?
Ian: It was a full-on day, we had a pretty good start and came into the windward mark looking really good, probably top 5. Then I managed to tweak a muscle in my back, so after that I wasn't really racing, I was just hanging on in there and had to get my crew to do everything, but we got round.
Mark: But still, in big conditions you still pulled out a top ten result - in this kind of fleet that's quite a feat.
Ian: Yes, I was pretty happy with that. I think a few people in front of us went for a swim. We just kept it simple, played it safe and kept manoeuvres to a minimum, so got a reasonable result out of it.
Mark: And Nathan, as a relative newcomer to the fleet, how are you managing to put in a consistent series when you've got 130 boats to contend with?
Nathan: Good question! We've been rounding the windward mark relatively deep at times but we've been going quite quick downwind, and on the reaches, so we've gained ten places on quite a few of the runs which helps. We've gybed in the right place, not done anything silly, not overstood laylines, we haven't capsized, which a lot of people have, so not making many mistakes is the key.
Mark: And Ian, you have of course been sailing the 505 for a long time and won this championship previously. How do you go about putting a consistent week together?
Ian: Being able to perform throughout the wind range, which I think we generally can, and trying to eliminate mistakes.
Mark: I've been on the committee boat today and watched how slick an operation Tim Hancock and his team run. How has the racing been so far?
Ian: The race management has been superb. We've had varied conditions over the week so far and it's been really good. It's been pretty much bang on 90 minute races so I think Hancock has got it perfect.
Mark: SAP are a big supporter of the 505s. How does that help the class and the event?
Ian: They're a phenomenal sponsor. Onshore all the tracking, the analytics and the video makes it really interesting. The daily debriefs are well presented and are good to listen to.
Mark: Nathan, you currently hold a seven point lead over Ian, what's your plan for the rest of the week?
Nathan: We came here looking for a top 20 result so we're just taking each day as it comes and see what happens. We've got no aims - even now. If we come 3rd then we'll be over the moon. We'll just take it as it comes, keep trying to get top ten results.
Mark: And Ian, what's the plan with your back? How are you going to get yourself fixed up for tomorrow?
Ian: I've got the physio coming and I'll do whatever I can to relax it and hopefully it should be a little bit better by tomorrow with a bit of luck.
Mark: I'm very much looking forward to watching the rest of the week unfold - best of luck to both of you.
Nathan & Ian: Thank you.