Inspirational Sailors
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11163
Printed Date: 15 Jul 25 at 12:27am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Inspirational Sailors
Posted By: Jeepers
Subject: Inspirational Sailors
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 8:19pm
| A little while back I bought a load of old sailing books off Amazon - stuff I read when I was 12 or 13 years old. Winning by John Oakeley (with possibly the best ever picture of an FD at full chat), Winning in One Designs by Dave Perry, Small Boat Racing with The Champions by Bob Fisher. The latter in particular with articles by the likes of Pete White (505), Phil Crebbin (470), Dick Jobbins (Fireball). All these people fired me into a love of racing sailboats. What books and which sailors inspired you? Interested to hear. |
Replies:
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 8:51pm
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Eric Twiname, as a sailor and author. Books wise, I would read everything I could find about small boat racing, especially about all the different designs out there. Burrett's Dinghy Recognition and Catamaran Racing, by Reg White and Bob Fisher stand out, as does Elvstrom and Uffa Fox. Sailors who stand out - Stevie Vines, who taught me how to race, simply by being in a boat with him. On a less personal level, Mark Rushall, Peter Knight (not a complete coincidence that we own the boat they both won the Firefly Nationals in twice), and many of the local Firefly sailors from Tamesis and the clubs nearby. Somehow in those days, with no internet, you either knew about the very famous, or local heros. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 8:51pm
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Eric Twiname ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Jeepers
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 9:11pm
| Yes, Start to Win...how could I forget! That was another of the batch of books I got from Amazon. In the days I was at QM he had the tattiest boat in the fleet and I remember him putting his feet inside plastic bags before putting his boots in the changing rooms. In those days, when they got fleets of 30 or more lasers out racing, he was still the man to beat. A great book and a man ahead of his time. |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 9:20pm
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It wasn't just the book, he inspired me to work out why things did the things they did, it was and has been the most defining introduction to mystery in my life. I've never stopped questioning, and he and that book and those little fluid diagrams were the start. Plus he edited Dinghy and Boardsailing and was eager to learn how we did things and was intrigued that I'd never sailed before, no question without having met him my life would have taken a totally different course. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Jeepers
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 9:49pm
| ..imagine what he could have brought to a forum like this! |
Posted By: Jeepers
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 9:52pm
| ..and you'd all have still argued the toss! |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 9:57pm
Hmm, not sure wether he was equipped with what it takes to f**k about in places like this, he was after all quite a serious person, and you'll note most of them steer clear, (the very serious types who are concerned professionally with the weight of their persona in real life). You can get very upset and annoyed if you take places like this seriously. I dunno, it was a very different time back then, we all conducted ourselves much differently than we do theses days, much more respect for one. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: gordon
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 10:14pm
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Stuart H Walker - the Tactics of Small Boat Racing - took it out of the library many times Jack Knights column in Y&Y Elvestrom (though not his book on the racing rules - I had read Walker!) And corny but true - not racing but sailing - Arthur Ransome ------------- Gordon |
Posted By: Clive Evans
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 10:20pm
My father has an old copy of "Winning" still a great read now except for the bendy boom theory!
I do remember John Oakeley suggesting drying out the sponge in the airing cupboard for a week before a regatta, never understood that one  why take it with you if it gets wet sailing you might as well not dry it and if you aren't going to use it leave it behind! ------------- Spiral 816 |
Posted By: gordon
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 10:55pm
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Helmsmen are fragile creatures - especially psychologically. If drying out the sponge helped the poor man sleep at night his crew should encourage him. My bugbear, in small keelboats, where helmsamen who got annoyed about us crew taking our wet gear aboard when the weather was light. Much muttering about surplus weight. This in classes where the heavier boats did better in light airs. There was some theory about a slightly longer actual waterline length, or inertia to carry way through the lulls. IMHO it was far more that the helmsman, believig that his boat was disadvantaged would concentrate harder to compensate. And of course, when the sea breeze did kick in the helmsman did not moan about the surplus weight as it was hiking on the weather rail - in fact they were usually grateful to borrow a spare fleece! Which brings us back to Twiname and his emphasis on the psychological aspect of racing - his insight into the fear of winning is pure genius. ------------- Gordon |
Posted By: sandgrounder
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 11:23pm
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Eric Twiname - Start to Win
I remember reading it in the early 70s at the time when Eric was Laser National Champion.
It was the one book which had a massive impact.
I've just ordered it again on eBay.
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Posted By: Mike Holt
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 11:34pm
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Sail, Race and Win by the same author, still hear the lines in my head when I am racing. As for the sponge, I dry mine in the sun then put it in a tank dry, only to use if needed.
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Posted By: Clive Evans
Date Posted: 23 Oct 13 at 11:55pm
but when is it needed? two person boat with suction bailer or self draining doesn;t need one unless capsizing and surely if that happens its race over :( ------------- Spiral 816 |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 7:31am
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Reg White, Lawrie Smith, Phil Morrison, John Turner, Jo Richards, Spud Rowsell, Ben Ainslie, Ian Percy, Bart Simpson, Chips Howarth, Clive Everest, Frank Bethwaite.... in no particular order. The first dinghy sailing book I really remember reading again and again was Lawrie Smiths Tuning book. I love Merlins & N12's, I thought Clive's contribution to Moth's in the 90's were brilliant and the RS600 is great fun too. Bethwaites' book is an oft-thumbed one also. To the contemporary sailors I would also add Nick Craig, Dave Wade, Jim Hunt and Charlie Cumbley... had the pleasure to meet them all and see them sail, you do learn and enjoy your sailing more by simply copying them! |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 8:16am
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Rodney Pattisson's book on supercharging your dinghy. outdated now, but the attention to detail was phenomenal. Dave Perry, Eric Twiname. Bryan Willis' rules book. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 8:56am
Interesting list, shows how UK focused we are? I'm struggling to add any foreigners myself but how about Bonezzi, nice bloke, fast sailor most beautiful boats? Might sound a tad more convincing if I could remember his first name.... What is Clive Everest doing these days? I knew him at uni. I can also claim to have sailed with Alex Thomson, he crewed for me a few times when he was about 14? Books, I would second Frank Bethwaite's books for the sheer enthusiasm and methodical approach. I also have Ted Wells' 'Scientific Sailboat Racing' from about 1950. The advice on the care and feeding of cotton sails might be a little bit funny, but much of the rest of it is 'plus ca change'. Particularly the the bit that starts 'race committees should be lined up and shot....'. RS Sailors, Nick Craig plus Paul Hilliar, Dave Hivey stand out as people who can not only win, but also help others to do better. Plus a whole lot of good amateur sailors, it's not necessarily the champions who are most inspiring. |
Posted By: gordon1277
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 9:20am
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My List includes Peter Colclough, Rodney Patterson, Paul Elvstrom.
Jim Saltyballs book on dinghy racing and most of the fernhurst books on sailing all great and useful. Many articles in Y&Y of course. ------------- Gordon Lossc |
Posted By: gbr940
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 9:36am
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Same as Nessa Rodney Pattisson's book "Boatspeed: Supercharging Your Hull, Foils and Gear" got my classic i14 upto racing mode (as it was bare)...learnt loads from this BUT Stuart Quarries book "The Offshore Race Crews Manual" got me into racing. Sailors that have inspired me...Paul Elvstrom (so much I worked for him for a while), Russell Coutts, Lawrie Smith, Rob Brown (from 18ft skiff fame) & Tracey Edwards. More recently i'm in awe of people like Nick Craig, Ben & Roz McGrane, Rob Greenhalgh and even our own Dan Holman - these people have amazing natural talent and much respect to all of these and thank them for my racing development over the years.  ------------- RS400 GBR1321 |
Posted By: AlanH
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 10:26am
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My inspirational sailors two Petes, Colclough and Currie.
Re old books, recently had opportunity to review a bunch of books for a Northern magazine. Twiname, Start to Win, its still as good as it was. Various recent books, few cut the mustard but enjoyed Clive Eplett's. Quality of writing matters. But other old ones I'd like to return to Sailing- Wind and Current, by Ian Proctor, now reprinted. And Stewart Walker's ones. I'll give you an obscure foreign one- Regatta Sailing by Per Skjonberg. Anyone remember that? It was available in my local library, you don't get choice like that now. Good on how to steer upwind in waves, funny how you can remember items from so long ago! |
Posted By: Dougal
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 10:41am
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Eric Twiname for me. And Rodney Pattison. I loved the story of how open he was with his rig settings on his FD, but what he didn't tell anyone was that he had chopped the first two inches off the tape measure he used to set mast rake! ------------- What could possibly go wrong? |
Posted By: Daniel Holman
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 10:46am
| Whats a couple of inches between friends? |
Posted By: BVS
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 1:45pm
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I'm less inclined to hero worship now I'm older but when I first started racing in Enterprises in the late '70s / 80's (arguably the #1 class in the UK at the time) I was inspired by the top Ent sailors:
Laurie Smith
Mike Mac
Mike Holmes
Ian Southworth
etc
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Posted By: BVS
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 1:46pm
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... not forgetting:
Richard Estaugh
Ian Pinnell
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 1:53pm
| John Bertrand, Frank Bethwaite, John Spencer |
Posted By: Dougal
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 2:23pm
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Nelson, Hornblower and Jack Aubrey (inspirational in their own way, be it fact or fiction). ------------- What could possibly go wrong? |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 2:41pm
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Another inspiration - the manufacturers of Star Yachts (the sailing models, not the Sharpie). I spent many happy hours running round Rushmere on Wimbledon common as the Star yacht sailed across. Home built models soon followed, starting a life-long love of boat design and boat building.
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 5:55pm
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We are lucky to have a great many very, very good dinghy sailors, designers and sail makers in this country, past & present. People who I, and a great many others I have no doubt, have been inspired by, either by meeting and knowing or just by seeing them sailing, or by sailing their designs, such as: Jo Richards, Phil Morrison, Spud Rowsell, John Turner, Bim Daser, Michael Jackson, Clive Everest, Phil King, Guy Winder, Dave Wade, Jim Hunt, Mike McNamara, Graham Scott, Dave Ovington, Reg and Rob White etc.. etc.. and forgetting a great many! I don't think any other country can claim such a rich heritage or diversity. I am struck by three things mainly when I think about the really, really good racers: - they make very few, if any, boat handling errors - they make very few 'radical' tactical choices but a great many "non-radical" ones - they have, generally, excellent boat prep Whereas I tend to make 1 or 2 glaring boat handling errors, which then lead me to thinking that a radical tactical approach may be needed (it's generally, in hindsight not!). I have also had important things break at the wrong moment too many times, which suggests that my boat prep may also leave something to be desired. Must get the Laurie Smith tuning book back out sometime....
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 6:51pm
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John Bertrand's 'Born to Win' about how the Aussies first wrenched the AC away from the yanks is an inspirational read.
------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 6:59pm
Myself of course! Or at a push.... Blackbeard!  ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 10:43pm
| Yachting and Boating Weekly ... Sorry Y&Y! |
Posted By: iitick
Date Posted: 24 Oct 13 at 11:29pm
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Chris Dicks. When I was 14 and Chris was 16 in 1959 I realised that in model boat sailing (or life it's self) I would never have the determination to win. Learning this at an early age has made me a happy and contented man. I regret to say that Chris died at 50, perhaps the stress of winning?
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Posted By: Nipper
Date Posted: 25 Oct 13 at 9:29am
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Lawrie Smith and Andy Barker.
In the 70's they seemed to be able to win at will, and this was at a time when Fireball's, Ents, Merlins would all be getting 200 boat fleets.
More importantly they always looked liked they were really enjoying it both on and off the water. ------------- 39 years of dinghy racing and still waiting to peak. |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 25 Oct 13 at 9:50am
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I could list my childhood heros but most of them are now mates, and it now seems that they were not as old as they seemed at the time! The most inspirational book was Elvstrom Speaks and the section that I love is Elvstrom sailing with Hans Fogh in a Star, when Fogh is sent under the aft deck while in 4th to tighten up the rudder bolts and when he comes up they are leading! Dave Perry - Winning in One Designs is always a good book to flick through before a big event, particularly the cartoon "Welcome to Cornersville - Population One!"
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