Interview with Chris Rodway ahead of the 2015 International 14 Worlds
by Dan Holman 30 Dec 2014 18:31 GMT
3-17 January 2015
Richard Bone and Chris Rodway at 2014 Prince of Wales Week © Tom Peel
In anticipation of the imminent I14 worlds, I caught up with Chris Rodway to pick his brains after a strong domestic season which included 3rd place in an epic 48 mile Prince of Wales race.
Dan Holman: Hi Chris, you've had a pretty good year so far this year, and must be feeling pretty confident going into the worlds in a month's time. How did you get into the i14 class, how long have you been in the class what keeps you in the class?
Chris Rodway: Hey Dan. Yeah – a good year this year in the boat and just looking forward to Geelong. We got in to the class because I got too fat for a 49er and fancied a change of boat. The I14 was about the only 2 man trapeze boat that would support around 200kg. We attended a I14 trial day where you could win the loan of a boat for a year that we managed by to get. Had that for one year and have now been in the class for 3 years. Lots of things keep me in the class such as the great racing can be a real mixed bag, amazing venues for the regattas brilliant social and of course the Crew's Union.
DH: What do you think is behind your improved form this year? It's probably fair to say that you and Richard (Bone – Chris' helm) get less time together in the boat than most due to work and young family commitments.
CR: I think the difference for us this year is lots of bits. Lots of new kit, mast rudder sails etc. we have had some help from many people in the class with boat set up and have tried lots of different things as well and we know what works and what doesn't. Also all the events we have done have been windy this year and that helps us bigger lads.
DH: You mention being bigger lads - what do you and Richard weigh in at combined? You would probably be competitive at Star boat sailing right? What sort of wind speed can you remain competitive down to?
CR: What the f*%$ is Starboat sailing?
DH: Old fashioned 2 man keelboat still popular amongst large wealthy American gentlemen.
CR: (pauses) Oh - that old Olympic class. We are around the 190kg mark I would say. We are pretty competitive when we are twin wiring and dropping on the wire. Above 10 knots and quick 15+ in my opinion.
DH: Tell me a bit about your boat. Have you done anything specific to carry a 190kg payload?
CR: We have a Beiker 5 from 2007. Rich and I are the third owners. We haven't done much to it. Changed control lines from when we got the boat. We put a Selden HM mast on it made by Flowave (Glen Truswell). Glen did nothing different to that than he would somebody else's mast.
DH: Any reason you went for a "built" mast with bonded on spreaders, rather than a factory spar with riveted on componentry?
CR: Just because we want the stiffest mast we could get an also eliminate as many weak points as possible.
DH: So it looks from here like the championships itself is likely to be a 3 horse race. Who would you bet your house on, if you had to?
CR: I wouldn't want to say. It will be tight between 3 Brit boats (Massey/ Hillary; Truswell/Pascoe; McGrane/Hughes) I think. I don't know too much about the boats from anywhere else. It will also depend on what the weather delivers for the two weeks.
DH: And out of those 3 teams, which candidate would you predict to be most likely to compromise their championship bid after taking themselves down at the bar?
CR:
I would say if alcohol has a part to play then Harvey (Hillary) and James (Hughes) could do some damage to their chances.
DH: Are you expecting much of anything to happen technically at the worlds - new boats or gear?
CR: Yeah there will plenty of new boats. It will be interesting to see how the pre peg carbon boats from AUS get on and also the b6s from the UK. I'm sure there will lots of innovation there. Always is with the 14.
DH: Thank you, Chris, and all the best in Geelong.
The i14 worlds begins with the team racing event on Saturday 3rd until Monday 5th January 2015. The World Championships themselves will be held from Thursday 8th January until Friday 16th January 2015.
www.i14worlds2015.com