Interview with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
by Mark Jardine 30 Aug 2015 13:26 BST
30 August 2015
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston ahead of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2015-16 © Mark Jardine
We spoke to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston this morning, ahead of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2015-16 as the fleet prepare for the Parade of Sail in London, about the race, the America's Cup and own his sailing.
Mark Jardine: Sir Robin, it must be a great feeling for you seeing the fleet here in St. Katherine's Dock ready for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. How do you feel right now?
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston: A certain amount of relief, we work very hard to get the boats ready, but I'm pleased to say this last week has been much more relaxed that two years ago, we're much better prepared this time. I'm pleased, I see my team walking around and they're looking calm and relaxed so I think that's a good sign.
MJ: This is the second time round for this fleet and things must be much less stressful than when you were getting the fleet ready for the first time. Does it provide you with more confidence, knowing that these yachts have gone round the world once before?
Sir RKJ: Yes, I think inevitably knowing that they can do it - so that worry's gone. We didn't have any real problems with them at all last time, so we know they're capable of it and they've had a tremendous refit - we take them apart and put them back together again - as you have to for the new crews. We've been through everything, we've made one or two modifications based on experience, nothing huge and frankly, they're ready to go.
MJ: I can see the skippers and the crew walking around very calmly at what must be a stressful and nervous time for them. How do your team get the skippers and the crews ready so that they are prepared for this point?
Sir RKJ: Let me put it like this, fear is usually of the unknown - the more you do something the less fearful it becomes. So what we've done is, for instance the Parade of Sail that they're going to be doing this afternoon, we practiced it off Portsmouth - we had some buoys there and explained exactly what we were doing. We practiced it, timed it and got everyone to keep a distance. When they started off they inevitably kept a bigger distance apart, but the more we did it, the closer they got and the better it looked - they could see it for themselves - so they've built up some experience of manoeuvring. Where we're berthed they have to manoeuvre the boats in quite a tight space so they're pretty good boat handlers.
MJ: You've been exchanging a couple of messages with Sir Ben (Ainslie) and his Land Rover BAR America's Cup team. How does it feel having a real British challenge for the America's Cup taking place with Sir Ben at the helm?
Sir RKJ: I think this is the best chance we've ever had, since 1851, of actually winning back the America's Cup. I consider Ben to be a prodigy when it comes to sailing. This is his field, he's so good at it, and he's got a tremendous team of people round him, not just on the boat but also the backup team. He's got the support, the money's there and I feel that Ben is the man who can pull this together, he's the leader who's going to lead that team to win on the water. I leave about 120 yards from what we call 'Ben's Boathouse' and I can see what's going on, watching the boat being launched and everything else, and you can see them practising, practising and practising. Let's face it, that's what sailing is about, if you want people to be safe, practice it to the point where it's instinctive - they don't think, they just do it.
MJ: For your own sailing, what's next up?
Sir RKJ: I've just about recovered from the Atlantic Race, I had a great crew, and I won't get much time to sail. I'll do the Rolex Sydney Hobart, but I've been very busy refitting Suhaili at the moment so I've been focusing on boat-work rather than sailing.
MJ: In the last Sydney-Hobart you were sailing a Clipper 68 and managed to beat all bar one of the Clipper 70s over the water. Are you aiming to go one better this Sydney-Hobart?
Sir RKJ: My reflection when I arrived and realised what I'd done was, "Oh bother, I forgot my marketing, I should never have beaten the new boats!", but it was more down to tactics actually and of course, the longer you sail and the more mistakes you've made, the more you learn from them. So it was all down to tactics at the end of the day. Will I pull it off again? I think it's extremely unlikely.
MJ: But the competitive instinct will I'm sure take over once again?
Sir RKJ: The red mist comes down at the 10 minute gun doesn't it?
MJ: Finally, last time we spoke, we chatted briefly about getting you in a foiling Moth. When can we get you out in one?
Sir RKJ: You know every time I see one of those Moths out I think, oh wow, I've got to try that, they look fantastic. The trouble is I want to do it somewhere private where the number of times I fall off it or turn it over is not noticed by a load of witnesses! So I'm looking for a quiet spot to practice.
MJ: I'm sure that can be arranged! Sir Robin, it's fantastic seeing the fleet here and thank you very much for your time.
Sir RKJ: Thank you for coming down and supporting these people. Let's face it, there's over 700 people now who are going to become yachtsmen.
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