The team behind the team
by Hana Hielkema 10 Sep 2016 10:52 BST
6 September 2016
Shore crew of ARMIN STROM Sailing Team © Marwin
Fast and furious. The one-design GC32 catamaran class is gathering serious momentum as the five-part 2016 Racing Tour unfolds across Europe. What does it take to succeed in this highly competitive, edge of the seat sailing class?
One obvious answer is talented sailors physically capable of meeting the demanding roles on the GC32. Perhaps not so obvious is the support of a dedicated, skilled and motivated shore crew who look after both the boat and the crew's performance between and during events. Their overriding purpose is to maximise performance potential.
Long nights working on the ARMIN STROM Sailing Team catamaran are all "part of the fun" for boat captain Ned Dalbeth-Hudson. The hard-working 20-year old from New Zealand carries huge responsibility on his young shoulders as the team's 'go-to-guy' regarding maintenance and repairs.
Ned's efforts are backed up by the team's coach and all-round GC32 expert Diego Stefani from Uruguay. The pair have played a vital role in this year's campaign which has seen ARMIN STROM Sailing Team establish itself in third place in the overall Racing Tour standings with two events remaining.
A typical 'can do' Kiwi, Ned has a straightforward philosophy when it comes to putting in the hard yards to keep the boat in the best possible shape.
"The attitude is simply one of putting your head down and working hard until the jobs are done. At the end of the day we're working as a team, and everyone has their role. Mine might be the least glamorous, but it is crucial to keeping the team on the water with the opportunity to compete at the front," explains Ned.
As well as routine checks and daily adjustments to the onboard technical systems, Ned is also responsible for repairing any damage caused while racing or training.
During the most recent event in Palma de Mallorca, the steep wave conditions were found to be creating pressure points on the foils resulting in cracks. Ned and junior team-mate Alex Bryning, another 20 year old Kiwi, worked until 3am on several occasions to prevent these cracks from disrupting the racing. "Catching and repairing cracks and fractures early enough can prevent major damage while sailing. They can generally be repaired with carbon, filler and paint.".
Foiling mode on the GC32 requires a wind speed of 6-7 knots and a boat speed of 16 knots plus. At this point the foils generate sufficient lift to propel the hulls above the water. As well as being lifted up and down through various manoeuvres, the long curved boards can be trimmed fore and aft to maintain the boat's balance as it flies above the waves. As much a part of the engine as the sails, the boards need to be in perfect shape to do their job.
According to Sharon Ferris Choat, the Team Manager, damage to foils is an accepted hazard of the game: "There is so much flexing and movement in the foils due to a tonne and a half of weight on them while foiling at high speed. Carbon is the best material there is to handle the pressure, but even it is susceptible to wear and tear. These are high performance craft, sailing extremely fast and working hard. In order to minimise the potential impact it pays to address even the most minor crack as early as possible."
ARMIN STROM Sailing Team skipper and GC32 Class President Flavio Marazzi says having a reliable and dedicated shore crew means the racing sailors can focus properly on their roles.
"All of their work is critical to our team performance. A high-performance sailing team is much more than just its race crew. Having an equally high level of onshore support with a strong work ethic is invaluable" he asserts.
Prior to joining ARMIN STROM Sailing Team, Ned was undertaking a sail-making apprenticeship and already had some experience in boat building albeit at an amateur level. Joining the GC32 crew was a big step up, but with the right attitude, approach and guidance he is thriving. "It's hard graft, but I wouldn't have it any other way," he smiles.
Diego Stefani's role is more wide-ranging and no less important. Loosely titled as coach, Diego spends countless hours analysing how the GC32 performs on the water, pouring over all the photos and videos he can locate. Constantly striving to find the X-factor needed to win, he does not just focus his attention on his own team. Watching the competition is an essential part of the intelligence mix. "The learning curve in the GC32 is very steep. It's a new type of sailing, and every day we are figuring out ways to improve handling the boat to make it sail faster," Diego explains.
Involved in the GC32 class since 2013 and a trimmer for ARMIN STROM Sailing Team during the 2015 season, Diego's extensive racing interests spanning TP52s, Soto40s, and a 49er Olympic campaign give him real credentials as an advisor to both the racing and shore team. For Diego the two parts are inseparable: "If the boat is well-prepared, the crew has to be well-prepared to get the best from it, and vice versa."
Diego believes the level of competition has increased dramatically this year: "There are some very good teams out there. With more teams joining it really makes for intense racing. Everyone is developing all the time and this means we have to keep a close eye on the opposition to make sure we get the best performance out of our boat."
At the end of each racing day, after the boat is tidied up and the list of maintenance tasks prepared, Diego conducts a full debrief with the racing crew imparting tips to improve performance, knowledge gleaned from watching the other crews and analysing the team's experiences.
ARMIN STROM Sailing Team are now working towards the next event on the GC32 Racing Tour which takes place in Sotogrande, Spain from 22 to 25 September before the final event in Marseille in October.