Professional approach
I went along to the launch of Paul Brotherton and Mark Asquith's two new 49ers in Lymington the other day. It's not often you get to see an official launch of a dinghy, let alone one where Ellen MacArthur is the guest of honour. But it is a mark of Paul and Mark's professional approach to their campaign that this is how they chose to kick off this crucial season in their build-up to Olympic selection.
The team has purchased the two 49ers from the two leading builders, Ovington from Newcastle, and Mackay from New Zealand. You'd be hard pushed to tell the two boats apart, but Paul says they are in the fortunate position of being able to leave no stone unturned in his quest for Olympic gold, so they might as well see if there is any discernible advantage between one hull or the other. As well as enjoying the top level of Lottery funding thanks to their third place at last year's World Championship in Hawaii, Paul and Mark have also found two private benefactors in Nick Hewson and Ian Cleaver.
Paul has built up relationships with both businessmen through big boat sailing that have now translated into financial support for his Olympic campaign. But the support goes beyond pure cash, says Paul. "Nick and Ian are our saviours, it's hard to imagine doing this campaign without them as it would be without the Olympic Steering Group and the Lottery, not just in terms of their financial support but also their experience and management skills."
Project management
Ian and Nick are there to act as sounding boards for Mark and Paul's ideas, and to give their 'outsider's view' on some of the team's plans and decisions. You might ask what two businessmen could tell Paul Brotherton about running an Olympic campaign, but Paul says it is their very distance from the Olympic scene that allows them to see the wood for the trees.
"They're not caught up in it all, the politics, the personalities, the technical stuff. It's very easy to get obsessed with your shroud wire tensions, but when things go wrong it's often not about the tiny things but because your whole mindset is wrong. The overall perspective they can have is wonderful. It can open your eyes to things that we were just too close to see." Paul respects both men for their project management abilities. Nick Hewson, owner of the Farr 52 Team Tonic for which Paul does tactics, is a successful commercial property developer, and Ian Cleaver runs three thriving hotels up in the Scottish Highlands.
Paul explains: "We realised we had a detailed plan leading up to Athens, but not letting the plan slip is half the battle. Our watchword has been: plan, action, measurement and control. That has been a process that we have achieved through their help. Sometimes there has been a shortfall in our equipment or technique, and we'll fire a problem out to them, and they've come up with three or four different solutions. I can't overstate how much help that is because you never feel like you're fighting on your own, we feel like we've got a pyramid of support underneath us. And this is the first time in my sailing career that I've been in that position."
Mellow blend
Anyone who remembers Paul from his younger days on the Olympic trail will be amazed at just how much his personality has mellowed over the past decade. His passion for Olympic glory remains undiminished, but his approach is now of the calm, collected professional rather than the heart-on-sleeve Northern firebrand of old.
"Perhaps why other people have been succeeding and where I've been on the outskirts of success, is down to the fact that I've been a bit seat of the pants in my approach. Some of the problem was me, and some was lacking the finance to do things properly."
Now he is looking at different models from different sports for inspiration to reach a higher level. "For a few years, I've been aspiring to Formula One, from looking at the way they dress, to what they've got in their tool boxes, the whole approach of leaving no stone unturned, pushing for every technical edge they can get. And if you look at Michael Schumacher, he's the best driver but he's still very reliant on the team of technicians that put his car together. Now, Mark and I have addressed the fact that we're not the greatest time managers, or boat designers, or rig tuners, but in that department we believe Jo Richards [their technical coach] has got a bit to offer. And we're not the greatest sports psychologists, but Steve Lovegrove [top Tornado sailor and now working with Paul and Mark on mental techniques] can help us improve in that department."
The Ellen Effect
Paul would also be the first to acknowledge the effect that Ellen MacArthur has had on his attitude, despite the fact that their relationship began as one of Paul educating Ellen. Their friendship goes back some way before she became a household name. "Ellen approached me back in 1998, to teach her about trimming and steering. She wanted the ability to recognise when a boat was on song automatically without having to rely on instruments. What amazed me about her was that she was an absolute sponge for learning new skills."
Paul spent a few days teaching Ellen the rudiments of dinghy sailing before they competed in the Laser 4000 Eurocup in Italy. For someone who had never raced dinghies before, it was a successful outing, to say the least. "I'm still amazed even now that we finished 8th out of 90 boats," says Paul, " and we beat some people who had been steering boats at a high level for years and years. It was testament to how quickly she learned the skills." What also impressed Paul was her work ethic. At 6 o'clock in the evening when I'd be thinking about relaxing, she'd be making plans, constantly reviewing where she was, and staying in touch with other people abroad. It was clear to me that her energy and her work ethic were outstanding."
What also impresses Paul is Ellen's humility and ability to put ego aside in the pursuit of greater knowledge. "Ellen isn't afraid to put her hand up and say I need to learn stuff. Even though she was a far bigger personality than most of the people who have trained her, she has the ability to look around and get help when she needs it."
Put down your weapons
It's good to see some of the traditional classes putting their egos aside to work together in a way that I believe is almost unprecedented. Whereas 10 years ago these classes would have seen each other as the enemy, they now have the presence of mind to realise that together they will all be stronger.
First sign of their new-found unity comes from the Javelin class website at www.javelinuk.com/Grandprix/grandprix.html. The website says: "History was made at this year's Sailboat & Windsurf Show at Alexandra Palace. For the first time representatives from the Javelin, Hornet, 505, Flying Dutchman, Fireball and Osprey Class Associations, sat round the same table and held talks on the idea of holding an annual joint event for conventionally rigged, high performance, trapeze dinghies.
"The event will be open to all members of Class Associations of single trapeze, symmetrically rigged, high performance dinghies, with a PY of less than 990. Datchet Water SC will host the event on the 4/5th October 2003. The race format will be 2 races on Saturday and 3 races on Sunday with one discard. There will be individual class winners, an overall handicap winner and an inter-class contest that will fight for the 2003 Symmetric Grand Prix Trophy.
"Sponsorship and media interest already suggest that this will be a high profile event with over 70 boats expected to attend. It is intended to have a mass start, so those of you who miss or who have never been in 'big fleet racing' without asymmetrics ruining your downwind leg and slowing you down upwind, don't miss it.
"As well as the entry criteria, the Classes have much in common. One-design hulls and rigs but with scope to lay out the boat to suit the owners own style and techniques. The six classes were conceived during the Fifties and Sixties. The FD, Osprey and Hornet in 1952, the 505 in 1954, the Fireball in 1961 and the Javelin, the youngest of the classes was designed in 1968.
"All have plainly stood the test of time and all provide their crews with the best all round tactical, all weather, high speed, value for money, dinghy racing that there is. Another factor that these classes share, is the friendly, social, family atmosphere. This fact should almost guarantee that the night of the 4th of October should be something to remember, especially as Datchet Water SC have agreed to provide on-site camping facilities.
"Responsibility for this year's event will fall to the Javelin Association and then rotate annually through each of the class associations in turn." Full marks to these associations for getting their heads together and seeing a new way forward. But their little dig at asymmetrics also highlights where the inspiration for this idea came from. Some of the more traditional classes have taken a hammering from the newer breed, not least in the professional management of their racing and social calendars. So while it is understandable that the older boats might harbour some resentment towards the newer classes that have stolen market share, they also owe them a debt of thanks for forcing them to pull up their socks and give their association members more of what they are looking for.
Lark Freeby
In a similar vein, it is great to see the Lark Class Association offering free membership to new members. Their press release says: "It's not too good to be true! If you've never been a member of the association, but are a Lark owner, the class would like to hear from you. As part of their ongoing campaign to find all the Larks in the country, the class is offering a year's free membership of the association."
So, even if you've got a Lark rotting away in your back garden, you're entitled to join the class for nothing. I think it's a great idea and one, along with their announcement of a Lark Masters Championship, that will breathe new life into this versatile little boat. If you want to know more, contact Rachel Jones on 07900 056461 or email membership@larkclass.org.
