US Sailing Blog: West Coast Tour - Melges 20 & 24 Pro Classes

by Kate Sheahan
West Coast Tour Coordinator

On board M24 Team Embarr for 2013 Worlds prep in SF Bay, CA

The easiest part of winning is to say you want to win, but as U.S. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and Team Samba Pa Ti tactician, Terry Hutchinson, reminds us: "You have to be true and committed to the process of winning. As a pro sailor, you have to be willing to put in the hours to develop a winning combination, which takes a high level of work ethic every day that you show up to the boat."

Some may worry that the pro racing classes have created a bit of an arms race, but as you will hear from some of the best in the business, the most important steps to success come from within. Hear what owners and pro sailors think are important qualities to building team camaraderie, and ultimately race wins, as they prepare for the 2013 Melges 24 World Championship in San Francisco this fall.

Lunch discussion

"Yes, you have to have aggression, and talent, and drive, and fitness, and enthusiasm," lists Prof O'Connell of Dublin, Ireland and Team Embarr, "that's almost a given - one of the most important qualities in a pro sailor is to have people skills - to be able to be flexible and mold yourself to the needed condition on board." Curtis Florence of Windsor Ontario and Team Hedgehog, reiterates the qualities of a good pro by explaining that, "for the most part a pro is obviously really good at what they do, so it comes down to crew chemistry - you have to be able to get along with the guys on the boat, click and go from there."

Mike Buckley of New York City and tactician of Team Monsoon explains that, "you have to adjust your traits to the dynamic on the boat…owner-drivers are successful businessmen who hire us to get around the race course - I enjoy helping them get better and look forward to their next time on the water."

Winning Team Hedgehog at 2013 M24 PCCs, courtesy of Anna Cutler

As Brent Rhune of Santa Cruz, CA, and owner of Rhune Racing points out, "there are very few professionals in this business who just race boats, even at the AC level, to be hired on to a team you have to have a secondary skill set that adds value, whether it is sail making, boat building, or rigging. Argyle Campbell of Newport Beach, CA, and owner of Melges 24 Team Rock N' Roll looks to hire small boat sailors with a tactical background, so that everyone aboard can anticipate maneuvers. "It is very important that everyone can be friends on and off the boat… Of course I want to win every time I go racing, but I also want to have a good time."

Starting with Terry Hutchinson, listen to more interviews about how the Melges 24 compares to the Olympic Classes, how communication works aboard, and more on the importance of good people skills, patience and rigor. Also catch footage as I slog it out with US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athlete, Dave Hughes, and Olympic Gold Medalist driver, Nathan Wilmot on Team Embarr at the Melges 24 Pacific Coast Championships - held in tandem with the Melges 20 and Open 5.70 Pacific Coast Championships, Easom Founders Trophy Regatta and Summer Keelboat Invitational at San Francisco Yacht Club. And laugh or cry with 10,000+ viewers of how Team Embarr does camaraderie at sailinganarchy.com/brotherly-love.

Follow the West Coast Tour on Twitter at @USSailing as I visit the San Francisco Maritime Museum - the best place for viewing AC racing, free of charge, then check out the America's Cup Village and racing with US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athlete, Molly O'Bryan Vandemoer, and the American Red Bull Youth America's Cup Teams - USA45 and American Youth Sailing Force.

Click to view The West Coast Tour Schedule