What’s it like to Win the Worlds?

Keith Whittemore and his crew of Brian Thomas, Shelby Milne, Willem Van Waay and Mark Rodgers won the J/24 Worlds in Miami a week ago. To win a J/24 Worlds is a massive achievement, with the class still attracting top talent from around the world. As an outside observer and occasional crew, I can say that what stands out is not just Whittemore’s consistency on the racecourse, but his constancy in keeping the local J/24 fleet as strong as it is.

As usual, the PNW was well represented at a major regatta. Other finishers included Baba Louie (23rd), Tremendous Slouch (33) and Jackwagon (38) (forgive and correct me if I missed someone). There were a total of 79 competitors coming from so very many countries.

Here crew member Brian Thomas treats us into some insight of what it was like on the last day, with so much at stake. You’ll probably want to grab a tiller or pull a sheet after this….

The Final Day. By Brian Thomas

One day of racing left. Two races to go. Two starts. Ten legs, Eight sets, eight drops, countless shifts,  possible thunder showers, 80 boats……a nine point lead.  What could possibly go wrong?

We had won the pre-regatta and had been tied for first or leading the Worlds from day one. Sailing well? Yes of course.   But since our bonehead mistake in the 5^th race, sailing without any margin for error.   Nervous?  Who us?

The night before this last day, we had discussed the potential for one, or possibly both the other two teams right behind us in the standings, would likely come after us in the pre-start.  How 2^nd overall in the Worlds, to them, might be meaningless. It could be win at all costs, or go down in flames. Who us..worry? 

The weather predictions were favorable, if you like mid-range breeze diminishing as the day goes on, with expected huge influential rain/thunder clouds rolling through the course altering wind direction by as much as 30-degrees. No worries mate…we got this.

On the drive into the yacht club that morning…Keith stated the day’s goal so very succinctly. “All we have to do” he said, “is win the first race!  That will give us additional point lead margin for the final race and put the pressure back on them”.   As I was driving, I looked in the rear view mirror at Mark, Shelby and Willem…..their eyes said it all.  We were all thinking the same thing.   Oh sure, that’s it..…we’ll just win the first race…no problem skipper.  Good as done!  Sigh….

We then fell into our morning routine. Nerves relax.  We connect with our tuning partners at the dock 0815.  Begin boat prep.  Rig tune, hydration program, food program, clothing prep, swim the bottom, sails & sheets on deck, attend the morning sailor’s briefing, check the notice board, greet the judges, greet the PRO, gather weather intel, absorb “good luck” from competitors & friends. Discuss prior day, and expectations for today’s pre-race warm up with our tuning partner.  Depart dock, 0900.  Two hours to the first start.

Routine can be the perfect antidote for nerves. In our case, following our week long morning routine definitely helped us focus and forget about the self-induced pressures to succeed (or not choke!?).  We motored out to the race area applying our sunscreen as we went. At 0945 we hooked up with Nautalytics (our tuning partners) for our morning 15 minutes of speed testing.  1000hrs, we do our 7 minute split to either side of the course.  Right side crushes the Left side.   But what does that really mean come race time an hour away?  We meander downwind alongside each other sharing headings and pressure, weather predictions and general strategies we each are considering. It’s now 1030hrs, we say our goodbyes and good lucks, and sail off to begin our starting prep for the 1100 first race of the day. Ping weather end.  Head to wind. Ping midline.  Head to wind.  Ping leeward end. Head to wind.  Run the line, determine favored end, discuss strategy and wind observations and our pending expectations for the boat on boat battle ahead. Final clothing check & hydration.  Gun…..6 minutes. Where are our two main competitors?   Gun….5 minutes. Ah…there’s one of them, entering our sphere near the leeward end of the line. Gun….4 minutes.  Clear Air (Rossi, 2017 World Champ) is beginning to set up to tail us.  As expected. We grin at each other…we’ve seen this game before…we’re ready. We’re confident. All the while knowing, one small mistake and the win could yet easily slip from our grasp.   No worries……

They have the tail. Not too many boats at this end today.  Seems the fleet prefers the weather end. Might be tougher than we had thought, to scrape them off on another competitor.  Just aren’t that many of us at the leeward end.   90 seconds to go.  We sense a lefty shift. Willem makes a brilliant call….JIBE!!    We spin the boat from port down into a jibe, and back up hard on starboard, completely catching Clear Air off guard. They go up the line a few more boat lengths and tack back onto star board. There’s a gap. We tack over into it, and just as quickly…..we tack back onto starboard.  Final approach…45 seconds.  We’re setup perfectly to win the pin. Clear Air is caught between two  boats.  30 seconds, patience.   20 seconds, patience.   Wait for it……12 seconds, bow down, ease sails, weight to weather, accelerate toward the pin boat. 5 seconds,  weight to middle, rolling up a bit, sails slowing sheeting in…accelerating…we’re going to nail it!    3, 2, 1……All Clear.  We’re flying.  Rossi is pinched between two boats struggling a bit.  3+ degrees more knock….time to tack and cross.   As Shelby reminds us….make the first tack perfect!  We roll into the tack, sheet in, hit the rail and we’re off.  Crossing the fleet and never looking  back.  Nerves?……..what nerves?  

Note:  we win that race.    The last (10^th) race of the series is tougher but we have our two main competitors well in hand off the start. We cover them around the race course finishing 8^th and winning the Worlds by a comfortable margin…

Links: Results, North Sails Winners Debrief, North Sails “Expert Takeaways.”