We all have our crosses to bear with pictures that refuse to go away and one of the best-known photographs of Vince Brun in action is this shot (above) of him racing with Marcelo Ferreira at the 1988 Star North Americans at Ithaca in upstate New York. The Brazilian crew in 7209 have just been hit by a 35kt freeing gust and are on their way to a full keel-in-the-air capsize while also taking out the intermediate shroud of 6474 to leeward… which somehow kept their damaged rig up and finished the race in second. Brun’s rig, however, did not make it home. When Vince Brun’s father added a rig to his sons’ first rowing dinghy (right) he did not mess around
This ability to play a supportive role led
him to be part of Dennis Conner’s Stars and Stripes team, twice. Since retirement he has put it to work helping top teams on a variety of keelboats, from small to tall.
Life skills One reason there are so many Vince stories is that he’s never shy about making bold, global statements. ‘I believe very strongly that sailing prepares kids for not just competition, but for everything,’ he tells me now, leaning in across the table. ‘Sailors in business are successful as
hell, right? Because they are competitors. I remember going to get a job when I was doing the engineering school, and the guy said to me, “You compete? So how do you do?” As soon as I said, “I have really good results” the guy said “You’re hired.” They want the people who are ambitious, who want to compete. Sailing gives you that.’ When he first started sailing Vince says
he went out just to have a good time. As he became more competitive, though, he realised the benefits of planning and organi- sation. ‘Sailing is a complex sport, right? It’s not just put the boat together and go, not if you want to do well. ‘Dennis wrote about no excuse to lose; if you prepare you suc- ceed. If I’m coaching I always ask before we step on the boat, “What are we going to try today?” It accelerates the learning process when you get a little bit more serious.’ But you still have to enjoy it. ‘If you
don’t like to sail you’re not going to put in the extra hours, go to bed thinking about it.’ He recalls spreading pictures of differ- ent sail shapes across the coffee table at home. ‘I tell Marcia, just leave them there, so I can go and look at the sail again. I look at it when I have a coffee; the day after, I look at it again. And then I go, “This is what we have to change.” You just keep working at it… if you like what you do.’ And working on weaknesses is the fastest way to improve, he says. ‘I don’t
like push-ups. I like sit-ups. So push-ups, maybe I do it tomorrow. The same thing in sailing, you tend to do the things you like, going downwind and surfing the waves. It’s really important, and something that takes a little bit of discipline, to pick the stuff you’re weak on and work on that.’ When Vince retired San Diego A-Class
cat sailors convinced him to try one of their boats. ‘I needed something to do in the week, something to sail all by myself. ‘First, I thought Laser. But it’s too hard,
hiking.’ So he went A-Cat sailing. ‘I loved it because it was during the week and I could go fast as hell compared to any other boat I sail. I should’ve just stuck with that.’ Instead, he bought a brand new boat –
this time with foils. ‘That was a mistake. That was a definite mistake. Every time the bow goes down, my feet come out of the footstraps and I go forward. ‘So I’m making this strap as tight as
possible, and that’s when I hurt my knee, because of the crashes. I got beat up pretty bad. I had days when I came home and Marcia tells me what’s for dinner; I’m like, “Don’t worry about it, because I’m just going straight to bed.” It’s not a boat for old people, not with the foiling. ‘I never felt comfortable,’ he continues. ‘I
think the class is missing the point, because I always believe that you want to make the boats easier to sail. So the difference between the top guys and the guys at the back is less. ‘The guys who are good on foils, they are
so much better. It’s not even a race.’ (I can’t help thinking he wouldn’t have minded this at all, if he was one of the top guys.) Vince says he has been contemplating
getting back into the Star, where many old friends are still active. ‘It’s pretty amazing how the class is doing so well, being out of the Olympics. I think it’s a pretty good class to be sailing, particularly if it’s light air. Heavy air would be a bear; they might have to change a couple of things, just to make it a little easier for older people…’
Then he laughs. ‘Any boat, right? Just seeing your old buddies and having fun.’
Regrets? When asked if he has any regrets Vince first shares a personal thought. ‘When I left Brazil I probably hurt my parents a little bit. When I told them I’m going to the US they were shocked. I missed seeing them getting older. And I was really attached to my mom; my dad was a good dad, but he was kind of quiet.’ Then we’re right back to sailing, and all
the boats he should’ve tried. He mentions the Moth before remembering it wasn’t around when he was young enough to sail it. ‘Now it’s just not possible; I don’t have the body to do that any more.’ He also recently had back surgery, brought on by hiking and trimming the Star mainsail. ‘Once your arms lose their strength you do a lot of work with your back… sometimes too much work.’ In 2018 Vince was inducted into the US
Sailing Hall of Fame. When we chatted he was enjoying a day off coaching a team on a new Melges IC37 and looking forward to the 12 Metre Worlds. ‘To be honest, some of those boats look better than when they were new for the Cup,’ he marvels, perhaps wishing we could all age so well. ‘I consider myself a lucky guy,’ Vince
continues. ‘Lowell bringing me to San Diego, the opportunity to work for a company like North, the people I met. And making a living out of that. What else can I ask? I have a comfortable life. Two kids who are doing well – my wife gets most of the credit for that.’ He pauses to pull out his phone, showing off a photo of his granddaughter. ‘Sailing is a sport that offers a lot of
benefits,’ he says. ‘A lot of people don’t even realise or appreciate it.’ As for the stories: ‘They just get better and better as you get older,’ Vince laughs. ‘Hopefully I can keep on doing this stuff… and with all the friends that I’ve made.’
SEAHORSE 53
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