Update
Arguably, when most of the Olympic classes were technical rather than manufacturer one-designs (buy a lot, pick the best) more of the sailors who emerged transitioned successfully into keelboats and complex America’s Cup yachts. Cost and more accessibility for developing sailing nations rightly knocked that on the head, though the total cost of a top Olympic campaign today is probably no different (inflation adjusted) than 25 years ago. Here les frères Pajot, Yves (nearest) and Marc, work on their Flying Dutchman in Hyères in 1972, progressing to take an Olympic silver medal that year in Kiel. Marc Pajot famously went on to become a giant of oceanic multihull racing while both he and his brother would also later lead or take major roles in multiple French America’s Cup challenges
‘I never get on any boat thinking about protecting my job, I live
from this because I have to pay the bills for my house and my family but I don’t sail for money. If my ambition were money I would work at something else, I sail because I am passionate, I like to compete and do well. That’s why I don’t mind telling the owner and crew what I genuinely think we should do, regardless of who they are. There is a nice saying in Argentina: “We say what we do and do what we say.” I humbly do what I think is best to win regattas.’ Seahorse: Did you miss this circuit? Guillermo Parada: My last TP52 regatta was in Cape Town 2020 – ignoring the pandemic I have been away from the Super Series for four seasons since it began. But during this time I had been to events and maintained contact with sailors from the teams, so when I came back nothing surprised me too much. It’s part of my job to keep up to date on design, masts, sails etc. I have been sailing as a helmsman and tactician in other categories so my competitiveness stayed strong. SH: And joining a new team after many years at Azzurra? GP: I arrived calmly. The challenge was to integrate into a new team with a different culture and way of working. When the owner first told me he would be steering he added that he prefers a wheel… It had been a long time since I had sailed with wheels on a TP52! SH: Will you now change the wheels for a tiller? GP: The owner likes to steer between races, and he may still steer the boat in some races so we are not changing at the moment. In Saint Tropez we took the wheels off on the last day because Tony (Langley) wasn’t sailing. For me it is better to steer with a tiller, the touch is more sensitive and the rudder response is more precise. With the wheel you can steer well, but you don’t have as much feel for the balance of the boat. But changing from wheels to tiller only requires 20 minutes; it is fast with a shore crew of this level. They change the tyres of an F1 in 2.5 seconds… We might take a little longer of course, hahaha. SH: Isn’t it a problem to go from a team as successful as Azzurra to one from the other end of the fleet? GP: They are all challenges. As long as you set yourself challenges with realistic expectations and understand that it requires a process, I think they are nice challenges. The results are what they have to be, for me the important thing is the process. I joined a team where I knew there was a lot to do, that I was going to be just another
18 SEAHORSE
member, not the manager or a prominent leader. At the same time I can contribute a lot of things based on my experience which may allow the team to speed up decision making. When you face a new situation, having been through it before
paves the way for finding solutions. It’s like chess, you already have a lot of automated moves to react to an opponent’s move, you have analysed and tested them before so you don’t have to think every time. The result of a regatta is an output, it is not an input. I cannot say that I get on the Gladiator and the result will be this. Yes, I can tell you I am getting on the Gladiator to do things as well as possible, that we are going to try to improve, sail faster, and that the boat will not suffer damage. After all this, the result will be what we deserve. The good thing about this circuit is that as there are five venues
with different conditions, with 10 races in each and no discards, at the end of the season each team will finish close to the average level they have shown throughout the year. SH: As a Super Series champion isn’t it delicate when you arrive at a new team… GP: It is a matter of humility and learning, first listen and then give your opinions prudently to avoid hurting sensibilities. I also try to focus on two or three issues, think about which the most important battles are and not try to cover everything. Of course, I also have to learn from the team, you have to listen to everyone. I have to go little by little – the positive of a good result like the one in Saint Tropez is that the whole group has more faith in new processes and systems, that the effort of the changes is rewarded. This result also facilitates my integration. SH: You finished third tied on points with your arch rival Quantum Racing; did you deserve to be second? GP:We got on the podium, we tied with Quantum and, honestly, it’s better than our most optimistic expectations. Matching points with them reminds me of other times – whenever you are tied the first thing you do is think about where you foolishly lost a point. The good thing has been that the team has seen the importance
of fighting for each point, being patient even if you are last trying to overtake the penultimate, not taking risks that could be suicide and make things worse. But I would have preferred to be second (laughing)! One of my fears was that if the first result was good then the team would settle down and relax. You have to remember where you come
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