Finn sailors in the AC

[reprint from FINNFARE July 2005]

South African Finn Sailor Ian Ainslie is one of many Finnsters currently sailing in the latest America’s Cup boats. The IFA caught up with him about Finns, the AC and life in general.

Q. After 4 Finn campaigns and 3 Olympic Games in the Finn, you are now sailing on Shosholoza for the America’s cup. How did it happen?

A. My sponsor and friend, Salvatore Sarno, wanted to sail in the America’s cup. I told him he was mad and we could not do it. He ignored me, bought the old ITA 48 from Prada and brought it to Cape Town and told us to start training. Now we have a sponsor, a new boat on the way and the program is a reality.

Q. There are many Finn sailors on the America’s cup circuit; does it make it more special for you?

A. I had not seen many of my friends for a few years, so it was great to catch up with them. They are on all of the boats, not just with mad Luca, but Oracle, Team NZL etc.

Q. You have kept your girlfriend (Finn), and sailed her last month, are you thinking of racing again in the Finn?

A. After Sydney, I was really burnt out and did not feel like sailing again for a while. Last month, I went sailing and I must say I fell in love again. Unfortunately, I turn 40 this year so qualify to sail in the Masters. I reckon I will wait up for some more of my mates (McKenzie, Rohart, Salani

etc) to 'catch up’ with me so we can have a re-match in a few years time at the 'ballie’ worlds.

Q. Salvatore Sarno, CEO of MSC sponsored your Finn campaigns in 1996 and 2000, now he is behind the South African AC syndicate. What is his legacy to sailing in South Africa?

A. I think sailing in South Africa would be pretty much down the tubes, if not for him. He is also my sponsor for the development program I run for disadvantaged children.

Q. You have created a sailing school for black 'street’ kids in Cape Town. What was your motivation with this project and how has it evolved to date?

A. I used to be a school teacher in maths and geography, but I found the formal school environment a bit too structured for me. When I came back from Sydney, I started a school for homeless kids who live on the street and other kids who live in squatter settlements or other poor areas. At first it was just to teach them how to sail. But now we also have a boatbuilding, vegetable growing, rock climbing, academic support programs. It is working well, the kids are highly motivated and I think all the best sailors in the country will be from this school in a few years because their attitude is so great. I have had to take a back seat in the running of the school this year, but I will return to work there full time after 2007 because the kids are so great and it is the most rewarding and fun thing I have ever done (so far).

IFA also tracked down Anthony Nossiter, who is sailing on the +39 Challenge along with Luca Devoti, Iain Percy and more Finn sailors than should really be sensibly gathered together on one boat.

He writes, ' The great master himself, Luca Devoti, jumped into Raffa's boat for a sail.. He jumped in from the coach  boat for a few upwinds and hosed us all!

Raffa, Bart, the Big CZE, Piero, Luca and myself get out in the Finn whenever we can. Our Finns are based at a small sailing club, 100m from our apartments here in Valencia. During our breaks from the AC, Raffa and the big CZE sail some Finn events, Bart goes home to his girlfriend, and I sail match race events with Perce.

We are all sailing on the AC boat in the regattas / trainings. Raffa (ESP) on mainsheet trim, big CZE on mainsheet grind, Bart (GBR) is the strategist, alejandro (ARG) is mastman, Piero (ITA) on aft pedestal grind, I’m (AUS) on runner trim/pit, Perce (GBR) on the hem, Luca the ‘skipper’ and Paul Henderson our 'chairman’. so we have plenty of Finn guys with us. watch out at Europeans and Worlds, where most of us will compete...Cheers Nock