Bob: What brought you to the Fifteen fleet?
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Mike: I had a J110 yacht which was costing me around £10k a year to own and I needed a new set of sails which was going to cost me the same as a brand new Flying Fifteen i.e. around £15k. Also, most of my brilliant young crew had gone off to Uni and I was struggling to find 7-8 people to race with. I had always thought the F15 looked a great boat with a good fleet at Parkstone, so in 2008 I joined the fleet and teamed up with Martin, who I really enjoy sailing with.
Bob: Tell me about your sailing history.
Mike: From an early age I had always wanted to sail but I didn’t get the opportunity until I was in my late 30’s when I bought a GP14 to sail at the Solartron Sailing Club on Hayling Island. After a year I joined Lee-on-the-Solent Club and raced GPs there for many years, travelling down three times a week from Guildford. I used to do the circuit in the south of England and had some success in the 80’s and early 90’s. I had an RS400 for a time but couldn’t get the hang of sailing it. After buying a flat in Poole which had an 11m berth, I bought a J92 which I raced mainly in the Solent Spring and Poole Winter series. In 2002 I bought a J110 and used it to start a new business which was called Poole Sailing Ltd. The business became a recognised RYA Training Centre and was sold in 2011.
Bob: What has been your best sailing experience to date?
Mike: We won our class in the round the island race first time out with a group of GP sailors, including my two sons Paul and Michael and we won again the following year. We also won the J92 Nationals in 2001.
Bob: What has been your worst sailing experience to date?
Mike: Thinking that we had won a race in the GP14 nationals, beating Richard Estaugh and Simon Relph only to find out we were over the line at the start!
Bob: I know that feeling. What is the best boat you have sailed?
Mike: The Flying Fifteen.
Bob: The Fifteen Association are to adopt a new Genoa, what are your thoughts?
Mike: From the little I’ve seen, it seems that the performance in 8 -10 knots is inferior to the existing design. Having spoken to a sailmaker, it is expected that the higher aspect ratio should mean that it will perform better up wind but not so well on a reach. The sailmakers have still to develop the sail in order for the lighter wind performance to be improved. They think that more fullness may be required. It seems to me that until the performance is equivalent in light to medium winds, the old design should remain available for purchase. Last year the average wind strength was 9.4 Knots.
Bob: Upwind or Downwind?
Mike: Upwind in the lighter stuff, downwind when its blowing.
Bob: Symmetrical or Asymmetrical?
Mike: Symmetrical
Bob: Light or strong winds?
Mike: Light to medium
Bob: Your favourite music genre?
Mike: 50’s and 60’s Rock. Little Richard, Gerry Lee etc and Reggae, Bob Marley.
Bob: Chinese or Indian.
Mike: Thai
Bob: And finally, Beer or Lager?
Mike: Peroni in summer, Ringwood in winter.
Bob: Mike, thank you for that. Now about that pint of Ringwood …