Top non-Olympian - part 2

In this part of our interview with him Nick Craig looks at the divide between Olympic and non-Olympic classes

In October last year, at the sixth attempt and at age 30, Nick Craig finally won the coveted Endeavour Trophy. After narrowly missing out on winning Britain’s champion of champions event in 2002 and 2003 - both, as it happened to his good friend and training partner Jim Hunt - Craig revelled in the windy conditions to record a perfect score line of five bullets: a remarkable achievement in a field of some of the UK's top sailors. Nick has sailed in six Endeavour Trophy events - all in RS400s - and his results steadily got better with 6th, 5th, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd and finally the win last year.

After the Endeavour, Nick stepped into a Finn for the first time. Its similarity to the OK should stand him in good stead as he pits his skills against some battle hardened Olympic campaigners. Beating regular squad members at the first few qualifiers at the end of 2004 may have surprised Nick, but perhaps not many others. He was so enthused by the class, that within a few weeks had ordered a new boat from Devoti Sailing. Whether he can translate his success in other classes to one of the toughest Olympic classes only time will tell.

TDS: Why have you never got involved in Olympic sailing before?
NC: Simply a realistic view that the likes of Ainslie, Percy and co are another level of talent so I would be wasting my time. Doing Olympic sailing all the time isn't that much fun because there are few socials and it's very intense, so you only do it if you think you have a chance. However, the racing is fantastic and there are some friendly folk in the Finns so I am really enjoying that side of it.

TDS: Are you interested in doing a full-out Olympic campaign at any point?
NC: No, I'm not good enough to make it and doing it full-on would involve huge sacrifices which aren't worthwhile unless you have some chance of going.

TDS: After having competed in a handful of Finn events, what is your impression of sailing an Olympic class?
NC: My impression is a very strong one, especially of the Finns. The standard is very high with close racing, which is an excellent challenge and great fun! However, the socials are definitely better in amateur classes, though the non-pro Finn sailors like a beer or two!

TDS: Why do you think there is a clear divide between Olympic and non-Olympic classes that few sailors ever breach? Many of the top non-Olympic dinghy sailors have never touched an Olympic campaign, even though Britain is recognised as having some of the best small boat racers in the world. Why?
NC: Because the Olympic sailors are professional - they sail all the time, have full coaching (and are very talented). The top amateurs only sail at weekends and holidays and get minimal coaching. I think that a lot of our top amateurs haven't tried the Olympic route because of the sacrifices involved. There is zero support for people coming in from outside the RYA youth route and many of the top amateurs are in the trade, and commercial opportunity in the Olympic classes is more limited than the mass amateur boats.

TDS: International sailing has always been portrayed as fostering international friendships and breaking down borders. How much do you think this is true and what is your experience of the international element to racing?
NC: International sailing is excellent fun. It's great from a racing standpoint because you are constantly challenged, as you never really know what is going to happen until you get to the international events whereas in domestic racing you know everyone very well from the UK circuit. I think it does foster friendships. I have some great friends from years of sailing overseas. Also, I have never seen so much controversy and angst as in international sailing but when you look back on it, it's all part of the fun and gives some good stories. On the whole though, it without doubt helps breakdown borders. I think the UN should fund us all to sail overseas more!

TDS: Are there any changes/improvements you would like to see generally in race management and/or event organisation?
NC: The main thing is getting properly trained race officers - they make such a huge difference to the event, even more than the wind! I've done events in glorious conditions but had an awful day sailing simply because the race officer couldn't set a decent course. Its really frustrating to spend five hours driving to and rigging up for an event to have three 20 minute one-tack-beat races as has happened in the past. All clubs should look at this as their number one priority when running an event and even consider getting in a professional and adding the cost to the entry fee - I'd happily pay a bit more for quality racing. Race officers who listen to the competitors are even better - the best ones get feedback from the sailors on what they liked and what could be improved.

TDS: Do you think there are too many classes in the UK and what can be done to attract sailors into mainstream classes?
NC: Yes and No. I think there is a balance. The French basically only allow Olympic classes, which would be very restrictive - I would only be able to sail a Finn and do no two man sailing. I like the variety you can get in the UK. However, there are too many classes now - everyone is too thinly spread - to get decent racing you have to travel miles these days and the depth isn't there anymore like it was in classes like the Enterprises 10 years ago. It means the gap is growing between the pros and amateurs. The manufacturers need to focus on improving and nurturing the classes they have rather than launching yet more boats and diluting UK sailing even more.

TDS: Are there any other classes that you would like to sail?
NC: I have very little interest in big boats as dinghies are loads more fun - feels faster, bigger fleets and generally more competitive. However, big boats may be an option when I get old. I am enjoying playing in the Finn at the moment, and would quite like to sail a B14 a bit but I think five boats may be excessive even for me.

TDS: Is there a moment in sailing you'd like to forget?
NC: Yes, getting DSQ from the opening race of the OK Worlds in 1999. I had put in a huge amount of time and effort for the event only to be DSQ from the opening race for having my main halyard 1/2inch above the black band. It had no impact on performance, was not intended on my part, just an oversight, so I thought a DSQ on the spot was a little harsh. It was a tough lesson in boat preparation though so I will never make that mistake again!

TDS: Do you think sailing is having a problem attracting newcomers to the sport, and what do you think can be done about it?
NC: If you look at the youth classes, there is no problem with them all attracting huge turnouts. The problem is getting them to go from youth to senior. I think the RYA youth system is brilliant at producing great Olympic sailors but not so good at feeding through sailors into the non-Olympic classes, where there is also some fantastic racing and fun to be had! The RYA and class associations need to work closer together to offer a credible alternative to the Olympic route and it should not be seen as failure.

With the successes of 2004 firmly behind him now, what does 2005 hold for Nick Craig? Now campaigning four boats - OK Dinghy, Enterprise, Finn and RS400 - he is as active as ever. In fact, Nick was due to travel to Sri Lanka in February to defend his Enterprise World title. However the tsunami got there first and the event had to be postponed.

TDS: What happened about the scheduled Enterprise Worlds in Sri Lanka after the tsunami? How far had the process got?
NC: All the organisation had been done but thankfully the boats had not gone yet. It was a shame we could not have gone as it would have been great to have been able to support the re-building of tourism in Sri Lanka but February was just too early. The event has been postponed until February 2006. I would like to go but it may clash with the OK Worlds in Australia, which are at a similar time.

TDS: What's your main focus going to be for this year?
NC: My main focus for the year will be the OK again because it has great international racing and I've been top three at the Worlds four times but never won it, so I will be working on that this year! I am also doing a bit of Finn and RS400 sailing but the OK will be the main focus for this year.

TDS: What are your plans in the Finn Class? Are you enjoying that?
NC: Yes I have really enjoyed sailing the Finn - it's a real challenge both physically and in the high standard of close racing. I have bought a new one to do a few weekends in this year and will hopefully qualify for the Worlds in Moscow - should be 100 boats there so that will be a fantastic event.

TDS: How much sailing have you been doing over winter?
NC: I have been out most weekends - it has been a good winter's sailing until the last two weekends when it's been really freezing! The best sail was at the Bloody Mary where it was gusting 40 knots. It was outstanding stuff downwind and hats off to QM for starting it - a lot of clubs would have shied away in those conditions.

TDS: Any other plans for this year?
NC: I'm doing the 400 Nationals and a few opens - not doing enough practice really in the RS400, but I have now got James Stewart crewing for me who is outstanding, so he'll hopefully get me round the race course quickly!