Fast and fifteen

We talk to teenage former Melges 24 World Champion turned 18ft skiff sailor Shark Kahn

Samuel a.k.a. ‘Shark’ Kahn, son of software entrepreneur Philippe Kahn, the well known West Coast owner of the Pegasus series of race boats, came to our attention when at the extraordinarily young age of just 14 he helmed a Melges 24 to victory in the class' 2003 World Championship.

Sailing extensively both with and against his father, Shark Kahn has been fortunate enough to race competitively in a wide range of classes from the Pegasus maxi - he was the youngest person ever to do a Transpac, winning in both 2001 and 2003 - to small keelboats such as the Melges to dinghies such as the 505.

A feature of the Pegasus racing program is the professional approach Philippe Kahn takes such as employing some of the best sailors in the business as crew and coaches. Names such as illbruck's Mark Christensen and Richard Clarke have been regulars in the Pegasus line-up while at Key West this year the Pegasus Melges 24 crew included Swedish Star sailor Freddie Loof and 470 Gold medallist Kevin Burnham.

An early start paddling Hawaiian outrigger canoes and windsurfing in 25 knots and big waves every day in Hawaii’s Molokai Channel makes any other sailing easy, maintains Shark Kahn. Now 15 years old and already with a broad experience of sailing under his belt, he is looking to take new challenges on the international racing circuit.

Last week Shark competed on Sydney Harbour in the Ssangyong JJ Giltinan World Trophy Championship regatta at the helm of the 18ft skiff, Pegasus Racing, the youngest person ever to skipper one of these high powered and technically challenging craft. TheDailySail caught up with him during the regatta, at which time he was lying 17th. In what many considered to be the most competitive 18ft skiff fleet gathered for many year, he finished the regatta yesterday 18th in a fleet of 28 boats.

thedailysail: What’s been the most challenging aspect of this week’s racing?

Shark Kahn: Just the fact that we had never sailed an 18ft skiff and had put in only five training days. We are beating ten boats manned mostly by pros that are twice my age. I think that I am the youngest by many years…

TDS: How would you rate your results thus far?

SK: I am more than pleased with our results. Our goal was to finish every race. We’ve done much better than that. We’re ahead of one third of the fleet. That’s exciting!

TDS: You sail a variety of boats - do you prefer dinghies or keelboats?

SK: I prefer skiffs and offshore racing. I have done three Transpacs and I really enjoy skiffs and dinghies such as the 505.

TDS: What is it about sailing that keeps you focused and interested?

SK: I’m 15, I like to go fast.

TDS: How much preparation did you put into the Melges 24 Worlds that you won in 2003?

SK: We sailed the 29er a lot and the Laser a bit. After school we trained with my Dad, four times a week, match racing for a few hours over three months.

TDS: Your dad Philippe is well known on the race circuit - how much sailing do you do together?

SK:We race each other all the time. We’re sparring partners.

TDS: Do other members of your family sail and/or race with you?

SK: My seven year old sister Sophie windsurfs and has fun in an Optimist. She’s cool. My cousin Brian is my crew and bowman in the Melges 24 and the Etchell.

TDS: You have sailed with some top people - who have been the biggest influence on your sailing career?

SK: I sail with and against my Dad most of the time. Mark Christensen (Crusty) and Richard Clarke are good friends, although they are now in Volvo programs. With my focus on the 49er and the 18ft skiff, things are changing a bit.

TDS: At what point do you think you transitioned from taking instruction from these people to relying on your own ability?

SK: You can always learn something from anyone. So I always listen, but when it came time to race in the Melges Worlds, and in the 18ft skiff (which I am doing now), at the end of the day I hold the helm and I have to be the fastest boat in the fleet and put the boat where it should be.

TDS: It’s rumoured that you may do a 2008 Olympic campaign? Is this correct and if so, what class?

SK: I enjoy the 49er so that’s a natural. I love to go fast. We sailed for a few weeks and did the Miami OCR and were fortunate enough to make the cut for the US sailing team. Now I’m here in Sydney sailing the 18ft skiff worlds and we are doing better than we thought we would. I love skiffs, I love to go fast.

TDS: How do you fit sailing in with your schoolwork?

SK: I’m in high school, so I sail after school in Santa Cruz or in Honolulu. On weekends and vacation I get to go racing. I wake up at 7am and do 3+ hours of schoolwork. Then after sailing I do the same again. It’s tough because sometimes we’re really tired. But as my Dad says, schoolwork is my job. As long as I have good grades, I can go sailing.
TDS: What do you like to do when you aren’t out on the water?

SK: I love to play hockey and I do enjoy Math in school. [Shark's father was a maths teacher before heading for Silicon Valley].

To have achieved so much on the water at such a tender age will certainly stand Shark Kahn in good stead for the future. While it may be early days in his skiff sailing career in the 18 or the 49er, if he applies the same training and coaching regime he and his father have taken with their previous campaigns then we can look forward to seeing great things from him in the future.

More photos on page 2...