Women's winning machine

Jesse Falsone talks to leading US Yngling sailor and match race champion Sally Barkow

In sport, there are breakout years, and then there are breakaway years. For American sailor, Sally Barkow, and her sailing team, if 2004 was their breakout year, 2005 was surely their breakaway year. In 2005, Barkow’s Team Seven repeated their victory in the Women’s Match Race World Championship, and also notched a world title in the Yngling. As if this weren’t enough, Team Seven in 2005 alone claimed victories at the US Women’s Match Race Championship, the Rolex Miami Olympic Class Regatta, Hyeres, and the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship, completely dominating the competition in the latter.

At the tender age of 25, Barkow is perhaps not as philosophical as many older competitors might be after spending decades of trying and failing to achieve even a fraction of this success. Instead, one gets the feeling that Barkow is just doing what comes naturally to her - just going out and sailing hard with a fierce desire to achieve team goals.

She developed her skills sailing on the inland lakes of the MidWest United States, where pastures are far more expansive than navigable waters. But, nonetheless, the Midwest has produced some incredible sailors, including the Melges family. Inland lake sailing is dominated by ever-changing conditions that hone the tactical mind. It’s not uncommon to see multiple 40 degree wind shifts on a 1 kilometre leg, and while this type of sailing does less for building boat speed skills, it does teach patience - a trait that must be invaluable in the tactically-dominated Yngling class.

But, youth and pedigree can sometimes only take you so far, especially in a sport so reliant on teamwork and experience. In capturing these many victories, Barkow, and her team, comprised of Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe, have obviously showed maturity beyond their years. Building a successful team takes time, and a willingness to be open-minded and flexible - to put your ego aside and work for a common goal.

Barkow’s leadership experience in college sailing, where she earned All-American honors twice, have obviously helped her develop a strong team, and it’s an aspect of sailing that she truly enjoys. Asked why she chose to campaign the Yngling over other Olympic boats, Barkow responds “I like the challenge of building a team.” Indeed, Barkow has built a team - a team to be reckoned with in the world of women’s sailing.

Things weren’t always so easy for Team Seven. While 2004 proved to be a highly successful year, they lost the most important event of the year, and there were only six boats entered. This, of course, was the US Olympic Trials, and the Yngling class was arguably the most hotly contested of any that year, with five American teams sailing at an extremely high level, the winner being Carol Cronin and her team. However, Barkow and team learned some important lessons at the trials - lessons that undoubtedly contributed to their current success.



In recognition of her achievements in 2005, Barkow won a hotly contested fight with talented 18-year-old Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey for the US Women’s Rolex Award. Barkow is very conscious of how this nomination was realized; “My teammates made it entirely possible for my name to be recognized. In the past three years, I have never been out on the water alone. It’s a total team effort, and I’m disappointed that they are not on that list with me. Winning is a tribute to them.”

The Daily Sail took some time to speak with Barkow as she enjoys her recent success, and ponders what might be in store for her and Team Seven in the future.

TheDailySail - Congratulations to you and your team. How have you handled your unbelievable success? Do you believe this year is an anomaly, or merely a harbinger of things to come from Team 7?

Sally Barlow - Thank you. I think we have handled it alright, knowing that each win was really satisfying and hard to achieve, and always taking away what we learned and what we could do better in the future. I think Team 7 has a good road ahead with more success in its path. I don't believe this year has been an anomaly. We planned our year well, practiced efficiently and raced hard. I believe that is what made it so successful.

TDS - With the Olympic quadrennial only just beginning, how do you retain this competitive edge without suffering burnout?

SB - We take time off. Also, I think changing disciplines, between fleet and match
racing, helps break up the time spent on the water. This year we did push ourselves to the edge as far as burn out, but I think it is good to know where that edge lies and not be afraid of getting close if it means you are still progressing forward.

TDS - Many sailors from coastal towns have spent little or no time sailing in the Midwest (me included), and therefore, know little about the sailing there or the great sailors the Midwest has produced (aside from Buddy Melges). Is there a stigma associated with having grown up sailing on lakes, and does it even extend to international competition?

SB - I think others can be slightly confused when they learn of where I grew up. But the truth is that growing up on the Inland Lakes has provided me with a very good understanding of the trickiest type off sailing. It has made me patient, and has allowed me to race against great sailors in great boats, in a community that not everyone gets to experience. So, I look at living and growing up here as a major advantage. My opinion, it is easier to learn technique and tactics of open water sailing, but much more difficult and time consuming to learn the tricks of the trade in smaller lakes/venues. I don't think it will take much longer for that 'stigma' to go away. There are some great young sailors coming through the ranks from the Midwest that will also turn heads, and show people the great sailing that goes on up here!

TDS - Is there one person in your life who has influenced your sailing career more than any other?

SB - I am not sure that there has been one single person in my life that has significantly impacted my sailing. I tend to find drive in those who have succeeded at the level I desire, regardless the sport. A lot of this desire comes from people outside our world of sailing, but still have so much to offer for their success. When I was growing up, I think I looked to my brothers as mentors when it came to winning and understanding the commitment it takes to win in sailing. Now I try to take a little piece of what I admire about everyone I meet or read about and incorporate that into the drive of my future.

TDS - What are your opinions of the Yngling, both as a design and a class?

SB - The design receives some criticism in some circles for its lack of comfort and relatively low performance, but the class seems to have a solid following in Europe.
I have to agree some what on the criticism of the design, because it is not a very efficient or performance-driven boat, but what it does is create some good tactical racing, as there is not a large speed difference among the fleet. I think that is what attracts most sailors to it.

TDS - Was it difficult for you to develop boat speed in the Yngling given your experience in sailing on inland lakes and in college where there is a greater premium on wind shifts?

SB - It did take a certain amount of time to develop good boat speed, and more importantly, it took us time to understand all the elements that are involved with boat speed, like rig setup, sail design and controls, steering etc. But it was a part of our campaign and was valuable to learn. It was fun and confusing at the same time, but taking those steps really allowed us to learn so much about the boat and what it feels like in a lot of different conditions.

TDS - The US Yngling Trials in 2004 were hotly contested, with five boats vying for the berth. Your team fell short of making the Olympics, but what lessons did you take away from that loss?

SB - We left the trials knowing it would be a very valuable experience for our future. Realizing that we only had a certain amount of time in the boat, I think we made a really good showing. We fell a little short in some of the extremely light conditions. I think it mostly had to do with our setup and not having that much experience in the light conditions to make extreme chances to our setup to make our sails more efficient in the 0-3 knots. So I take away the idea that we need to be ready for any condition and know how our boat performs in every condition to be good enough to win the next time.

TDS - How has match racing helped your team?

SB - I believe match racing directly impacts our fleet racing in an extremely positive way. It always improves our boat handling, time and distance, and our boat on boat tactics. It helps me steer more confidently in tight situations, and all around improves our communication skills.

TDS - Team 7 has had great success in the women's match race arena, but competing against the men in the Monsoon Cup proved more challenging. Do you think competing more against the men, regardless of result, will make your team stronger?

SB - Yes I do, and we look forward to competing against them in the future. I think the boats as well as teams were challenging for us. The more experience we get in those situations the better we will be.

TDS - Are you in favor of the future Olympic match race format in the Yngling?

SB - Yes, I am looking forward to it for 2012. I think it would provide a very challenging opportunity for the women. And I think as a result the women that compete in that format would see an increase in skill. I know that one of the reasons we have done well this year is that we have been fleet and match racing. The overlap in the two disciplines has been extremely complimentary for our team.

TDS - In recent years, participation by women in professional sailing has waned in all disciplines except singlehanded events. Despite the success of women such as Ellen MacArthur, there are no women in the Volvo Ocean Race, and only two women now sail regularly on AC boats. Can this trend be reversed?

SB - I hope so. I think it is more difficult for women to see sailing as a full time career, for one reason or another, and perhaps the size of the boats in the Volvo or AC have something to do with it. But I do believe it is possible to compete amongst the men in those events and be successful, you just have to want it as much as them.


On the helm at the 2003 International Rolex Women's Championship

TDS - Are there any female sailors that you particularly admire?

SB - I respect a lot of female sailors for their accomplishments. At the top of the list are those like Dawn Riley or Ellen MacArthur, as they stand alone in paving the way for women in sailing. But, below them are so many others that commit a lot of effort to their sailing and are also successful. I am not sure that there has been one single person in my life that has significantly impacted my sailing. I tend to find drive in those who have achieved success at the level I desire, regardless of the sport or their sex. I try to take a little piece of what I admire about everyone I meet or read about and incorporate that into the drive of my future.

TDS - Many Olympic sailors go on to compete well into their 40s, and you are only 25. How do you view your longevity as an Olympic sailor, and do you ever see yourself mounting an Olympic campaign in another class?

SB - Well that is a hard one to answer, as I cannot predict the future. All I know is we are working 100% for 2008, what comes after that I will probably not know till after. Some of it depends on what classes and disciplines they pick to be in the next games. I do know that I love this sport and I am blessed with the opportunity to sail full time at a young age. So I hope that continues.