Ross Hobson - A madforsailing profile

What is your date of birth?
6th August 1958 - blimey I’m that old!

Where were you born?
Belfast, Northern Ireland.

At what age did you start sailing?
First in a boat at six weeks, really got sailing when seven with an Optimist.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
We lived on Islandmagee, in a place called Ferris’s Bay (it's near Larne in Northern Ireland) right on the sea, so it seemed the natural thing to do

Where was your first sailing club?
East Antrim Boat Club - Larne.

Which class did you first race in?
Though I started in an Oppie I first raced GP14s.

How did you buy your first boat?
As a kid I was lucky my folks ‘supplied’ them, then like most I sailed other people's boats. The first boat I actually bought was ‘Red Arrow’ a Waarschip IOR ¼ tonner, with all the go-fast gear. I and my wife bought her when I first qualified as a dentist.

What was your first regatta win?
East Antrim BC it felt great.

What’s your biggest event or championship win?
Probably this year's (2000) Scottish Islands Peaks Race, we won by over 12 hours and destroyed most of the records on the way. The reception at the finish in Troon was amazing - a full Irish pipe band piped us in.

Any other notable regattas that you have taken part in you would like to mention?
Round the Island Race in 1995 on Fingers Crossed, an F40 cat. We were flying and ahead of the record when gear started failing it really showed me the potential of offshore multihulls and yet also how preparation is so important.

The start of this year's STAR was also memorable, Mollymawk was flying and to spend the first 24 hours alongside the open 60 monohulls was fantastic. It was a real downer to have to retire when the rig broke.

Which event will you be taking part in next?
Mollymawk will be taking part in the Bermuda-Plymouth Transatlantic record in the spring, then I’ll rejoin her for the Scottish Three peaks and then a crack at the solo around Britain record.

Do you do any sailing-specific off the water training?
Yes - I train with Newburn Swimming club 2-3 times a week, as a past competitive swimmer I find that it builds muscle strength and stamina with minimal injury risk.

Which coaches do you use if any?
None at present, apart from my swimming coach

Do you have any professional links to sailing?
None at present

If you weren’t doing the job you are, what would you like to be doing instead?
I’m lucky, as an academic orthodontist, Newcastle Dental School staff and the University have been very supportive of letting me take time off to sail. Apart from sailing full time, I can’t think of a better job.

Which other sports do you take part in?
Swimming mainly, I used to do a lot of fell running and also biathlons, but my knees have packed in, so that stopped the running.

Do you have other hobbies or interests outside of sailing?
My family. Sally my wife and the kids (Peter and Simon) keep me busy when I’m not occupied with sailing. I enjoy refurbishing our home and general DIY stuff.

How do you like to relax?
Lying on a boat in the sun.

Do you have a favourite bar, pub or restaurant?
Not really, it’s who is with you that makes the atmosphere.

Tell us about your most memorable sail?
A real blast on the F40 cat, we were delivering her back from Blyth to Amble some 14 miles up the coast with a South Eastely force 6 blowing with full sail up. We were tanking along at 22-24 knots, then the weather hull lifted and we accelerated to 30! The trip took less than 40 minutes; we even beat a team that were driving back in a car.

Who are your role models?
My family.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
To race a competitive open 60 trimaran.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
Not enough over the winter; 2-3 hours on a Sunday and an awful lot more in the summer.

Who are your sponsors?
Netergy.com, Veneziani, Gill, Marine Computing International, SRL data.

What is the best excuse you have ever given for a poor performance in a race?
Missing the Red Jet across to Cowes and watching the others start as I arrived on the ferry.

What is the funniest thing you have either witnessed or experienced whilst sailing?
The 50ft cat Dazzler at 10 knots under sail they are flying a hull with a 40ft trimaran in tow!

Do you have a favourite sailing venue and what makes it a great place to sail?
West coast of Scotland - stunning scenery with tricky tides.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of regattas?
More tolerance of the competitors towards the organizers if things aren’t just quite right.

What is your greatest strength in sailing?
Sheer bloody-mindedness and determination.

What is your greatest weakness in sailing?
Managing sleep and eating patterns offshore.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
Enjoy it, and take any and every opportunity that presents itself.

Who are your sailing heroes and why?
Francis Chichester and Blondie Haslar they stared the whole solo sailing game.

If you could sail for a day with anyone of your choice who would it be and why?
My wife in a nice Caribbean setting; I don’t spend enough time with her.

Who do you think are the best sailors in Britain?
Of the offshore short handed racing guys Mark Turner and Ellen MacArthur.

Who do you rate as the best sailor in the world?
Michel Desjoyeaux.

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