Mike Cooke is known through the moth world as probably THE most helpful and approachable guy. During regattas he is just as happy helping competitors with repairs as he is being on the water. He’s helped me out loads in the last year with getting the mistress set up correctly and also with general advice on moth sailing.
He also happens to be pretty shy and is not one for show boating so it’s a great honour that he was happy to give me an interview since becoming UK National Champion in his own Aardvark designed NINJA moth.
Interview – with Mike Cooke – 29th August 2009
Hi Mike,
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Firstly congratulations on becoming 2009 UK national champion.
Q. How does it feel?
A. Pretty good, but still something of a surprise. After my earlier light airs performances this year I was hoping for more of that but after a week in Denmark I was almost ready for anything!
Q. How long have you been in the class and what drew you to it in the first place?
A. On and off since for quite a while now. I always remember seeing the Moth stand at the Crystal Palace dinghy show and thinking that it looked like fun. I picked up a Magnum 8 in ‘99 which I refurbed and spent 2 years learning to sail by short tacking up the Trent which was my home club at the time (The same year my boat handling in National 12’s jumped massively because of it!). I got a Magnum 9.9 in ‘03 but didn’t sail it much. Although I went to the 2004 Euro’s with it I spent as much time sailing Cherubs that week as I did the Moth. I then sold that and started the Axiom series.
Q. Did you ever image that you would be national champion especially in such a short space of time and in light of the competition?
A. I don’t think it’s a short length of time really I’ve spent 4 years working out how to make these boats and therefore sailing them but until this season I have been a little behind on the foil tech whereas now I feel I’m on par in most areas and improved on some.
Q. How did you prepare for the event?
A. The week in Denmark was really useful, by the end of a load of races in 20+ knots and big chop most stuff is sedate! I only really sail at Cheddar which is always flat water and this season I’ve not been able to travel as much as I usually do with work and life commitments.
I rarely race at my club and always focus on my boat handling instead. As a result I was pretty much the only person at the Nationals to be foiling out the other side of tacks which made big gains on the shorter courses. I need to work on my racecraft now as I was rarely on the startline (ok, nowhere near it…)
Q. What do you put your success down to?
A. Good control, no breakages, good boat handling but my ability to cock things up is beyond compare.
You are obviously in an enviable position being a boat builder as well as a competitor. Do you think this gives you an advantage?
A. Not so much at events, I always feel obliged to help others whether it’s my kit thats broken or someone else’s so I did next to no work on my own boat at the Nationals and was in the shed till 11.30 one night helping James Roche put his rudder T back on! It’s a great thing about the Moth class. Some people are drawn by the bimbling but it’s not for everyone and sometimes you need to lend a hand.
Q. What was your first moth design and how different was it to your current boat, the Ninja?
A. The Axiom 1-3 were all variations on a theme with U sections forward into a chined pintail back end. It was actually a really sweet shape and worked pretty well as a lowrider and foiler. The 4 was a departure from this with a V’d front end running into a chined rear with more volume at the back. All were low freeboard – in fact I think the v.1 is still smaller than a BR at the stem. The Ninja was commissioned at the back end of last year. I’d worked with Kevin (Ellway, Ninja designer) on a previous skiff project and knew he had the skills to take what I knew from my experience and put something special together. The boat is very low wetted area with plenty of rocker and handles lowriding and the foil transition beautifully. Once the hull was out of the way Kevin went off and did a blank sheet of paper design on the foils and we made some concessions towards keeping it sailable – aimed at early take off. If anything what we’ve come up with has made it easier to sail.
Q. Your new foils are a force to be reckoned with. Would you say that you are happy with them or can you still see further developments in this area?
A. Always work to be done, but right now I’ve got a fast package so will concentrate on getting the most from them. I dont invest in CnC metal moulds and keep things cheap so I can afford to move on regularly which gives me a bit of advantage.
Q. The class is going through a big change right now, attracting some of the biggest names from the sailing world. How do you see this affecting the class?
A. Well it’s good isn’t it. Any interest will raise the profile and the more people coming in will drive the boat turnover – more cheap boats for the people who struggle to get hold of them at a price they can afford. The competition is obviously getting harder and thats more incentive to keep on top of developments.
Q. If there was one area you could improve in your sailing, what would it be?
A. Being near the startline, on time and knowing what the course is before the first mark. General fitness is a bit poor too… More MTB’ing this winter I reckon…
Q. How do you view the racing circuit in the UK and do you think there any way that it can be enhanced to bring on more world class talent?
A. There’s a good spread of abilities at the moment which means no one is left out but the top of fleet isn’t pushing each other yet. We need a couple more people at the top end so we can all start to raise our game back up to the world stage.
Q. You are known in the UK class for encouraging homebuilds and experimentation. Do you think there is still a place for this in an increasingly competitive market?
A. Totally, I think all the best bits on these sort of boats get tried by a homebuilder first. The trouble is figuring out which ones work and why….
Q. Who would you name as the ultimate moth sailor of the moment and why?
A. Got to be Bora. He’s worked super hard on all points of his sailing and fully deserved the win in the states.
Q. And lastly, what are your goals now you’ve entered the UK hall of fame?
A. Europeans next season are my main target. There will be a Ninja at the worlds in Dubai but it won’t be me…
Once again, Congratulations Mike and I am sure I speak on bahalf of many people when I say thank you for all your help and advice and I look forward to seeing you on the race circuit (finally!)
