Our recently crowned King of the moth and 2009 World champion Bora Gulari kindly agreed to an interview with my good self. Here he shares his thoughts since the burn up at Cascade locks…

Firstly Thank you for giving this interview. I’m sure you’ve still got plenty more lined up!

P > You’ve mentioned several times that your training partner George Peet amongst others was pivotal to your success at the Gorge. Would you say that in order for any one to take the world title in the moth class, it requires a team effort or do you think it is still possible to make it as an individual?

BG >  Anything is possible, but I could not have done it without George.  John had Scott, Rohan had Amac, and I believe Simon had Adam.  It is a team effort. It is impossible to really quantify improvements in boat speed without another boat to compare  to.

P > Do you mess around with your boat settings or do you leave that to others and concentrate on boat handling?

BG > I am the only one who changes the settings on my boat. I think a lot of the people who have examined my boat closely have not been impressed with the level of refinement on the boat and the lines. It all works and works very well, even if it does not look like it. I think Paul Evlstrom was said to have the most used looking Finn, I like to think that my boat has that look to it.

P > I notice from the worlds video footage that when you are heading deep downwind, your boat is noticeably more “nose down” compared to others. Is this the secret to your speed downwind?

BG >  I noticed that too. That is just what I have to do to keep the boat in the water.  I don’t think that is the reason I am fast. Just ask Dave Lister, I’m sure he will tell you .

P > Do you think the switch from Bladerider to Mach2 made a difference in your performance or do you think it would have been possible for you win on either boat?

BG > It would have been possible to win with either. I think you could win with what ever you are comfortable with and know well.  For me that was my Mach 2.

P > How much time (per week) did you spend training and working on boat handling in the last year?

BG > More than I can count but, when I could devote all the time I wanted to, I sailed it for about 21 hours a week.

P > Did you think at the start of the year you would be world champion?

BG >  Of course I thought I could do it but I tell myself that with everything. I don’t know how else to keep myself motivated and keep the self doubt away. It was not until all the major players showed up at the Gorge that I really realized I had a shot at winning it.

P > Your size and weight has re written all the rule books on moths. Do you think the new boats and foil set ups have helped the heavier sailors or is it mostly down to technique and again boat handling?

BG > I think technique and boat handling can make up for a lot but obviously in lighter air lighter skippers have an advantage but as soon as the breeze is up they pay the price for being light. Everything is a trade off so who knows what is right.

P > Dubai is known to be a light wind venue. Will this affect the way you prepare for the worlds in 2010?

BG >  They said that about Weymouth, I can’t remember what happened there.  I have had one source tell me that it averaged 15 knots last march with good swell. So who knows, I am not into making major changes to my weight.

P > Who would you rate as the top moth sailor out there (apart from yourself!) and why?

BG >  Who ever is right in-front of me, or right next to me.  I don’t think I am any better than anyone else but, it was my day this summer.

P > Who would you say is most likely to contend for the 2010 moth world title?

BG > I don’t know how I could answer that. I’ll tell you the day before regatta starts.

P > What would you say are the qualities that are required to become a success in the moth class?

BG > You have to be willing to fix your own boat and put in the time and energy to go sailing in every condition you can.

P > How do you see the class developing from here having seen the media coverage and potential exposure from such high profile events?

BG > More people will be watching. It is interesting to see how many people actually recognize who I am, might have to get working on the beard again.   The moth is probably the most spectator friendly platform in sailing and I think as a class it will be good for us to continue to take advantage of it.  Rohan is working hard on having a grand prix circuit of sorts and I think if done properly it will be a great thing for both the sailors and the sponsors. That being said I am against it being a one design event.

P> What advice would you give to potential moth sailors who think it is too technical a boat to sail?

BG > It is not too technical of a boat. Sail with me or any of the guys in the fleet and I am sure they will be willing to help you get up to speed. If someone is not willing to help you,  come talk to me.  I will be more than happy to help. All you have to do is promise to go sailing with me.

P > What advice would you give to moth sailors wanting to improve?

BG > Never give up. The boat is just so much fun to sail. All you have to do is just do it!   We have the best boat in the world, and if you are breaking a lot of stuff it is because you are doing something wrong.

P > Finally, where to from here in the moth class for you?

BG >  Continue and keep sailing in the best class in the world.

Bora would also like to thank his sponsors:  CST, ZHIK, MACH2, KASAILS

Once again thanks to Bora for taking the time to do this.

Hi Simon,

Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Firstly congratulations on your recent success at the worlds in the Gorge. Now you’ve had time to reflect on the regatta, how did it go for you?

SP > Thanks. I was happy with a place just inside the top five. It was a windy event and I always knew it would be tough. I had a few bad races, but I had a couple of race wins too and that’s always nice. My weak area was starting really, I got buried too many times.

P. What lessons if any did you come away with from the event?

SP >  Altering the ride height to fly high upwind and then to push hard down is a must.  I couldn’t do it but, I will in future. Other than that I was reminded again of the importance of physical fitness, boat preparation and a “never give up” attitude.

P. Did you know before hand that the fleet would present such a high calibre of competition or were you taken by surprise?

SP > Oh yes, I know most of the guys already sailing and I’ve heard of most of the people about to come into the class. Let’s make no mistake, this event was way more competitive than any other Moth regatta. It probably was THE most competitive Moth regatta ever, despite its relatively small field.  I won the worlds in 06, but that doesn’t count for anything, it might as well have been a different class. It seems everyone in the top 20 has an impressive Olympic or International saiing CV. They are all nice guys too.

P. You proved you have an advantage in the lighter winds by winning two of the few light wind races during the regatta. Do you think the heavier sailors have an advantage in the stronger winds or is it a case of re calibrating your set up to compensate?

SP > We didn’t really have any light winds, however we certainly had a couple of races that were lighter than the others and were medium conditions, but never a race in say 10 knots where I may have had an advantage. Even the races I won I was going down the last run thinking “please don’t stack it”  I think the heavier sailors do have an advantage, just like any other class, but equally I don’t know any other class where the weight range varies from 82kg to 65 kg in the top five. Sure it’s a hindrance sometimes being light, but you can select your gear accordingly. Anyway its almost impossible for me to change so I don’t worry about it really.

P. At one point during the regatta, it looked as though you would have to pull out due to your knee injury. How did you turn that around?

SP > My knee got worse two days before the end. After the slalom racing it felt unstable, always like it was about to dislocate, maybe I hurt it on that funny capsize. Anyway I struggled on one day. The pain was bad, it kept locking and I just couldn’t get over the boat from port to starboard tack. When I capsized five times tacking I knew something was wrong. I didn’t complete the final race of that day. The doctor said it needed an operation but that I wouldn’t damage it anymore by sailing, so I got on with it with the help of some pain killers. I’m not alone, others had problems too.

P. Let’s talk about the Mach2. You sail the boat incredibly high on the foils. Is this down to having longer foils or is the boat setup that much better to allow control at that height?

SP > The rudders a bit longer than some other designs but it’s really the latter. Actually when you are in the boat you never feel that high, Its only when you see someone else sailing, or pictures that you know.

P. Early breakages aside, are you happy with the boat in general?

SP > Yes definitely. Sure we’ve had some breakages but the boat is at the bleeding edge of boat building, and the Moth class is the formula one of dinghy sailing. As sailors push the limits we as a class are always likely to get some sort of component failures. However to put 4 boats in the top five with a design that was only launched in 09 is incredible.

P. Without giving too much away, what do you think it is about the Mach2 that gives it the advantage over all of the other designs out there.

SP > Foil design taken to the next level, and foil construction from high modulus carbon with the resulting foil stiffness you get. Ever seen a Mach 2 from dead in front or dead behind? You never ever see the foils crossed up. Of course the control mechanisms work really well and they really are the easiest moth to sail. The rest of the boat isnt bad either!

P. Having you and Bora sailing them definitely shows that the design and setup is able to handle a wide range in terms of sailor weight. Do you think Amac has found the magic ingredient or do you think there is still a long way to go in terms of design and integration of all of the components?

SP > Sometimes I close my eyes and wonder what Moths will look like in another 25 years time. I’m sure they wont look like the boats of today, but for now this boat is a step on. Nothing comes for free, there is no magic bullet. This boat is faster purely because of the sheer hard work that Amac put into the design. I am probably one of the few people who really truly understand that.

P. Bora put his success down to his training partner and various other people who helped him become the world champion. Do you train alone or do you also have a team to help you with everything from motivation to boat preparation?

SP > Yeah this is an issue. I do train alone, we just aren’t at that stage yet in the UK. Fortunately Arnaud is hoping to come over for the winter and that will help me alot. My boat is sold and a new one is on order. I hope to be a bit more structured in the lead up to Dubai. Arnaud and I sail well together.

P. Having witnessed the jump in sailing standard at the worlds from just a year ago, how can we raise the game in the UK to increase the number of world class competitors?

SP > There are a lot of good things about the UK fleet. Lots of boats and great people but if we have a problem it’s that we only have only one guy who’s capable of doing it on the International stage at the moment. I’m not sure I see that changing in the short term unless we get some new entrants to the class. Having said that people sail for all sorts of reasons and who am I to criticize? Raising the game requires hard work, a structured programme and equipment development. Bora proved this. He worked harder than anyone else. Most of us don’t have that luxury. We certainly have the talent in the UK and other Moth fleets have the same issues, but the US and the Australians are doing well because of the Olympic guys who now sail moths.

P. What are your plans for the next year?

SP > I’m enjoying sailing my old yacht with my boys and not Moths right now, but next year I’d like to do both Dubai and Silvaplana

P. And finally, what advice would you give to any one coming in to the class?

SP > Its easy to say “buy the best kit you can afford” but even though you might not feel up to it, do go to the big events if you can. Nothing beats that kind of experience. Ask Andrew Friend and James Phare, two top guys with not a great deal of moth experience that I had the pleasure of travelling to the worlds with. They learnt so much and got to mix it with the best and accordingly some bits rub off.

P. Once again, thank you for sharing your experience with everyone.

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!)