Bundock and Forbes – Olympics and beyond

by Di Pearson on 12 Nov 2003 When John Forbes joined forces with his skipper, Darren Bundock, on the Olympic class Tornado catamaran in 1995, he never dreamed the partnership would take him this far, in terms of years or achievements. He is still bemused by their outstanding successes and spoke to Sail-World on the eve of ISAF’s announcement of the winner of the prestigious ‘ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award’; of which he and Bundock are nominees in the Male section of an exceedingly tough field that includes Russell Coutts, who can claim the America’s Cup amongst his many victories and Neville Crichton, winner of line honours with Alfa Romeo in every single event he has contested in the past year.

Forbes told me of he and Bundock’s partnership, why they are so successful, their aims for the upcoming Olympic Games and his life beyond 2004.

‘I never dreamed in a million years that I would hold six world titles in the Tornado class. I remember saying how great it would be to own two of those titles, because only seven other guys in the class had won twice. Then I had three, I was the first to win three, then four, and it just kept coming. I still find it hard to believe I have six – I think Robert Scheidt, the Brazilian Laser sailor, is the only other sailor to hold six titles.’

The rise of Forbes’ Tornado career started with his former skipper, Mitch Booth, under the tutelage of Australian coach, Mike Fletcher, the result a Bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. The pair split in less than pleasant circumstances in the lead up to the 1996 Olympics, Booth got the Olympic spot and the Silver medal.

‘I noticed Darren in early 1995, he was competing against Mitch and I and it was his first major Tornado regatta and he was good – I could see he could sail, he was a natural. He had no money and I thought if he could give us a run with no money, and we had the money, then he would be good.

Getting together with Bundy was the best thing I ever did. We have been a partnership for nine years now. When we started, I already had two World titles and one Olympic medal. Since then, we have won four World championships together, and at the Sydney 2000 Games, we won the Silver medal. We have won so many titles and awards for which we both feel privileged. I suppose if I had a goal now, it is to win the Gold medal at the Athens Games – then I’ll have one of each colour!

Mike Fletcher is instrumental in our career – we really click. He doesn’t say a lot, just looks at the little things that make it much better. He could make any boat go better, whether it’s a sabot, a 49er, a Tornado, or a yacht, it doesn’t matter. Sometimes it something as small as a batten – he’ll say ‘just shorten it a bit, or just tighten it,’ and it always works – always. Or it may be a case of ‘I don’t think you guys should go out today, go and do something else.’ He just knows, he knows how you’re feeling, reads your mind, he just knows what’s right for us.

I am surprised I am still doing this after so long. I never thought 10-12 years later I would still be here, but a couple of new leases of life have kept me going. One was to sail with Bundy. At the beginning of our partnership I tended to take care of the logistics; accommodation, housing of the boats, both here and overseas, funding etc., but since Sydney 2000, Bundy has taken it over, so that was another lease of life.

Adding the spinnaker to the boat was another new lease, it was like sailing a completely different boat, like starting over again, it’s turned out awesome, but we were scared in the beginning – we thought adding the spinnaker would make things expensive, because when you change the spinnaker, you have to make other adjustments too. Bundy and I worked out a few good things when we got the spinnaker, like the self tacking system, and the spinnaker sock system, which we adapted from the 49er, now everyone is using them, and now it’s great fun to sail.

Darren and I have time apart too, he goes of and does other catamaran events with other crews, while I try to work and spend time with my family, my wife Caroline and daughters Teigan (5) and Bronte (2). People ask if it takes time for Bundy and I to get back into the swing of things after time away, but no, it just all falls back into place. Fletch always thinks that’s funny.

A lot of our success comes from Spain in 1992.

Roland Gaebler (German Tornado sailor) got us into the scene. He said when you are competing at big events around the world, you have to take time out to have a look at the country you are in, go with some of the other sailors and that way you see interesting things, stay fresh and make life-long friends, and it’s so true, a lot of sailors don't take those opportunities, I used to be the same, and you really miss out. It’s what is called the true Olympic spirit and it goes a long way towards the end result.’

Bundock, who turns 33 in March, and Forbes who will be 34 in January, train with the top ranked Greek pairing, Iordanis ‘Dennis’ Paschalides and Christos Garefis and the Germany’s
Roland Gaebler and Gunnar Struckmann.

I asked Forbes how that works; the Germans would likely be a major threat in the Olympic medal stakes, Gaebler having won the Bronze medal in Sydney, while the Greeks have lifted from obscurity to a top 30 ranking and are getting better all the time.

‘That’s what I mean by Olympic spirit. Roland decided to call it quits after Sydney 2000, he had actually gone back to his farm in Denmark, but made a comeback as he felt there was nobody else who could take their place. I didn’t think they could do it, it isn’t that easy to get fit and up to scratch again, but they did. With Dennis and Christos, they just needed good people to train with to get them better. We are all really close friends.

I’m not worried if they beat us for Gold or Silver, better them than anyone else. It’s enough to know they are good honest guys, they are our friends and that we helped each other. At the end of the day, you just have to believe in yourself and your own ability. Bundy and I felt we got two medals at Sydney 2000 – us Silver, Gaebler Bronze – it would be great if all three of us got a medal this time.

It’s a friendship thing for us – we do everything together, organise accommodation, shipping boats, the whole logistics thing, it’s all part of making our performance better.’

And after Athens?

‘This is the first time in 16 years I have thought ‘I am absolutely stopping international competition’. I need to go back to work. My dad runs the family business – MPD Dairy Products. Dad’s been at it for 25 years and he wants to do other things, so I have to step up to the plate – and that’s where my future has always been – sailing is just an expensive hobby.

I have been very lucky, when I am away the other five employees can’t take holidays, and I am away a lot. They have really stuck by me, so now I will give something back. Darren and I have been planning my retirement for seven month’s now, we all know there are only ten month’s to go now. I don’t think I’ll miss the circuit – I’ve already bought my retirement boat, and of course it’s a catamaran!

Darren will have a bit of a break then continue on the international scene. We are currently preparing for him to end up with the base, the equipment etc.

Right now we are training and looking to Athens - they have fantastic race management and a great venue in place – it’s so big you need a bike to get around it

Following Australian selection early next year of the team to represent at Athens 2004, year we go to Europe for their season, including the Worlds and other big regattas, where we’ll face all the best Tornado sailors in the world, including those vying for Olympic selection, then we move to Athens for training prior to the Olympic Games.

Caroline, Teigan and Bronte will t