Interview with Hamish Pepper- 'Where to from here?
by Sail-World on 20 Nov 2006
Hmaish Pepper and Carl Williams competing in the 2006 Star class North Americans - another strong light airs performance. Fried Elliott
http://www.friedbits.com
Hamish Pepper and Carl Williams created Star class history when they won the North American Championships on Saturday.
Although the Kiwi duo are the seventh crew to win both the World Championships and North Americans in the same year, they are the first to win it in their rookie year in the Olympic class.
Sail-World spoke to Hamish Pepper soon after his win was confirmed on Saturday.
Looking back on the three days of racing, how did it go?
Pepper: 'This regatta we felt we had great speed upwind. It wasn’t totally tricky conditions an on the first day we felt we had a good handle on what the breeze was doing and the predictions. Obviously we had a great day on the first couple of races.
'On the second day we had a third and a seventh which probably should have been a third as well. So we were happy on that day that we were going fast.
'We didn’t get off the start line as well some people. But we were pretty low risk as well
'We just wanted to have a nice safe lane, with clear water, without being fouled or having a really bad start.
'Today we didn’t have such a good start, but were able to go the way we wanted to go and there was a lane open for us, which only ourselves and the Canadian (Hans Fogh) took the opportunity and we got a big lead, and then we got past Fogh, and we went on to win the race today, as well. So we were pretty happy.
How were the conditions generally over the regatta?
Pepper: 'Today was light about 4-7kts. The first day was 8-11kts and the second day was 8-30kts in the thunderstorms. But for the majority of the two races that day it was 8-14kts average.
'It was probably a little lighter than San Francisco. We seem to be going quite well in the light to medium stuff at this stage.
'In the fresh air in Race 4, we were going good. On that day we felt we had great boatspeed. We didn’t hit the start as well as some others due to the bias on the line. But we were always clawing back. Right now we feel our speed is as good as Xavier (Rohart) and Freddie Loof, Andy Horton and all the top guys. So it is very pleasing at this stage of the game.'
What changes have you made since the Worlds?
Pepper 'Nothing. We are using exactly the same sails as San Francisco. We just packed the boat up, it got delivered here, we unpacked it and went sailing. We haven’t changed anything. We certainly feel that we can have a better boat, which is why we are building a new boat. But this boat still seems to be going very, very well.
' From here, I go back to Valencia for the next couple of days.. Then I go to Italy, to Lake Como where Lillia have their factory. So I will be basing myself there for about three weeks for the build o f the new boat just to make sure it is done right, and how we want it all. Make sure we get that little extra touch.
'The new boat will then go back to Valencia. But Carl and I won’t sail it there.
'I may try and do some training with some people and start tuning that boat as much as possible. My next regatta will be in March at the Lake Garda Expert regatta. But from here on, Carl is committed to the next America’s Cup so I will have to employ some people to sail with me. David Giles (former world champion and Olympic bronze medallist) is excellent. He is 'Mr Star Man' and is excellent to work with.'
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