Heather Macfarlane eyeing up 2022 Fireball Worlds

Heather Macfarlane & Chris Payne © Robin Inns

The Fireball World Championship is coming back to Victoria, Australia for the first time since January 1998. The event has been scheduled for February 2022 at Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC). RGYC are also running the 2018/19 Australian Fireball Championships in February 2019 as a warm up for the event.

One of the Victorian stalwarts, Heather Macfarlane, who is hoping to take on the strong overseas contingent in 2022, has just been named as a joint winner of Australian Sailing - Victoria Female Sailor of the Year, for her achievements in both the Tasar and Fireball classes. With all this in mind the International Fireball Association of Victoria (IFAV) decided to ask her a few questions to find out what makes her tick, and what is coming up on her sailing calendar.

IFAV: What was your first boat and how old were you?

HM: A sailfish. It was built by my uncle and I and my cousins had great fun over summer holidays sailing off McCrae. I think I was about 9.

IFAV: What is your greatest achievement in sailing?

HM: I have great memories of winning International week in Durban, South Africa. It was just before the first elections at the end of apartheid. I think the local press were stunned that 2 girls came 1st and 2nd: me and Liz Rushall (UK) with our husband-crews. Another great achievement was being on the podium at Lake Lipno (Czechoslovakia at the time) European Fireball championships in 1990. We drove through East Germany, just after the Berlin wall came down, to get there. The contrast and excitement of these countries to be getting a profile in the international sporting community after the isolation of earlier regimes made the vibe around the events super-charged.

I was stoked that we won the fireball nationals in 2017. It was a victory based on experience and participation I think. Certainly not on youth and strength!

IFAV: You have been sailing Fireballs for over 30 years and Tasars for almost 15 years. What is it about those classes that attract you?

HM: The Fireball is a great boat to sail, and the Tasar is nice and light to handle. I love the challenges (mental, physical and emotional) of sailing these boats. Most of all I love the company of fellow sailors.

IFAV: Who do you look up to in sailing?

HM: I am more influenced by people that I have interacted with compared to Olympic, AC and Volvo megastars of the sport. Four people of current influence on me are Mark Tonner-Joyce, Andrew Perry, Tom Burton and Chris Payne.

From a coaching perspective, in recent years Mark Tonner-Joyce has had a big influence on the way Chris and I train. And I think he is amazing to run training sessions for 20 – 30 people and everyone gets value from the session. Andrew Perry and John Dransfield (JD) were dominating fireballs early in my fireball sailing days and Andrew has been a great influence from the year he sailed with me and analysis discussions over the years. Tom Burton put on a super impressive display in the Laser medal race in Rio 2016 Olympics. It was great to sail against him in the Tasar. And of course – my crew and husband Chris. He listens and helps us adjust to the way I need to learn.

IFAV: What are your short term sailing plans?

HM: This year is based around the Fireballs with the UK Nationals in Penzance and the Worlds in Carnac, France in August. Over the Australian summer we will do the Tasar nationals in Largs Bay in South Australia followed by the Fireball nationals in February at Royal Geelong YC. I am really looking forward to the Fireball Nationals because RGYC are putting in a lot of work to make it a great event and to try out things for the Fireball Worlds in 2022.

IFAV: Have you ever done an Olympic campaign, and how did it go?

HM: I had two stabs at the Olympics – in the 470 and in the Yngling. I made a lifelong friend of Leslie Roberts from the 470. Neither attempt was successful. I learned a lot about teams, working with others and how to get assistance when you are not the sponsored Australian athlete.

IFAV: You have primarily sailed as a part of a mixed team and primarily as the skipper. Do you have any suggestions or advice for people who are looking at taking on the new mixed class at the 2024 Olympics?

HM: Over the years I have received a variety of attitudes from others to female helms, these include encouragement, non-discriminatory respect and "hating being beaten by a girl". Lap it all up, feed on the challenge and set new records :D. Have fun with it.

Things specific to being in a mixed crew:

• Finding a way to be comfortable about peeing in the presence of your mixed crew member makes for more comfortable sailing.
• Each of you will have different changing room conversations. Make time to follow up with your partner and exchange what you heard.

For anyone wanting information on the Fireball Australian Championships, please check out this page or the worlds at 2022.fireballworlds.com or contact IFAV at . Follow along on Instagram.