Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 728x90

Happy Hour with Stretch & Stir Fry Episode 1: Ian Walker MBE

by Stretch & Stir Fry 16 Apr 2020 16:00 UTC
Ian Walker's Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing win the Volvo Ocean Race © Matt Knighton / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race

NEW from the Global Sailing Network! Happy Hour with Stretch and Stir Fry...

Each week we will welcome a world class sailor to give Stretch and Stir Fry (two sailing legends) their views on sailing whilst telling us a few yarns, giving you a light-hearted insight to their world and lives before offering their more serious thoughts on the latest news and also the big issues in sailing.

Whilst we are no longer allowed on the water, consider this to be a great chance to sit back, crack open a bottle of rum or rose and enjoy the ramblings of two hosts whose conversational shortcomings will hopefully be rescued by their stellar list of sailing hero guests.

To lead you to the start line, you will have to put up with Stretch, an overly tall sailor, who has managed to be the handbrake on some of the world's finest racing yachts, but his lack of sailing prowess and 'pod know how' will hopefully be rescued by his multi talented co-host Stir Fry.

For those of you who don't know Stir Fry's sailing background, he is a true sailing all-rounder with 15 world championships to his name. He has won in the Etchells, J24, Melges 24 and TP52 as well as more recently back to back Dragon World Titles. He has raced for the Louis Vuitton Series at the America's Cup and finished runner up in the '92 Olympic trials. He is not just an inshore softy though, as he has also managed to be a Fastnet, Middle Sea, Giraglia and Tour de France a la Voile winner.

Our first guest for Happy Hour is Ian Walker MBE. Current RYA director of racing. He really has done it all, winning two Olympic silver medals in both the 470 and the Star. More recently he won the Volvo Ocean Race with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.We hope that you enjoy listening to Ian - his insight and passion for sailing is fascinating as he covers everything from youth sailing, Olympics, Volvo Ocean Race, Admirals Cup, most fun sailing moments and of course West Ham Football Club... Ian has very strong opinions on nearly everything in life, which makes him a hugely compelling guest to listen to. British Sailing is so lucky to have him operating at its core.

Related Articles

Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted today at 5:39 am
Project FEAR is in the final few days
Charity circumnavigation almost over, in record time, with a record total raised Jazz Turner is expected to reach home (Brighton Marina) on Monday 30th June or Tuesday 1st July. She has sailed round the British Isles - all round Ireland and the Shetland Islands - without any assistance in 27 days so far. Posted on 28 Jun
A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more... Posted on 25 Jun
Project FEAR turns southwards
Charity circumnavigation progress report from the Shetland Islands Last month I didn't even know that Muckle Flugga existed. Yet today, the very name of the island brought tears of emotion to my eyes, as I heard Jazz Turner scream it out in victory, in a video she took when passing the lighthouse. Posted on 22 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom. Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season. Posted on 15 Jun
The oldest video footage of Kiel Week
A look back into our video archive at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s In our series of articles looking back in time through our video archive, we visit Germany. Kiel Week is been a crucial event on the world circuit, and here we look back at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s. Posted on 15 Jun
Jazz Turner's fundraising target is smashed
Already £30k raised for Sailability, so it's time to up the ante Jazz Turner has now passed the northern-most tip of Ireland and is on her way to the Shetland Islands, and at the same time her fundraising total of £30,000 has been smashed! Posted on 15 Jun
Nick Olson on PredictWind's newest features
Nick Olson discusses PredictWind's newest features PredictWind has long been a leader in presenting high-quality marine forecasts. Nick Olson discusses the company's newest features. Posted on 12 Jun
PredictWind - Routing 728x90 BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTERMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM