News

February 16, 2008

Yesterday we brought you Jono Swain: the man. For today we’ve grilled Jono about racing, the boats and the team…

1. You’ve raced in many different classes. Has there been one boat you have loved more than any other?

Probably the Mumm 30, because it feels like a dinghy. Often, you can turn the equipment off and still sail the boat well and it’s small enough to make movement onboard quite easy. Also it’s a really fun boat… I’d say it’s one of my favourite boats.

2. How long have you been sailing in the Farr 40 class? What’s special about the Farr 40 class for you?

My first time in the Farr 40 class was back in 2002. I was with a winning boat, ‘Barking Mad’, and I learnt lots very quickly. We did 4 or 5 regattas that year.
If you see the way the class is managed and the way it’s run, then I think a lot of classes could look towards them. It’s a really successful class, and the one-design Farr 40 boat design is over 10 years old. It might not be the most exciting boat to sail, but when you have 20 or 30 other identical boats on the starting line it’s great.



3. In your opinion how “state of the art” is the Farr 40 Class? What’s the difference between a Farr 40 crew and a TP 52 crew?

First there’s the fact that you’re only allowed to take 4 professionals onboard a Farr 40, and with the TP52 there’s no limit. So on a TP52 you can load up the boat with the top guys and it’s a completely different concept, so it’s hard to compare the two.

With Farr 40 you’re looking at getting the best amateurs onboard. For us it’s a great platform, and I think Peter’s totally on the right track with his Farr 40 policy. It’s a great way to train up and try out sailors in the Mean Machine sailing platform. I think the fact that young talent is sailing in Mumm 30 and Farr 40 gives us an advantage when it comes to building up the Mean Machine reserve team for TP 52 and any other projects we do.

4. And what about the TP 52…what’s your best TP 52 memory from last season?

When we won 5 of the 7 races of the Portimao Trophy last season, with nice windy conditions, and some of the races with a big margin over the others.

5. In your opinion what is the most important part of a TP 52 and why?

The design – ha, ha, ha! Compared with the Farr 40 class where the differences can be marked by the crew and the sails, because the boats are so identical, with the TP 52 it’s the complete package: the best design, best crew and best sails, and also being ready before the start of the calendar, at 100%. I think it’s a quite difficult question to answer; Peter’s had the complete package for the last 2 seasons! You have to think that there are lots of variables in sailing that can ruin a performance in any race.


6. What’s more important if you want to reach the podium in the TP 52 Class – a good crew or a brand new boat?

Probably the boat – that’s if you really had to choose between the two. I do think a new boat can make a huge difference. I think if you want to win the MedCup Circuit you need to have a new boat, but if you want to make podium you can do it with a second-generation boat. You can’t sacrifice one or the other really and win.

7. In your opinion, how could the current MedCup be improved?

I think it’s pretty well run actually. Perhaps in terms of the Race Committee – I think we must have the same Race Committee for every event and perhaps they might make it easier to get to know the port and the team running the event. I think it’s probably the only area they could improve.



8. What sort of level of competition and what kind of level of Circuit do you think we’re going to see next year?

I think we are going to see a fewer boats, perhaps around 20. There’ll be some new ones, and some of the familiar faces coming back. I think some America’s Cup teams are going to have boats on the Circuit too. I think we are going to see an even higher level of competition in the Circuit, so it’ll be even better.

9. What’s more important to MM: confidence or efficiency?

Efficiency.

10. What is it like for you as a sailor to sail with other teams on other projects and then come back to Mean Machine?

Great. Peter’s fine about us going off and doing other things like Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup campaigns and coming back to the team.

11. What do you like most about your team?

The fact that we have been sailing together for a really long time, so we know each other really well, and we know how to work together as a team. That’s really important. This team is about compatibility and most of us have been sailing with Peter for a long time. Also this team is not just about racing – we love sitting down after a race, having a chat, having dinner together with a glass of wine and talking about the race, how to improve the boat, etc. Everyone’s opinion matters – everyone has a role to play and something to say!

Watch out next month for another in-depth interview with one of the Mean Machines…