INTERVIEW
Richard Schuurmans
Interview by Brian Bissell

Twelve year old Richard Schuurmans, sailing with a North P5,
placed third at the 2010 Optimist Team Trials and qualifies
for the Optimist World Team.

This year's Team Trials had a full range of wind and wave conditions.
Which conditions do you like the most?

Richard: I liked the heavier conditions because it tests one's strength and stamina.

Being from the Houston area, did you feel like you had an advantage sailing in your home waters?

Richard: I think that I had a small advantage because I lived there almost my entire life. But the funny thing is that I figured out most of the stuff shiftwise when practicing the Sunday before Team Trials, I never really paid much attention before.

You're only 12 years old and making the World Team is quite an ccomplishment.  What were your goals going into this event?

Richard: My goal was to make Worlds but I got a little doubtful after sailing the first race because I immediately had my throw-out. But my cliff bars kept me focused.

Tell us a little about your preparation for this event.  What did your training schedule/program look like?

Richard: I practiced with the national team two weekends before team Trials, and the weekend before team trials plus the day before team trials with my Coach Allan Coutts.. I was in bed by 9:30 each and every night and woke up at 6:30 in the morning so I could just lay in bed and think about the day.

You recently started using the North P5.  What was it about this sail, that you decided it was the right sail for you?

Richard: Well I have been sailing the J-sail for two years and it was a good sail in light breeze. But in the heavy it was too powerful for me. I needed a sail that was good in all conditions because the wind is like that in Houston. So I tried the P4 but it didn't have enough power so I went with the P5 and it was perfect!

You might be the lightest sailor to qualify for the 2010 World Team and we saw some breezy conditions at the Trials.  What tips can you give other sailors using the P5.  What did you do to depower?  What mast rake were you sailing at?

Richard: Well for other sailors with the P5 it is more of a speed sail then a pointing sail so don’t pinch your boat, otherwise it will stall out. To depower I didn’t really touch anything except the mast rake, sprit, and outhaul but most of my adjustments were on my mast rake. My mast rake was at 112 and a half in medium light, 111 and a half in medium heavy, and 111 in heavy.

How will you prepare for the upcoming World Championship?

Richard: Stay healthy, be careful not to get injured and take a shot for malaria to get into Malaysia :)

Give us three of the biggest factors to your sailing success.

Richard: Eating enough (cliff bars), getting enough sleep, starting.

Thanks again for doing this interview with us. Good luck with your upcoming events and keep up the good sailing.

Richard uses North mainsail!

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