14 Questions to … César Travado

César Travado, Snipe coach and sailor, 2006 European Champion with Pablo Fresneda

– 1) Your first time on a sailing boat?

I started sailing in Optimist when I was 8 years old. But I didn´t like too much that thing of going alone in a boat so after one or two years I jumped to the Cadet Class as crew.

– 2) Your first time on a Snipe?

At 11 – 12 years old with Javier Contreras in a Snipe local race.

Some years after, my uncle Manuel Bernal (Snipe World Champion 1975) crewed for me in a regional race but I could not be attending to the race. I was only focused in what he was doing with vang, jib sheet, jib halyard…and I forgot the other boats in the race! He showed me how the snipe works.

The first serious race was in 1989 with Carlos Llamas when I was 16. He gave me a second chance in 1993 and we were sailing together until 1998.

– 3) The most bizarre thing that happened in a regatta?

I actually don´t remember anything bizarre. Everything is part of the game.

– 4) What is the thing that most angers you in a race/regatta?

When we lose a race for our mistakes and don´t pay attention to the little details that make the difference.

– 5) Which is the race/regatta that you remember with the most pleasure?

Snipe Spanish National Championship 2004 with Pablo Fresneda. It was the first race we sailed together and we finished second, one point behind the first (Negrín). In that event, I realized that Pablo and me were the perfect team and we could reach great success.

– 6) And the race/regatta you would like to forget?

Snipe Worlds 2007 in Oporto. We sailed the two first races with a set of sails we never tried before. We changed the sails for the last race and we won. Since then, one question has gone around in my mind: What would have happened if we’d sailed with our sails from the beginning? That´s the worst thing: to live with this question the rest of my life.

– 7) Your “dream in the peak”? (Your sailing dream?)

To continue coaching young people and get the satisfaction of work well done.

– 8) Sailing goals for 2013, and beyond?

Junior Worlds in Brazil (we won 2011 in Denmark) and the Senior Worlds in future (maybe as a coach).

– 9) The most important people for you in sailing and in the Snipe?

At the top of my list, my uncle Manuel Bernal for teaching me in Optimist, Cadet and Snipe.

Also the Fresneda brothers. Pablo because we got to a moment when we didn´t need to talk in the boat; with only looking at him I knew what was happening in his mind.

Alejandro Fresneda, for his support in every situation, for having the ability to demonstrate that he is the number one as crew or skipper and is tireless in looking to be the best.

More than a person, I don´t want to forget the Málaga Snipe Fleet. Skippers like Gancedo, Haenelt, Góngora, Wizner, Contreras…all of them were the mirror to look at for how to do the things to be the best.

– 10) Why the Snipe?

In my club, tradition. But the Snipe is the best boat to educate sailors coming from the Optimist and to teach how a boat sails. After the Snipe, if they want, they can sail in any other boat with no problems.

– 11) Your perfect sailing venue and your perfect sailing conditions?

Venue and racing area: Santiago de la Ribera (Murcia). Great people and great sailing conditions. I prefer strong wind but not big waves.

– 12) Besides sailing which other sport do you practice?

A few weeks ago, I started running but not with a lot of excitement.

– 13) Are you superstitious?

I wouldn´t define myself as superstitious. I like to have the same time table (no matter the level of the race). Wake up at 07.30. Breakfast at 07.45. Club at 08.30. The same for my boys. The only thing I require of my boys is to leave the boat inshore with the bow pointing to the racing area during the night. Maybe this is a way to be confident that the day will be a great day.

– 14) Your perfect holiday?

A not high level Snipe race (no stress) with my wife in any place where we can also be tourists.