14 Questions to … Ulrik Sandvig

Ulrik Sandvig, Norwegian Snipe Champion

– 1) Your first time on a sailing boat?

Sailboat holiday with my parents, I think it was my first ever summer (1980), so I probably was 8 months or so.

– 2) Your first time on a Snipe?

My father and I borrowed the snipe of a friend of my father. The wind was light and I remember I felt the boat was fast and responsive upwind. I think it was spring in 1997, the year my sister Heidi and I started racing snipes and sailboats in general. Thanks to our national secretary Birger Jansen, who was enthusiastic and encouraging, we ended up racing a lot right from the start.

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

– Hard to say. I have experinced a lot of strange conditions, like planing on mirror-like water. And many interesting situations when the current has been way too strong in light wind making boats go backwards on the course. I think what has felt most bizarre at time of incident are strange actions of regatta staff, like starting starting procedure with the starting line pointing straight into the wind, or starting towing the topmark upwind when boats are about to round it…

 

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

I can get very angry at myself if I make stupid mistakes like forgetting to keep track of laylines etc.

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

Hard to say, I remember a lot of regattas with great pleasure. Maybe the 1998 Norwegian Nationals. I sailed with my sister and we improved 50 places from the year before! Or the Europeans in 2004 when Steffen and I placed fourth

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

A race at the Europeans in Norway. We had a bad race and were exhausted when we reached the top mark/finishing line. After 10sec or so we realised there was one more lap left …

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

I once dreamt about becoming a world champion, but time passes and it doesnt seem very realistic anymore.

– 8) Sailing goals for 2014, and beyond?

Tanya and I are expecting a daughter in March, so I will sail a bit less in 2014. I do not have any big goals, but I always try to improve, and starting and downwind wave sailing are areas I will focus on.

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

The people that have been most important through the years are for sure my crews: Heidi Sandvig, Steffen Skjoenberg, Janett Krefting, Henrik Grythe, Tanya Ferner Heglund and Morten Røisland. And then my father, also a keen sailor, and Birger Jansen.

– 10) Why the Snipe?

My sister and I wanted to start sailboat racing, we were 15 and 17, so a bit old juniors. We considered the Laser 3000, but bought a used snipe as we had a great fleet close by and because the snipe wasn’t a boat we would grow out of.

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

I like sailing venues where there is only a short sail out to the course, and where its not always the same side of the course that is favoured. I like challenging conditions with shifty wind and maybe current, and wind stronger than 2m/s … But I like to do well, so it all depends on the competition …

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

Windsurfing and skiing.

– 13) Are you superstitious?

No. But maybe it seems so sometimes, as I can be very focused on details that probably aren’t important, like the length of telltales, but I dont like to change anything before important races if I dont believe it is an improvement …

– 14) Your perfect holiday?

Windsurfing holiday with my wife (and crew) Tanya.