14 Questions to … Zbigniew Rakocy

Zbigniew Rakocy, European Secretary, from Poland

– 1) Your first time on a sailing boat?

I was 12-13 years old when my younger brother and I started to learn sailing in the Cadet class. Before that, as a kid, I was really into constructing model sailing boats. I think I still have some of them hidden somewhere in in the attic …

– 2) Your first time on a Snipe?

I was about 40 then. The Snipe class first appeared in Poland after the WWII but it practically stopped its activity in 1960s. I think that to some extent the reasons for it might have been political: Snipe is an American class so it was frowned upon and not really promoted by the Communist regime. After the system transformation in 1989 together with my colleagues we came up with an idea to reactivate it. Gladly, we were successful and managed to rebuild it in late 1990s. It was possible thanks to Matilde and Jacques Romain, a French couple, who helped us a lot.

 

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

I am a very rational person and I always take life as it is. I don’t think something bizarre has happened to me; I don’t believe in miracles. I believe in hard, systematic work.

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

A low number of participants in regattas- there is no real competition then.

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

I have very good memories of 2004 European Championship in the Bay of Biscay. The conditions there were really harsh: strong wind and 8 meters high waves..

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

I would like to forget all the events during which there was no wind and the champions were rather accidental.

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

Sailing around the world with a pack of good friends.

– 8) Sailing goals for 2013, and beyond?

To participate in several regattas in Europe and Poland – probably European Masters in Bracciano.

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

Our Commodore – Don Bedford – in my opinion a visionary who gave a new lease of life to the class; the Crook family, Bibi Juetz, and somebody I owe a lot personally- Giorgio Brezich, finally, Stefano Longhi who played the function of ES before me and handed over all the duties to me in a very friendly and cooperative way.

– 10) Why the Snipe?

I take Snipe really personally and emotionally; we practically rebuilt the class in Poland from scratch, created the structures. For many years I have played the function of the class President in Poland. Now I am also active at the European level. I try hard to make our motto central during all regattas. All events organized by the Polish Snipe Association are always accompanied by a range of entertainment events- we want everybody to have good fun.

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

Waters with short waves and strong wind, for example, the Gulf of Gdańsk or the Kamieńska Bay in Poland, near the German border where the next European Championship will take place..

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

In winter I practice DN ice sailing. I also love to discover first signs of spring during my quad escapades.

– 13) Are you superstitious?

Not really. But in Poland, when we begin a race instead of saying “good luck” we wish sailors “to have a foot of water under the keel”.

– 14) Your perfect holiday?

The perfect holiday for me sounds like a week of sailing on a big yacht with a group of friends – mobile phones prohibited. I have been doing it for years and still after a week like that I always come back relaxed and full of beans.