by MK
Last year’s Barcolana winner, philanthropist Wendy Schmidt, who in honor of her victory as both the first woman and the first American to win the world’s largest sailing competition, made a donation of US $100,000 in support of the Marine Biodiversity Center’s (BioMa) educational outreach and conservation efforts, is back in Trieste. We seized the opportunity to talk sailing and tomorrow’s regatta predictions.
You’re back in Trieste after the victory of last year’s Barcolana. Do you wish you were racing this year as well?
WS: It is quite fascinating to see the race ahead, and the lead up to it, from the point of view of being a spectator instead of a competitor. I was aware of all the energy around this event last year, but as a team we were so focused on the upcoming race, we were in an entirely different frame of mind. I’m enjoying the celebration in a new way. I have the fondest memories of Trieste during our week here in 2022 and it’s wonderful to see how the community here not only supports friends and family who are racing, but also how they feel attached, from wherever they stand, to the experience of being on the water. If everyone on Earth could understand that simple connection, everything would change for the better. When the Ocean wins, we all win.
Your generous donation to the BioMa in honor of your victory has made a big difference. Are you happy with the results?
WS: The results of our contribution to the BioMa are only the beginning of what will resonate for the future in the lives of local young people, who have been involved in a program that gives a voice to their concerns for Ocean health, and helps them to share what they learn with each other and with the public.I also hope we set an example for regattas everywhere. When you win a trophy, it’s important to give something back to the place that supplied the environment for your sport and to recognize we can all be part of the solution for what challenges the Ocean, and stop being part of the problem. Taking steps to reduce our waste on land, to electrify our transportation, to avoid unnecessary packaging will go a long way to changing the way humans interact with Ocean systems.
It starts at home. With the Ocean covering 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, a determined focus on restoring Ocean health will help us improve so many systems on land, as well.
As an experienced sailor, what are your tips for the sailors tomorrow with little to no wind in the forecast?
WS: The beautiful thing about the Barcolana is that people participate in the race for so many reasons, with most of them never expecting to win. They race to be a part of the race. They race to celebrate their love of sailing, or of simply being on the water. Some teams race primarily to compete, to succeed over the finish line in a struggle against other boats, but whatever the outcome, they are also there, in a way, just to be a part of the whole. It’s such a spectacle of willing participants, unlike anything in the world, and it feels special just to be a part of something that grew so organically and means so much to the people living in this community.So the conditions of the race course for Barcolana 55 will favor some boats over others, and very light winds won’t help the larger, heavier boats in the way it may favor lighter boats of all sizes. The important challenge for everyone is to look for that clean breeze to fill their sails, although it will be a long day without wind. We were so lucky last year to have The Bora fill in with such steady pressure, where our biggest challenge was managing the big gusts that arrived on the final reach to the finish line, feeling the rig fully loaded, and praying nothing would break in the final minutes.
When will we see the Deep Blue back racing?
Our team loved sailing in The Barcolana 54. While I have a very busy calendar personally, professionally, and with our sailing team, we have noted the dates of Barcolana 56 in 2024. If we can make it happen, we will.
