Q&A with Jason Waterhouse
I interviewed Jason Waterhouse on his current Olympic campaign and of course we went for his experience on the A-Class debut at Bordeaux, where he finished second behind Glenn Ashby.
Glenn has been dominating the A-Class for years now and Jason is willing to challenge him, he will receive soon his own A in Australia to start his training for Punta Ala 2015 Worlds, showing he got hooked sailing & racing in the Class. Image: Paula Kopylowicz.
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Q&A Jason Waterhouse
- With all your double handed racing background you went to Bordeaux A-Class Euros for a first big event in the As, where you finished 2nd only behind Ashby. What was that experience and adapting to race solo?
JW - It was great and the transition to solo racing wasn’t too hard I think I just came into the Class at the right time with foiling still in the early stages of development and only Glenn having it somewhat mastered.
I’m a very natural sailor and rely a lot on feel to perform and the A gives a lot of feed back which I enjoy.
How about the foiling? I saw in the water foiling flat stable with the Exploder, still the best foiling I've seen yet Live.
JW - I loved foiling, I really enjoy challenges and this was one of them. Such an amazing new dynamic added to our sport can’t wait for my Exploder to arrive in AUS soon.
- In how much wind you foil at Bordeaux?
JW - Really hard to say was foiling at around 7-8 knots but to make good gains i think the Exploder foils needed around 9-10.
- New foils setups are a little bit draggy, at Bordeaux we had 5knot racing , but you managed as others to maintain a top 5 result at any time. Which are your thoughts on the class development? This current all weather solution might be refined or you think a more open setups are needed?
JW - Again tricky question we had some really interesting races in the light breeze against sailors with straight foils who were miles in front at some stages but with the foils all it takes is 1 puff and the game changes.
I like the rule the way it is that's just a personal feeling, with the foils not having self regulated height control it really makes it physical and technically challenging which I love.
I think if you open the rule up even more the divide between the non-foiling and foiling boats will widen further. The problem the A class fleet has is with foils developing so radically it is both exciting and harmful as youths are now hesitant to enter the class but hopefully the designers will find the golden goose of foils within the rule and youths can be confident there not making a bad investment when entering the class. That's my thoughts anyway.
- Speaking of foil setup, does the N17 racing might benefit from adding winglets for 2020? Or we need to remain somehow a wild ride where achieving handling control pays in final speed?
JW - I reckon keep the winglets off otherwise wheres the fun or go full foiling like the Nacra F20 that would make things interesting.
- More AClass racing in Schedule for you?
JW - A-For sure I have an Exploder on its way to Australia so I can start training for the next World Championships in Italy in September next year I think its time someone gave Ashby a real run for his money and I want that to be me. The problem I have is finding time to train whilst competing for an Olympic spot….tough life :)
