It’s a question everyone gets to ponder at some point. What would you do if you won the lottery and were suddenly unconstrained by budget? I have seen many individuals agonise over this and witnessed committed couples get into intense arguments over how their respective lives would be changed by the proverbial ‘golden ticket’.
I generally find though that when ‘the question’ gets asked of a bunch of racing sailors the responses are significantly less contentious. I think this is because, for a racing sailor, the question of what you would do if you suddenly became fabulously rich, actually translates as which boat (or more realistically, boats) would you spend your endless leisure time racing if money were no object.
Having mulled it over on many occasions, I already know in some considerable detail what my plan would be.
First up, I would join the happy band of owner drivers in the 52 Super Series and RC44 Cup. I have spent plenty of time around both of these circuits and I have always secretly pictured myself on the tiller / behind the wheel. If I close my eyes I can picture myself clearly: the Mediterranean glinting off my Kaenon sunglasses, head cocked slightly to the side in concentration, while in front of me a melee of highly paid professionals whirrs into expert action as I bear away smoothly around the top mark with an impressive three length gap ahead of the fiercely chasing pack.
On the subject of the tranche of professional sailors I would need to hire to ensure we are at least in with a shout of winning races from time to time (and maybe even an event or two) my primary selection criteria here would be mostly based on who I felt like I could have the most fun with. I do not want to hire the world’s best tactician only to find they spend the bulk of the regatta in a sulk because I did not get off the line properly or could not hold my lane on the first beat forcing us to tack away and destroy his carefully constructed master plan. The smartest of the pro sailors in the grand prix owner driver classes know all too well that they are hired not just for their sailing prowess but for their understanding that their primary responsibility is to ensure the owner (and his friends) have a good time. Happily for newly minted lottery winners like me there are plenty of them out there to choose from.
