60 SECOND INTERVIEW WITH 2001 US SAILING MEN’S NATIONAL CHAMPION TOM BAKER
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We recently had a chance to chat with Tom Baker about his part in the 2001 Mallory Championship. Tom is one of NOYC’s brightest stars. He has been very active in three out of four of NOYC’s last Challenge Cup victories. Tom also was a major team player and leader in NOYC’s last two big Lipton wins. With out a doubt, Tom Baker is one of the most sought after crews in the GYA.
NOYC.org: You just won your third US Sailing Men’s National Championship as crew, how does it feel?
TB: Second actually, once with Benz and once with Brock Dave Bolyard has won four and three in a row…which I believe is record tying.
NOYC.org: What was your role on the boat and how was racing with Dave Bolyard & Brock Schmidt?
TB: Brock drove and wrestled with the traveler. Dave was the speed merchant and I did foredeck and tactics. Dave & I also collaborated in the arguing duties and putting Brock down for no good reasons.
NOYC.org: Who is stronger you or Bolyard?
TB: Bolyard is 400 lbs of whoop-ass in a 200 lb bag. I think I’m just the opposite.
NOYC.org: Could you out thumb wrestle Bolyard?
TB: With proper training and coaching, undoubtedly.
NOYC.org: Obviously, you had a lot of talent on the boat, but tell us a little bit about how you guys qualified and prepared for this regatta.
TB: Brock and I actually beat Dave Bolyard in the quarter’s, and in a fit of mercy, we took him along to Charleston for the semi’s where we tied David Dabney. David Dabney was just starting a new job (sailing team coach at the College of Charleston) and couldn’t go. As far as prepping, we sailed a couple of local regattas and Brock sailed during the week with the Adams chicks. We prepared adequately.
NOYC.org: The boat selection was J/22’s this year, what do you think about these boats?
TB: I’m not that fond of the boats themselves….but this is one of those classes where the talent is, so that makes them ok. I might add that Rush Creek broke out the good stuff as far as loaner boats, Rob Johnstone’s & Kelson’s boat etc…which made it real nice.
NOYC.org: You have put a lot of time in these J/22’s in the last three years, can you share a few go fast tips or tricks with us or how you figured these boats out?
TB: Not really, I only drove a J/22 in the 2000 mid-winters. Everything I know I learned from you. Oh, and Gilbert once demonstrated the destructive capabilities of the spinnaker pole…and that has come in handy (note: Gilbert once ate a spinnaker pole after hoisting in 20 knots of breeze at J/22 mid-winters and took a mouth full of stitches …in a seventy-five boat fleet…they were in the top ten…. & TB was nice enough to drop out)
NOYC.org: You seem to focus the most of your racing on one-design classes, with most of the talent going in the Melges 24 class, do you see your self getting involved in a program or buying into one of these new classes?
TB:V-15’s if anything, although that violates rule #1 "Don’t own a boat!"
NOYC.org: Is there anyone that comes to mind that helped shape you as a sailor or mentored you along the way?
TB: Truthfully, Andy Barnes, my junior instructor back in Waukeegan, IL. He won the Thistle NA’s a couple of times, I think? Surely, he doesn’t remember who the hell I am…and I might add that he was quite handy with the ladies.
NOYC.org: I have had the pleasure of racing with you on at least a half dozen different occasions. Some of the things that come to mind that may describe your sailing personality are: Easily excitable, intense, competitive, sarcastic, damn near crazy, humorous, ferocious, incredible attention span & occasionally mean. Your thoughts….or how you would describe your sailing personality?
TB: Certainly, many of those observations are specific to your presence. Luther Carpenter (Olympic Sailing Coach), once gave me and I subsequently lost, an industrial sticker that read: HEARING PROTECTION REQUIRED WHILE OPERATING. Maybe, John Dane III’s crew stole it!
NOYC.org: Why are you so sought after as crew?
TB: I show up on time and prepared.
NOYC.org: Wow, TB, you’ve now won two US Sailing Men’s National Championships as crew, what would you consider your biggest sailing accomplishment?
TB: Any one of the few times I beat Nancy Haberland as a junior.
NOYC.org: Can you commit to sail for NOYC’s 2002 Challenge Cup Team.
TB: If Hampton runs SYC’s team, we can probably mail it in. Other wise, I am working on a "super-cheater-boat" – but that’s classified.
NOYC.org: Tom, thanks for making time for this interview, any parting thoughts?
TB: Yeah, who the hell cuts your hair?
-steinkamp
