Pierrick Contin
It turns out the Melges 24 is quite a physical boat.
After sailing for six days in a row (one more to go), I think everyone here is a little dinged up. I can see a lot of bruises similar to mine when I walk down the dock. My crew has been counting down the beats. It started at 24, now down to 4.
The hiking is a little brutal on the Melges 24, requiring you to bend over the lifeline and extend your upper body out. But while I may complain about the physical toll it is taking on my aging body, I also think having an athletic aspect to the game is really good. I think it is healthy that you can work harder, whether hiking upwind or working the boat downwind, and your physicality can make a big difference in the result.
Sailing is thought of as a cerebral sport, and that is true and a good thing, but it is also a real sport, certainly at the Melges 24 Worlds, and I’m happy about that, too, even if I have to go to physical therapy next week. We intend to leave it all on the race course on Saturday, physically and mentally. Maximum effort, here we go.
