Mariquita Book - mk2.5

Mikaël Créac’h
Rival
It is difficult, in just a few lines, to summarise these incredible
years of regattas with the Mariquita and her crew. It goes well
beyond anything I had experienced before – beyond a simple
duel on the water. More a combat that took place on land,
in order to convey the spirit of a bygone era: those maritime
codes of ethics, traditions embodied by classic boats such as
Mariquita and Moonbeam IV. Each of us had an equal desire
to outgun the other, to pass on the tradition, to demand the
best of the crew, so that they could, in turn, also uphold those
codes.
I have been sailing since my earliest childhood when I started
learning the ropes on my father’s fishing boat in Brittany.
Obviously, I had no idea of what was going to happen to me
so many years in the future – of what I was going to feel. For
me, the Mariquita is not only the opponent to beat, I have
learned more than I could ever have wished by sailing in such
company – vastly beyond the well-known Franco-British
maritime rivalry.
First of all, the Mariquita became an example for me under
the command of Jim Thom. I refined my outlook on the
classic races, became more demanding – more aware of the job
that had been entrusted to me. Observing, analysing … long
periods sitting on the bridge of the Moonbeam IV in the port,
watching ‘my neighbour’: the details of the Mariquita, its crew
at work, their reactions, their relationships. All these details,
details which sometimes altered my way of doing things. I owe
a lot to Jim. Without knowing it, he made me look at my
own way of running these boats. In particular, I learned how to
take the best from how others work, without altering one’s own
intrinsic style, but taking from others in order to progress and
try to excel. This mix has been beneficial to me and I believe
that now, starting on my 10th year on the Moonbeam IV, I
have found a good balance as captain, to lead a crew on this
type of yacht in the best possible way.
And then the crew changed on the Mariquita. It is never easy
to take over the command when you are following a sailor who
has made history. The torch has been passed on to George, and
John and his friends have become the happy owners. This is a
challenge for both parties. As for me, I am analysing it all! And
I am telling myself that we have an advantage at the present
time. It’s the second season for George as boss, even though he
knows the boat well, taking over the captaincy of it is not the
same story and new owners who are surely going to take some
time to understand the boat.
History has proved me wrong … Right from the first season,
this new pairing has led me a merry dance! Obviously to my
great joy … First of all, we have got closer together – something
I had not managed to do with Jim. So, I was able to meet
the new crew, the men against whom we were going to race.
Friendship very quickly prevailed and this new alliance has
once again given me the chance to learn and progress. Don’t
we get to know our rival better by having a few beers with him?
I discovered a new Mariquita … a different competitor. While
retaining the ethos of which I spoke earlier, now carried on by
George, the Mariquita had changed! I had met the opponent
who most resembled me: John … courteous and polite. John
… a hard taskmaster, a person who does not let anything pass!
An astonishing cocktail which makes for the perfect competitor
on the water.
These past three years’ sailing with the Mariquita have been
incredible, magic … hard, sometimes taking me to the utmost
limits. No gifts, no excuses … no mistakes. Once again, I
have made progress; it turned out that John was an excellent
helmsman, a helmsman who doesn’t break under pressure,
who fully commits. So, again, I took my lesson ‘from the other
man’. No, no excuses! It’s the best man who wins the day.
And these victories have been shared. The Mariquita and
Moonbeam IV are the very epitome of all a yachtsman dreams
of – to lose or win for the sake of a few seconds, in close touch
… always. Without this rapport, there is no regatta! A good
example is that of the Panerai in Mahón. Three days of sailing
various laps, whilst being less than 100 metres from each other
for hours and hours. For me, these images represent a dream
come true … actually reliving a King’s Cup! My only wish now
would be to encounter the Mariquita in Mediterranean waters
again … Not just to have a few beers with George, John and
the crew – and to talk about the past! No, not just that. My
dream is of tightly tacking combats … of long tacks under a
billowing sail … of priorities ripped away. Some words stronger
than others, when it gets to the utmost limit.
The voice of John yelling out at the first initial sighting of the
preliminary start of the regatta:
‘BONJOUR ... MES AMIS FRANÇAIS!’
So, if the cold waters of the north which I know so well are
starting to get to you, I will give you a date here and now for a
second round in a few years, so that we can check that what I
am writing today … is indeed still true!
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