14 Questions to … Flavio Castro

Flavio Castro, from Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Brazilian National Champion, crewing for Mateus Tavares.

– 1) Your first time on a sailing boat?

I was 16 when I was in a boat for the first time, in 2004, in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro. My uncle bought a Ranger 22, and he asked me for a ride. At first, I rejected the invitation, saying I didn’t like it because sailing boat was slow and I liked speed, motorboats and adrenaline. But he convinced me to go and the first day we caught a wind around 16 knots and I ended up falling in love with the sport at this first experience.

– 2) Your first time on a Snipe?

My first time in a Snipe was at the 2008 Rio de Janeiro´s State Championship at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Me and my crew at the time (Roberto Freire) used to sail Lasers and we borrowed a boat to join the championship. We managed to finish one of the races inside top five inside so many good and experienced people in the class. At this moment, I realized that Snipe was the class I would sail more often in the future.

– 3) The most bizarre thing that happened in a regatta?

I think it was in the Brazilian Laser´s Nationals in 2007, in Brasilia, the wind always changed direction and the CR had to change the course marks. At one point, there was an island of sand in the middle of the course. So, you couldn’t see the windward mark from the leeward mark.

– 4) What is the thing that most angers you in a race/regatta?

When people do not respect the rules.

– 5) Which is the race/regatta that you remember with the most pleasure?

It was in the Octanorm Cup 2015, 56 boats in the water, I was crewing for Breno Bianchi and we won the first race with more than 2 minutes to second place. Of course, there’s another race I’ll never forget now, the last race of the Brazilian championship in Salvador 2020. At the end of the last downwind leg, the shackle of the mainsheet ratchet block at the boom let loose and we made the last windward leg with the mainsheet directly from the end of the boom. Luckily, Mateus Tavares (helmsman) is a strong guy and he managed to take the boat to the end, finishing the race in 7th place. This was enough to win my first Brazilian Championship.

– 6) And the race/regatta you would like to forget?

My memory is selective; all I can remember is the good ones.

– 7) Your “dream in the peak”? (Your sailing dream?)

For sure, the great dream is to continue sailing snipesfor many years, as well as the great masters I have at the club: Ivan Pimentel and Paulo Santos. That way, I keep learning more and more.

– 8) Sailing goals for 2020, and beyond?

For 2020, after the conquest of the Brazilian, the main objective became the Snipe Master´s World in the USA. For the future, the goal is to continue in the snipe class,learning and trying to keep at a good level of competition.

– 9) The most important people for you in sailing and in the Snipe?

That’s the hardest question to answer, as there are many people who have been and are important in all these years. But I’m going to highlight three of them. Fernando Madureira who called me to be his crew in my first Snipe Worlds in Rio de Janeiro 2013. Breno Bianchi, who has been my helmsman since 2014 and Luiz Felipe Caneppa, who always wants to discuss and invent new things to do on the boat.

– 10) Why the Snipe?

Because it is a large class, and it is quite competitive in Brazil. Besides that, the atmosphere between the races is always fun. Serious sailing, serious fun.

– 11) Your perfect sailing venue and your perfect sailing conditions?

My favorite place to sail is in Cabo Frio, north coast of Rio de Janeiro. And the ideal conditions are with winds of 10-12knots with wave and shifty winds.

– 12)Besides sailing which other sport do you practice?

Currently I have not practiced any sport alongside to sailing. When I had more time, I liked to play futevôlei (Volleyball with foot).

– 13) Are you superstitious?

No

– 14) Your perfect holiday?

A perfect holiday for me is, undoubtedly, includesraces with good disputes and, then, fraternizing with friends and girlfriend drinking beer to “hydrate” after 1. I was 16 when I was in a boat for the first time, in 2004, in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro. My uncle bought a Ranger 22, and he asked me for a ride. At first, I rejected the invitation, saying I didn’t like it because sailing boat was slow and I liked speed, motorboats and adrenaline. But he convinced me to go and the first day we caught a wind around 16 knots and I ended up falling in love with the sport at this first experience.