14 Questions to … Harri Palm/Molly Kurvink

Harri Palm and Molly Kurvink have been sailing the Snipe together for a very long time. For the past two years, they've been practicing with Team Canada in the lead-up to the Pan Am Games Trials, working with coach Thomas Fogh. They recently took a break from a great winter of iceboating to thaw out at the 2015 Midwinter Circuit events in Clearwater and Miami. 1. Your first time in a sailing boat? Harri-1966, Optis at a Cub Scout camp north of Montreal, Quebec. Molly-1972 Grampian 26, deck ape racing in Sarnia Ont. 2. Your first time in a Snipe? Harri-1967, Hawksbill Yacht Club, Freeport, Grand Bahama. Deck-stepped masts, pivot rudders and centreboards, all-up weight of 425 lbs. Molly-Guelph Lake 1980. Harri had just driven to Calgary and back in a Volkswagen micro bus to pick up the boat from his dad. He blew an engine on the way home and replaced it on the side of the road in Marathon, Ontario (by himself). 3. The most bizarre thing that happened in a regatta? Harri-Two way tie for this one. Both at the same regatta (2014 Snipe North Americans, Cottage Park YC, Boston MA).     

14 Questions to … Harri Palm/Molly Kurvink Image

Harri Palm and Molly Kurvink have been sailing the Snipe together for a very long time. For the past two years, they’ve been practicing with Team Canada in the lead-up to the Pan Am Games Trials, working with coach Thomas Fogh. They recently took a break from a great winter of iceboating to thaw out at the 2015 Midwinter Circuit events in Clearwater and Miami.

1. Your first time in a sailing boat?

Harri-1966, Optis at a Cub Scout camp north of Montreal, Quebec. Molly-1972 Grampian 26, deck ape racing in Sarnia Ont.

2. Your first time in a Snipe?

Harri-1967, Hawksbill Yacht Club, Freeport, Grand Bahama. Deck-stepped masts, pivot rudders and centreboards, all-up weight of 425 lbs. Molly-Guelph Lake 1980. Harri had just driven to Calgary and back in a Volkswagen micro bus to pick up the boat from his dad. He blew an engine on the way home and replaced it on the side of the road in Marathon, Ontario (by himself).

3. The most bizarre thing that happened in a regatta?

Harri-Two way tie for this one. Both at the same regatta (2014 Snipe North Americans, Cottage Park YC, Boston MA).     

a. Molly and I were approaching the very busy finish line with boats all around us. Suddenly we got hit with the worst autotack/header ever. Molly was suddenly out of the boat hanging on by a jibsheet. I managed to stay in and crack all the sails but the boat kept going over. It was now clear the puff was coming straight down. It was a downdraft from a jet taking off from Logan. We somehow didn’t capsize and finished. In spite of being in a crowd of about five boats, we were the only ones that got hit.                                                                                                                         
b.  In another race we were sailing upwind when out of nowhere we noticed a fishing line on our bow. I figure “no problem, it will eventually snap”. Not so. It was 200 pound test monofilament. It just continued creeping up the bow until eventually it was shoulder height on the forestay and now stretched across a long way off in both directions. It also caught two other Snipes on either side of us. One of them (Steve Braverman) suddenly yells “There are hooks!”. He had huge hooks hanging head height in his boat. Molly first tried to bite the line to cut it but it was too strong. By this point all three boats are now slowing down. Then Molly remembered she had a knife in her lifejacket and cut the line, just before Steve and his crew were impaled by the giant tackle. After a sigh of relief we all sailed on. (Steve’s redress was denied.)

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

Harri-Slam tacking when it is not necessary or advantageous. Molly-getting up early and bad road coffee.

5. Which is the race/regatta you remember with the most pleasure?

Harri-The first ever 1973 Snipe Junior Worlds in San Remo, Italy. On our own in Italy and sailing Snipes at 17 years old. Total blast. Finished in the top 15 as well. Molly-2003 Snipe Worlds, Landskrona, Sweden. I made Harri keep going way past what he thought was the layline. At the windward mark, there was a twenty boat pile up on the mark caused by current; we just sailed right by with two inches to spare.

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

Harri-1975 Snipe Junior Worlds in Kokkola, Finland. Our charter boat leaked like a sieve and with the racecourse really far from the club, we were full of water by the time the start gun went. We finished second to last. Very humbling as Kokkola is where my family is from and everyone knew me.
Molly-2014 Snipe Canadians, in Hamilton. My mom was in the hospital, and I cried all the way from the finish line to the start line after every race. We called it the “weeping leg”.

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

Sailing from Toronto, Canada to Kokkola, Finland and spending some time at my family’s seaside cottage.

8. Sailing goals for 2015, and beyond?

Harri-Win the Canadian Pan Am spot in May. Molly-same

9. The most important people for you in sailing, and in the Snipe?

Harri-Hans Fogh, a great man, friend and mentor. I miss him. Id Crook, who encouraged me to stay in the Snipe and help keep the class alive in my hometown of Guelph. Miss him too. Thomas Fogh, who in two years has taught me more about racing (and myself) than I can ever imagine. He is also the first and only coach I’ve ever had. Really nice guy, too. Molly- Thomas has been super. So has Alexandre Tinoco. Peter Commette has been very helpful to us Canadians. Also Dirk Kneulman.  And I want to mention all the kids that we taught to sail. I feel amazing when I see them racing Snipes. And also their families who stand behind us all, being a great shore crew.

10. Why the Snipe?

Harri-I’ve been sailing them since I was 11 and they are, simply, part of me. I’ve sailed lots of other classes but the Snipe is the one that does it for me. Molly-Because Harri sails them.

11. Your perfect sailing venue and your perfect conditions?

Harri-East shore of Georgian Bay (Lake Huron) near Squaw Island, early August, 18C, mix of sun and cloud, two day old NW wind at 12knots, waves at .75 meters. Molly-I have to agree with Harri.

12. Besides sailing, what other sports do you practice?

Harri-Hockey, winter camping, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, iceboating, fishing. Molly-iceboating, fishing, snowshoeing, off-road biking.

13. Are you superstitious?

Harri-Nope. Molly- I like to keep an eye on my mojo.

14. Your perfect holiday?

Both-Our cottage, anytime of the year.

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