14 Questions to … Kai Saarhelo

Kai Saarhelo from Pori, Finland

– 1) Your first time on a sailing boat?

I guess it was sometime in 1968. Trying an Optimist on a small lake.

– 2) Your first time on a Snipe?

Our family started with the Pori Snipe Fleet in 1977, without any previous experience in sailing. I was already 15 years old. You can imagine it took a moment to learn all these strange names: jib, main, boom, sheet, bailer, cunningham etc.

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

Those who have visited Pori (for example at Europeans 2006) remember that the next shore is in Sweden. After a couple of days of heavy western winds the waves can be as big as a multi-storey house. Once again in those early years it was blowing like hell at the Pori Open Championship regatta. Our experience and skills were almost zero. We had huge problems to stop sailing downwind at the mark – our Snipe was almost flying over the waves, and the rocky shore was getting closer and closer… Finally we managed to turn back with dry foot.

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

Well, I must say cheating and dishonesty during regattas is what angers me most. Same applies to pre and post regatta happenings. We are using many hours in championship regattas to check the boats and sails on shore but there are many other places where one can cheat and behave badly. I hope we all can work on it. What made me very angry was to wait eight months to get an indemnity compensation from the Italian insurance company after having contact with another boat at the Masters Europeans in August 2013.

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

For me Snipe sailing is not only racing. I have spent hours and hours in organizational matters to arrange background conditions are working properly for serious fun and serious sailing. I had the pleasure to participate in the organizing committee work of the European Championship 2006 in Pori as project manager and national secretary. Afterwards I calculated more than 1000 e-mails from my mailbox. I’m happy to see how well YC BSF regatta team could play the same tune during the regatta week.

2012 was special. I managed to win the Finnish Championships with my crew Jaakko Mikkonen, Ranking series and Croatian Masters titles.

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

Luckily I cannot recall any. Naturally there are many regattas without any big success. I joke often after international events, for example in Poland, that it has taken 40 brave Europeans to beat me.

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

I am always in a hurry. Too much work and too few days reserved for sailing. Part of the challenge is our short sailing season here in Finland, and finally to find time both for my Maestro 38 and Snipe. Therefore, the sailing dream is finally Peaceful Easy Feeling on the waters.

– 8) Sailing goals for 2015, and beyond?

I once had a slogan on the car rear window: “Sailing – Life time sport.” High and mighty umbrella view is to keep the body and mind in good sailing condition for the rest of my life. For season 2015 it would be perfect to win the Finnish title and participate in the Worlds in Italy.

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

There are many inspiring people in the Class but I name here two of them. My Dad guided me and my brother in the secrets of Snipe. I’m still sailing with him in big boats at the age of 77. Roger Nylund has been another big inspiration and help during my National secretary period 2000-2007, especially with my webmaster challenges at our site www.snipe.fi.

– 10) Why the Snipe?

Great boat, great people. Nothing more, nothing less. There is an interesting history behind it, internationally and locally. Our history book project “The land of thousand Snipes – Snipe sailing in Finland since 1947” has finally opened my eyes to see all the fun and joy the boat and the class has given to so many people including me. Thank you guys!

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

Personally I like heavy conditions to give a challenge – riding with the waves downwind and fighting to upper mark. Finnish Champs last summer in Kotka were pretty close to ideal, 10 m/s, 25 degrees and good waves. First regatta I ever have sailed without shoes.

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

Sports gives me a lot of pleasure. The list is long but here are few of them: played 20 years football (soccer), now jogging, biking, skiing cross country, going to the gym. Started also orienteering some years ago.

– 13) Are you superstitious?

No.

– 14) Your perfect holiday?

As I stated earlier, it would be pretty close to a perfect holiday being able to reach that peaceful easy feeling. Hurry to nowhere, sun is shining, good racing or cruising conditions, alternatively spring time in Lapland, lots of snow and sunshine in one of the last wild resorts in Europe.