Interview with the European Champion

Raul de Valenzuela Santaella, 2012 and 2014 European Champion

– 1) Last August you won your second European Championship. What is the difference between the Europeans in Cervia and the last one in Kamien Pomorski?

The difference with the European Championship in Cervia is very large, the level of my preparation was not as I’d like, back injury, my work with the Club and the new boat Zeltic have greatly complicated my preparation for this championship. The pressure for being the reigning European champions makes you compete in another way, the rivals recognize you and is harder to race.

– 2) Do you think it was an advantage to sail as current European Champion, or was it more difficult?

I think this second Championship was a little harder than in Italy, harsh weather, difficult race course and the high level of participants have made it very difficult to win it again, I think the key was consistency, since long time, I tend to be a very regular sailor, I always try not to take too many risks in my racing.

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– 3) How did you prepare and train for the Europeans?

Phew, it’s very difficult to have time for training. As you say working with Optimist sailors of my Club of Almeria, also I have a nautical shop, so my time is short. What we do is to meet at noon to sail from 14.00 to 17.00, or in the morning at 8:30 or late when the sun allows. Combined with the physical preparation in the Gym. It is complicated, especially because of my job I don’t have a chance to race much during the year, I limit myself to making the national championship and other international championships. In that sense I take advantage of my opponents. So the last days of the championship for me are the best, I feel very comfortable on the last day.

– 4) Your crew Antolin Alejandre won the Junior Europeans as skipper a week before the Senior Europeans. And you helped him as coach. Do you think it was an advantage for you guys being on the water, studying the race area, sailing and coaching a week before the Seniors?

I don’t think so, the Junior Championship had little to be compared with the Senior Championship. The wind and the intensity of the competition was different. What it made us take advantage we had was the desire to win 2 of 2 championships, had suffered a lot to get there with options to retain the title. As you know Antolin worked hard physically and mentally to endure 2 Championships. I was glad for him, he is a tireless worker and passionate about this sport so wonderful.

– 5) Can you describe your regatta and how you managed the 5 days of sailing?

The race began with many questions for us, we changed boats to a Zeltic and tuning the boat was hard. The first day we had a lot of wind and the settings of the boat weren’t as we like, and for us it was very hard. The other days I saw that they were going to beat opponents to make mistakes and that we were still there in the fight, the 4th day I think that was the key to the race day. In all races we did not start well, but just in the top positions, I think it made me doubt my opponents, the last race of the day with 2nd place I got back into the fight, urging me on to win. The last day we went out to water the water convinced we would. I felt great on the boat. I felt it very fast, we went all upwind we caught all shifts, we anticipated to run, well … for lack of a race was European champion but not all, I needed to beat Tinoco (I do not like the idea a Brazilian sailor winning in Europe), so the last race we went all out, risked everything I could and eventually won the final. The final emotion was incredible, and I think still excited. Thank you very much to all !!!!

– 6) Did you have a coach during the Europeans?

No, I don’ have a coach, unfortunately. I think the figure of a coach is very important to win. For the Worlds in Italy will try to bring a coach to help us. It is very difficult to win without anyone to help you at certain times.

– 7) Did you expect the prevalent strong winds during the Championship or it was a “surprise”?

I hoped for medium wind, winds not as strong as in some races. I’m a sailor and I want to see all kinds of wind at a championship, but i think in the end the best sailor wins.

– 8) Can you describe your equipment (boat, mast, sails) that you used in Kamien Pomorski? Secret numbers?

Since 2014 I decided to sail a Zeltic, the idea of winning with 2 different brands I really wanted and created for me a special motivation. The mast is a standard Sidewinder, the Sidewinder boom. Rudder: Polcar Patin, Zeltic daggerboard, sails: Pires de Lima OMd: RVM, RVJ. I think that can be our secret, we developed shapes for my way of sailing, working a lot with my designer and sailmaker Fran Ramirez, we developed models for certain wind conditions, which helps me a lot.

– 9) Which was the most important factor for the victory of the Europeans?

Consistency

– 10) Your programs for the future?

I would like like to do intensive training with sailors from the Snipe class to raise even more the level in Europe, as you know, for years we failed to bring a World Championship to Europe. If we join our strengths and knowledge, i’m sure we can get it.

My first goal is to win the Spanish Nationals and prepare well for the World Championship in Italy.