60 SECOND INTERVIEW WITH
NOYC’S BEST WEDNESDAY NIGHT
RACER RYAN BANCROFT
We recently spoke with Ryan Bancroft about his part in winning almost every Wednesday night race he entered this year. Ryan is definitely one of NOYC’s most improved racers. He has been very active in J-22’s since the boats inception. He sailed in the very first J-22 race on Lake Pontchartrain when six j-22’s were brought to Sail LA at South Shore Harbor. He has played a big part in three out of four of NOYC’s last Challenge Cup victories. With out a doubt, Ryan Bancroft is one of the fiercest weekend & Wednesday night warriors you can sail against.
NOYC.org: RB, you have just about won every twilight race you entered this year. Why does this boat perform so well?
RB: Our boats dry sailed, and in good shape… I really have great crew in Gilbert & John McLaughlin. These guys are great sailors and have really improved our consistency. Throw Down also seems to like the light air reaches that these Wednesday night races offer.
NOYC.org: You haven’t been quite so successful in the J-22 one design fleet, but definitely improving. What’s going on here?
RB: PHRF is easy; there aren’t a whole lot of well-prepared boats in the slower rated classes any more. In one design, I have had a pretty good year so far, I’m very pleased…I broke into the top three at Summer on the Coast in a 18-boat fleet and won the School’s Out Regatta. I agree that I have improved, but I think our entire local fleet is improving…I expect members of Fleet 46 to do much better in the 2002 J-22 Mid Winters…half of the top ten finishers could very well be locals this year.
NOYC.org: Rumor has it you are going to make a run at LPRC this year with Throw Down. What’s the story? Spinnaker or Non Spinnaker?
RB: If I get the stanchions, bow pulpit, lifelines and motor bracket on I will race non-spinnaker. I’m not going trophy hunting or anything; I’m just looking forward to being on the water, on my own boat and having a good time. Going Non-spinnaker will allow me to sail short handed with as few as two and that makes it easy as far as planning.
NOYC.org: Could you beat Harry Lee in a fifty-yard dash?
RB: Depends on whether I had waffles or Wheaties that morning.
NOYC.org: Do you believe all that Subway crap with Jarrod?
RB: I’d prefer not to comment on this, but if I was a betting man, I’d bet he had a personal trainer, liposuction and does Slim Fast twice a day.
NOYC.org: Why does THROW DOWN RULE?
RB: Good driving, good crew work and a well-prepared boat. Every one of the people that I sail with can perform every position on the boat. Each one of us can trim, drive or do foredeck…It makes it easy if someone no-shows. Plus Gilbert & I have been sailing together for fifteen plus years… we work well together.
NOYC.org: What makes Gilbert so damn good?
RB: His incredible fashion sense, you never know what this guy is going to wear…he once wore blue jeans and a T-shirt to an Uptown Baptism! I’d venture to say, with out a doubt, that he is the best damn sailor in St. Bernard Parish (maybe best dressed also…click here for (GILBERT’s HOUSE OF FASHION). But truthfully, the sails go up and down…&… in and out just like there suppose to….he does this as good, and possibly better than anyone I know.
NOYC.org: What is your dreamboat or more practically, your next boat?
RB: I’m looking to get into a J-27…it’s a bigger version of the J-22 and its performance is very similar.
NOYC.org: This boat only gives the J-30 six seconds a mile in GYA PHRF, in most parts of the country it rates 12 seconds a mile faster than the J-30, are you worried that they’ll change the J-27’s rating if you buy one?
RB: No … not worried…but I’m sure that it will be reviewed.
NOYC.org: You have a lot of time in sailing catamarans, do you miss them? Why are there so few in this town?
RB: I miss the laid back, get drunk on the beach, and sleep in your car atmosphere of catamaran sailing. In catamaran sailing, the racing part is just something you do between tapping kegs…and I miss that lifestyle. Not enough beaches in this town for a good catamaran fleet.
NOYC.org: Is there anyone that comes to mind that helped shape you as a sailor or mentored you along the way?
RB: This is my favorite part of NOYC.org interviews…it really is a great question (compared to some of the others)! My boat partner in Throw Down and great friend Charlie Dupin, practically adopted or took me under his wings around age 14. Charlie took me along to several big regatta’s and gave me a lot of responsibility. With out Charlie’s mentoring and kindness, I wouldn’t have been exposed to all the sailing that he let me tag along for…(If you see this…Thanks, Charlie)
NOYC.org: Can you commit yet to NOYC’s 2002 Challenge Cup Team?
RB: Sure, if I can drive Zephyr
NOYC.org: RB, thanks for making time for NOYC.org, any parting comments or thoughts?
RB: Yeah, do you think you can beat Harry Lee in a fifty-yard dash?
-steinkamp
