60 SECONDS WITH 2003 MALLORY CHAMPION
Zachary Maxwell Fanberg
We recently had a chance to catch up with 2003 U.S. Sailing Men’s Champion Zak Fanberg. Zak is a Midwesterner who recently relocated to the Deep South and rose to the top of the local Gulf Coast sailing scene. Zak is a graduate of the College of Charleston and was an Honorable Mention All American in 2001.
NOYC.org: Zak, thanks for making time for us here. How did you get involved with sailboat racing?
ZMF esq.: I grew up in Wayzata, MN and learned to sail X-boats, Lasers, and Scows on Lake Minnetonka. I taught sailing at LMSS for a number of years and am a former member of the Minnetonka Yacht Club and the Inland Lake Yachting Association.
NOYC.org: What are some of your biggest sailing accomplishments or titles both nationally and locally?
ZMF esq.: I was the 1992 X-boat Junior Champ (This is a bid deal, I swear), Silver Medal 98 US Youth Champs (Laser), 7th, 4th in US Junior Champs in 97 and 98 (Laser), 3rd 2002 J/22 Midwinters. I also finished 6th place in the College Single-handed Nationals twice. I finished 4th at College Team Racing Nationals in 2001 with Kippy Chamberlain, Sarah Taylor, Marcus, Emily (Sarah’s sister) and Nate Hollerbach, and I almost forgot 2003 Mallory’s. On the local level, I finished 2nd place in 4th race of Liptons 2002, this year at Lipton’s, I crewed for Sanders and won race 1and crewed for Eugene Schmitt and got 2nd in race 3. In big boats, I ride the rail on No Fear. Only title I hold hmmm …Mr.
NOYC.org: Describe your ladder events to the finals of the Mallory’s.
ZMF esq.: Quarterfinals: Flying Scots in Mobile. It was very windy the first day, we sailed against Marcus, Dave Bolyard, Benz Faget, David Blouin. Won first three races, Second day much lighter, Marcus won both races, while we got two seconds. I drove, Eugene did middle, Kippy foredeck.
Semi Finals: Lake Norman in Highlanders. First boat we had came equipped with a detachable swim ladder, very nice!! Breeze was very light with tons of chop, we were the lightest team. I sailed horribly. We’d get to the weather mark in 3rd or 4th but then we would be winning by the leeward mark. In the second race we sailed by the finish line because we thought we had to go around again. We heard a gun from behind us and had to pop the chute and sail back down. That was fun.
Finals: It was very windy the first day. The second and third race they put up the X flag (No spinnakers). That made it easier on Eugene’s hands at least. We sailed very well even though we were over powered much of the time. We were only winning at the first mark once or twice the whole regatta but we had excellent boat handling downwind and we always moved up on the second beats. Lake Norman is very shifty and fluky, Eugene and Kippy did a great job calling shifts and keeping an eye out on where the competition was. We tried to sail our own race and not worry about covering any particular boat. If you got zoned in on a boat behind you, you would miss three or four shifts. Kippy and Eugene were great, I’m not the easiest person to sail with and they did a good job of keeping my head in the game. I’d like to take a moment to formally apologize for calling both Kippy and Eugene “Little Monkeys” after one particular mark rounding.
NOYC.org: Do you plan on defending your title next year?
ZMF esq.: It’s up to Kippy and Eugene. I would happily crew for one of them next year. I’d like to take a crack at the Prince of Whales and the Hinman also.NOYC.org: How long have the three of you been sailing together?
ZMF esq.: I’ve sailed with Kippy since college off and on. Eugene and I just started sailing together at the quarterfinals. Kippy and I crewed for Eugene in race # 3 of the Liptons. I didn’t make the team as skipper, I sucked.
NOYC.org.: What is the true story of Zak versus Gilly in the parking lot of the Checkmate Lounge? Who really won?
ZMF esq.: I won, no matter what any witnesses say.
NOYC.org: Eugene just recently got married. Kippy is about to get married. Zak, when do you take the plunge?
ZMF esq.: What’s that, I didn’t hear the question.
NOYC.org: Moving on…Who’s a better singer: Zak, Gilly, or Clifford the Big Red Dog?
ZMF esq.: I am. Just ask Gilly, he officially relinquished the rights to sing Sweet Caroline at the Good Life to me.
NOYC.org: Dream Boat?
ZMF esq.: Lund with a 9.5 horse Evinrude. NOYC.org note (they use these to catch Walleye, Pike &Muskellunge)
NOYC.org: You seem pretty laid back for a Yankee, what do you attribute this to?
ZMF esq.: I’m a half wit.
NOYC.org.: What boat should replace the Scot as the new GYA boat, or should it not change?
ZMF esq.: An E-Scow definitely!!!!
NOYC.org.: Have you ever left work early to go cruising for chicks with your J/22 m.f.o’s when the local all girls high schools let out?
ZMF esq.: Yes, three times, all unsuccessful.NOYC.org: Are there any other boats other than the Highlander and Flying Scot that might sail better without spreaders and a backstay?
ZMF esq.: A Highlander has Jack stays, please do full research before your next interview.
NOYC.org: Is it true that you only turned to sailing after a failed karaoke career?
ZMF esq.: No, because my Karaoke career has never failed. In fact, I am in my prime. Just ask the regulars at the Good Life.
NOYC.org: When the water is 65 degrees, air temperature at 65 degrees and humidity is at 65% is it OK for southerners to call that Frostbiting?
ZMF esq.: Frostbiting is sailing a Laser in Annapolis in March when it’s 40 degrees and raining, you can’t feel your hands for the entire first race. Frostbiting is when you finish the first race and look around and see everyone crying, holding their hands while the blood finally decides to return. So to answer your question, no, you wuss that is not frostbiting.
NOYC.org: Word has it, that you won’t put your game face on unless your driving, any truth to this?  Why won’t you take crewing more seriously? Are you a one dimensional sailor? Driver Only?
ZMF esq.: That is definitely false, just ask Peter and Keith. So what if when I crewed for Keith once in a Lipton qualifier and got so sick of him making references to the Tack Tic… when the breeze was coming from the south and shifting 25 degrees …I didn’t quite secure the thing down… and now it is calling shifts from 10 feet below the surface!!! Other than that, I think I’m a good crew.
NOYC.org.: How does the New Orleans and Gulf Coast racing scene compare to Minnesota sailing?
ZMF esq.: The season is a lot longer. I think they take it more seriously up North because they can’t do it year round. The regattas are a little more intense because nobody wants to wait another 8 months to have a chance to win. Down here, you have stuff going on all the time.
NOYC.org.: How do you motivate your female crew to hike so hard in puffs?
ZMF esq.: You mean Eugene? I just elbow him in the chest and push him out as far as he will go. No seriously, Sarah’s the best crew in the world. I’ve learned a ton from her when it comes to dinghy sailing and boathandling. She really has it nailed down.
NOYC.org.: Why do you post messages under the handle Hootie on the message board?
ZMF esq.: No Comment.
NOYC.org.: Thanks for making time for NOYC.org, any closing comments?
ZMF esq.: No, No, No Thank youuuuu, I’m officially out of words. I would like to thank my crew Eugene and Kippy for putting up with me and for doing such a good job.
-Brandon
