NOYC.org – With regards to racing the Open 50 and the MINI, what are the campaigns that you want to take on over the next few years?
Finn – After much consideration I am prepared to focus almost exclusively on the Mini for the next couple of years. The Open 50’ is a wonderful boat and I have learned a lot about sailing swing keel/water ballasted boats since joining Kip Stone and the ArtForms team over a year ago. As much as I’d like to move into the larger Open Classes such as the 50’s and 60’s I am still a long way off from finding the sort of funding required for such a project. As it stands now, I have a proven Mini design and several years to train leading up to 2009 Mini Transat. This is a race I feel like I have to do.
NOYC.org – How has that MINI performed out on the Lake?
Finn – She has performed surprisingly well for her 21’ length and PHRF rating of 75. So far we have only done three Wednesday night races and in two of those we’ve scored 3rd and 1st in fleet. What we know is that she is very fast on light air reaches with the code zero and she cannot come close to her rating upwind in anything. These are the only conditions we’ve had the opportunity to race in so far. There is still a tremendous amount to learn about making the boat fast and reliable, which Clark Thompson and I will be working on leading up to the 2007 Bermuda 1-2.
NOYC.org – What exactly is Ryan Finn Ocean Racing going to be working on up at Annapolis?
Finn – We will be there to drum up excitement about Mini racing in the States, my campaign and the Owen/Clarke production Mini that we plan to build here in New Orleans.
NOYC.org – How best would you describe the racing atmosphere outside of the States?
Finn – Much, much better, in every class. At least in Europe. From shorthanded ocean racing to small boat one design, the Europeans are much farther ahead in the game of commercializing sailing.
NOYC.org – Has NOYC approached you about using the MINI for Challenge Cup?
Finn – Nope, and unless my rating is improved and they start putting a few distance races in the format, I won’t have to worry about other people breaking my boat for a while.
NOYC.org – How closely are you working with Clark Thompson and Cat 5 on building production of the MINI’s in New Orleans?
Finn – I’m sort of in an advisory role there. Nothing formal yet.
NOYC.org – Any word on any other MINI’s coming to the Lake or Gulf Coast?
Finn – So far nothing solid. I’m still trying to find a way to get Anthony Hudson a boat. It looks like we’ll just have to build them.
NOYC.org – Have you named your MINI yet?
Finn – Not officially, but I’m thinking “Hey America, Louisiana is Disappearing†or HALID… something to that effect. This is one of those things that just needs to be spelled out. Its amazing how little Americans know about coastal erosion and how hugely it’s affecting Louisiana. It was amazing how little I knew about it up until a year ago! I was watching Robert Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty†when it was happening under my own feet!
NOYC.org – Word is that you plan on using your racing platform to help bring about awareness for coastal restoration in Louisiana, tell us a little bit about your goals here and some of the things you’ve been doing?
Finn – You noticed. Currently I travel quite a bit, so whenever I’m asked how things are in New Orleans I take the opportunity to explain the harsh realities of living on or near the Louisiana Gulf Coast. I mention that we lose 26 square miles of wetland each year, which is more than is lost anywhere else in the world! And that Louisiana represents over 40% of the nation’s wetlands. I always make it clear that there is a solution to the problem and that while the US government has spent billions of dollars in Boston to help solve a traffic problem, a nasty one it may have been, they are allowing the Louisiana coast, our first line of defense against hurricanes like Katrina, to disappear.
I can just imagine the thought process in Washington. “I don’t know which has a worse effect on US citizens, really bad traffic in Boston or New Orleans filling with water. Maybe, I mean it’s possible people will drown in their attics, but I don’t know, I’ve never drowned in my attic. I have however sat through traffic, and traffic – now I can tell you from first hand experience – that it is inconvenient! Besides, New Orleans hasn’t contributed anything since drunken naked people, and I have a family now. Do people even vote in New Orleans?â€
Dear Uncle Sam,
We don’t like traffic either, but there is a reason we sit through it during evacuations.
Sincerely,
Everyone on the entire Gulf Coast
But as of yet I don’t have a formalized approach to educating people on coastal issues. The biggest step is getting people to realize that we have coastal issues. Traffic would be a luxury.
NOYC.org – With a lot of us living vicariously through you on these endeavors, how can your local fan base help you bring these challenges to fruition?
Finn – I really need a title sponsor. Mostly we are focusing on companies who are looking for representation in Europe, but with two years leading up to my bringing the boat to Europe, there are lots of opportunities for good press in the States.
More info on Ryan can be found on his website, Ryan Finn Ocean Racing
If your company would be interested in sponsoring Ryan, please contact his team directly through the website where they can provide you with all the details. Or if you’d like to make a personal/corporate monetary donation to Ryan Finn’s campaigns, please mail a check to the following. He will be eternally grateful.
Ryan Finn Ocean Racing, LLC 1020 Race St. Suite 1 New Orleans, LA 70130Interviewed for NOYC.org by Troy Gilbert
