MORE KEY WEST RACE WEEK
We checked in with Stephen Murray Jr. of Decision to see how things went. He stated that we probably knew as much about the collision as he did as he was not on the boat. Stephen Jr. drove the boat the first two days but had to leave the regatta early for business. He did give us some insight on steering the big boat,… so here it goes
NOYC.org: Stephen, sorry to hear about the wreck in Key West, we now know that you weren’t there, can you tell us how it is to drive a boat of this magnitude in these conditions.
Jr.: I can say that in my experience driving the big boat against other big boats, the speeds are so great and the boats are so big, that there is practically no room for error. By the time you second-guess yourself, the opportunity to correct the error has usually already passed. And, of course, when you do have contact the results are going to be pretty catastrophic.
NOYC.org: It was very classy that after the Decision-Collision, you offered your boat to the crew and skipper of Titan for the remainder of the regatta.
Jr.: It has been nice to hear so much positive feed-back about our boat swap, although I have to say it was the least we could do.
NOYC.org: What do you know about the last two days of racing with the crews of both boats being on Decision for those races? How did it go?
Jr.: I’m told by those of the Decision crew that sailed with the Titan crew…that they couldn’t have been nicer. Some even plan to join us in our future sailing endeavors. But honestly, we’ve got to find a better way to meet people!!
NOYC.org: Well, it’s good to see that other than the actual collision itself, your program isn’t going to slow down. What do your future plans include for Decision?
Jr.: We hope to make up for the disappointment in Key West with a successful defense of the SORC Governor’s Cup (The Murray’s won this in 2000 on their Santa Cruz 52). Other plans include a run at the record on this year’s Regatta al Sol and a return to the Great Lakes for a shot at the two Mackinaw races and the Verve Cup.
NOYC.org: Thanks for making time for noyc.org
Jr.: Always a pleasure…next time I hope the circumstances are a little bit different.
