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IOM Worlds News

IOM Worlds 2015 New Blog

A Brief Interview with Ian Vickers of Vickers RC Sailing, New Zealand

A Brief Interview with Ian Vickers of Vickers RC Sailing, New Zealand

New Zealand’s Ian Vickers is well known around the world for his radio sailing skill and as a designer and production builder of his IOM designs. I think that Ian was immersed in sailboat racing while growing up in the southern hemisphere in New Zealand, and similar to Brad Gibson growing up in Australia, it serves them both very well in radio sailing as adults. Skill at racing is somehow hard-wired into them. Just like in skiing, tennis, etc., those of us that start later in life don’t quite have their magic.

January 22, 2015By SuperUser Account Background articles Background, IOM 0 Comment Read More »
A brief interview with Olivier Cohen from France

A brief interview with Olivier Cohen from France

While I have had no previous contact with Olivier, it is obvious to me that radio sailing has been a big part of his life for some time now. Olivier is a strong international competitor including 3rd at the recent 2014 Euros and he is a past FRA National Champion three times: 2010, 2012, and 2013. You don’t sail at that high level without a long-term commitment in this class. I know he gives back by serving as IOMICA VCEvents and he is a balanced voice on the IOM forums.

January 17, 2015By SuperUser Account Background articles Interview, IOM 0 Comment Read More »
A Brief Interview with Julian Laffin from Canada

A Brief Interview with Julian Laffin from Canada

Canada’s Julian Laffin is acknowledged for his radio sailing skill in my Pacific Northwest region, but I’m sure he is otherwise unknown in the world of IOM sailing. Rather than just interview only well-known international skippers, I think it more interesting go for a broader spectrum. A young Canadian from a ferry served (excepting stormy days) rural island of about 1,000 residents is of interest to me. My guess is Julian hails from the least populated place of any Worlds competitor, but he has an edge in being mentored by local sailmaker/artist Graham Herbert. And Julian has finished in front of his teacher lately.

January 16, 2015By SuperUser Account Background articles, General Background, IOM 0 Comment Read More »
Introducing Harry’s IOM Worlds Ranking

Introducing Harry’s IOM Worlds Ranking

Competition is what the IOM class is all about, and we keep score to determine our winners. We put a lot of effort into keeping score. We have the highly evolved Heat Management System for managing our large fleets with multiple heats and to tally the regatta scores. Clubs have their own scoring systems to tally their annual club champion. Countries have their own scoring systems to establish their annul ranking. Ranking is a big deal for those hoping to attend Worlds because the highest-ranking get their allocations first, and there are limited allocations. It’s a dog-eat-dog system. I know as I’m sitting on a waiting list unlikely to receive my allocation. That’s OK; I will be attending as a participant or as a volunteer. That I will attend Worlds is the important thing to me.

January 9, 2015By SuperUser Account Background articles, General iom, Worlds Ranking 0 Comment Read More »
A Brief Interview with Huub and Hanneke Gillissen

A Brief Interview with Huub and Hanneke Gillissen

I became aware of Huub from a thoughtful post he made on the 2011 Worlds website, his first Worlds. Already I had been admiring Hanneke’s excellent radio sailing images. Since then they have traveled to a number of radio sailing World, European, and National Championships in UK, GER, FRA, MLT, ISR, and even down under in AUS. I know this because I read the race results and follow Hanneke’s photo journal on the web – just search “Hanneke Gillissen Pont photos”. And yes, I’m envious of how they travel and sail to so many major regattas so regularly.

December 23, 2014By SuperUser Account Background articles, General Interview, IOM 0 Comment Read More »
How Gary Boell Ships his IOM Kit

How Gary Boell Ships his IOM Kit

IOMs travel well, because the class was intended for international sailing when the rule was formed in the late 80s. Gary Boell, from the San Francisco area, travels frequently with his IOM, and in just a few years he has developed an effective shipping system, which is worth looking at closely. Much of Gary’s system is borrowed from other skippers, but for brevity we won’t bother with the credits.

December 10, 2014By SuperUser Account Background articles IOM, Transport 0 Comment Read More »

What's a POP - a brief BG interview

Current Euro Champion Brad Gibson (or BG) needs no introduction to IOM or RM skippers; he stands at the pinnacle of our sport. If he doesn’t win a Worlds or Euro or GBR Nats championship his boat design or sails do; and he personally wins or finishes on the podium more consistently than anybody. And in a very competitive field his BRITPOP! has significantly influenced how the other top designers design their boat, which is the most impressive achievement to me. Anything BG designs is followed with special interest. Now he is trialing a new proto called POP and I am curious what it is?

December 10, 2014By SuperUser Account Background articles 2015, BG, BrittPOP, Gibson, IOM, POP, WORLDS 0 Comment Read More »