Bump's World - October 2007
October 9, 2007
THE BEST PARTNERSHIP
In 1991 I had just started New Wave Yachts and definitely had a lot on my plate. Due to my addiction to sailing I had to find a way to get a boat that would fulfill my need to be on the water. Over a beer with my friend Bryce Suydam, we decided to buy a boat together and hit the racecourse. Thanks to a loan from Bryce's brother we bought a 1985 J29 masthead inboard. We faired the bottom, tuned the rig and head off to the racecourse. I had not owned a boat for a couple of years, probably the longest time of my life, so a lot of my crew had wandered.
Bryce introduced me to a friend of his Tom Drechsler. Tom had been crewing for several local PHRF boats and he did the bow. Having done the bow myself for many years, I have great respect for that position. Tom was a great bowman, as well has a fun enthusiastic sailor. We won the PHRF-NE's in 1992 with our J 29. Bryce had fallen in love in the summer of 1992 and had to make the choice of love versus sailing, love won.
There goes that partnership. Tom approached me and said he would be glad to pick up where Bryce left off. The fact that Tom was on the bow and I was at the other end looked good to me. That started the most successful partnership ever.
In 1993 Tom and I sold the J 29 and bought an Express 34. The boat was called "Loon" so we added "atic" and "Loonatic" was born. After the Express 34 we bought an SR33 built by C&C, also called "Loonatic". Then we bought a Frers 33, which we also won the PHRF-NE championship with. Then we bought a Mumm 36 also called "Loonatic", the name seemed to be really working for us. In year 2000 we bought an Aerodyne 38 also"Loonatic". By this time we had a good crew and won many races with the Aerodyne including the PHRF-NE championship in 2002.
Tom continued to do a great job on the bow, but I knew what would eventually happen. In races where we were solidly in position Tom would drive to the finish. I stood next to Tom and talked him through it and many times thought to my self he will never get this.
We did some lesser competitive races like a Wednesday Child race and Tom would ask to steer. Tom owned half of the boat and always paid his share without complaint, I had to give him some tiller time. Very slowly, Tom got better and better at the helm and was getting very aware of what was going on during the race.
In the fall of 2003 we sold the Aerodyne and over the winter discussed our future. We decided Tom should try his own boat. Tom had definitely moved away from the bow and he had tasted the helm and cockpit and decided that's where he wanted to be.
Tom bought a C&C 33 and I bought a Melges 24. We still sailed some races together with Tom steering the C&C and I steered to Melges 24. Tom even raced to Melges a couple of times without me and did well.
In 2005 Tom got a Beneteau 36.7 and raced every Wednesday night and many weekends also. Tom kept many of the Aerodyne crew and they worked really well together. Tom also bought some Doyle sails and met Chris Howe from Doyle. Chris and Tom got along great.
In 2007 Tom bought a Sabre Spirit 36 and named her "Remain Silent". Tom raced every Wednesday night in class B against some really good competition. Tom kept his crew together and continued to work with Chris Howe on tactics and sail trim. Tom and I have remained best friends and discuss every race in detail and sail together often.
Half way through this summer I was encouraged to do the Dolphin Yacht Club annual race. This is definitely a fun race with little tension. So little my wife and kids come with me. I invited Tom and his girl friend Linda. Linda is very supportive of Tom's racing and is a lot of fun on the boat. I decided to race my Hanse 40, which is not totally race ready, however is a big fun boat. I lent Tom take the start so I could look around and be where I wanted to be. I quickly realized Tom was doing a really good job steering. Tom drove most of the race and we won by a ton.
Tom got better and better on Wednesdays with "Remain Silent" and suddenly realized he could win the whole year. Tom won the prestigious William C Burke trophy for not only winning his class, but best overall performance of all classes.
Tom and I have come along way together and I could not be happier with his success. He is a great friend and our partnership could not have turned out better.
Please mail comments to me at Bump@newwaveyachts.com
Bump Wilcox
