Zero to Hero Paul Davis
The NSCA Vice President and Event Sponsor guru has had a stand out season, featuring on the podium or just o ff it in some big regattas. To be fair, the headline of zero is unfair but it does get the readers attention and Paul understands my sense of humour and journalistic sensationalism. I asked him where his secret lies.
2025, well, for me personally it seemed to be a year that things fell into place and worked out well. 4 th at the Nations Cup, 4 th at the Nationals (lost 3 rd by 1 point, pesky nippers), and then 3 rd at the Inlands, so when its counted Ive put it together so certainly going to look back at this year as one to remember. If truth be told, Ive not changed much on my set up from previous years other than a slight tweak on the sail thanks to Andy at Impact Marine. So looking at my set up, I'm running the Boatyard at Beer, the last one built by Kevin Driver himself out of the Boatyard at Beer before shutting shop thanks to Covid. This is then complimented with DEM Foils, a Superspars M2 mast with extended gooseneck and standard boom. Paul in action on Lake Como and (right) with a new friend in the boat park. Photo: Alessandro
And on the sail side of things, I run a sail from Impact Marine, which over the years Ive worked with Andy and have made little refinements leading us to where we are. In 2024 I was fine when the breeze was up but could have done with with a little more power in the lighter end of the wind range, so we tweaked it ever so slightly to give me that little bit more depth but not to much to make it a hand full in breeze as I only run one sail across all conditions. There was a couple of events which we looked back at and the existing sail had starvation creases from the clue but also looked like I could do with more kicker, so we added a fraction more lu ff curve to resolve this. And that's where we are today with one sail that Ive used at the major events across a wide range of conditions which seems to tick a lot of boxes. I try and keep things as simple as possible, one sail that covers all bases, simple rig setting where I can literally put the rig in the boat and hit the water with no questions of should my mast foot be further forwards, backwards, shrouds o ff more, on more, rig more raked etc etc. I have one mast foot position, then change my shrouds only by half a hole depending on conditions, this allows me to get my head out the boat and think more about the bigger picture. I very often have conversations with people who run multiple sails for di ff erent conditions and always go back to what happens if the breeze changes and you have you have the wrong sail on. I know some sail makers wont like me sailing this, but personally find one that works and learn how it works across the wind range.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online