The boat is a beast

The Audi Magazine: Johannes, you “retired” from active regatta sailing in 2012. How did you end up pairing with Carolina to mount yet another Olympic bid?

Johannes: I attended the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in a work capacity. At the German House, I ran into Caro, whom I had not known personally until then. Caro sailed in the multihull class in Rio—the same class in which I competed during my last Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. The Argentinian sailor Santiago Lange, who was one of my training buddies and best friends during my competitive career, won the gold medal in Rio at the age of 54. His was such an emotional victory that I was completely captivated by the Olympic spirit again in Rio. I said jokingly to Caro that I hadn’t sailed a catamaran since the final race in Beijing, and that she should take me out sometime in this new Nacra boat. At some point, Caro actually called me and asked: “So what’s the deal? Did you really want to go sailing with me?”

So, it was you, Carolina, who seized the initiative and brought the two of you together as a team?

Carolina: I had parted ways with my old sailing partner but wanted to embark on a new campaign. I started to think about who I could do that with. On paper, Johannes Polgar was just a very good sailor. Experience is extremely important in sailing, and Johannes has plenty of it. I also did trials with other crews, but he and I get along very well on a personal level. That’s why Johannes is the best choice.

Johannes: Caro checked the transfer market and, for whatever reason, opted for me.

In Rio, the Nacra multihulls were still sailing without foils. This development only came about after the Olympics. Did the issue of foils play a part in your decision to compete again?

Johannes: First and foremost, the Olympic Games are what really appeal to me yet again. From November 2016, it was clear that the new mixed class would be sailing on foils. That came as a complete surprise to me. But it’s also an absolute blast. I’m now getting to know a spectacular and innovative type of sailing that lets me further hone my skills. All teams are starting from the same level when it comes to foils, so it’s a completely new way of sailing for everyone. That is a unique opportunity. And I’m absolutely thrilled to be involved.

How is foiling different? What sets it apart?

Johannes: The vantage point for us sailors is spectacular. The entire boat hovers above the water, supported only by these four blades. As soon as the boat starts to foil, everything becomes amazingly quiet. You no longer hear the slapping of the water, just the whistle of the foils. It makes you feel unstoppable. With only a small part of each foil remaining in the water, the boat simply takes off; the catamaran now has free rein and is so much more efficient. The extreme speeds add an extra kick.

Is sailing with foils a more athletic, more challenging sport?

Carolina: On choppy waters, yes. As the crew, I have to constantly move up and down the entire length of the boat to balance it. But above all, there’s that completely new factor of Johannes and I having to control not only the sails but also the foils. While one of us adjusts the foils on the lee side, the other does so on the windward side. The coordination between us has become extremely important because we have to trim not only the mainsail together, but also the behavior of the foils. Sailing in this way has become much more challenging, not just in terms of the overall operation of the boat, but also in relation to the boat’s hydrodynamic characteristics.

Johannes: Having a shared feel for which mode we want to sail the boat in is very important. If one of us were to adjust a foil in the wrong direction, the consequences would be disastrous. This ability to act in concert and to balance the boat is the major new technical task that we must perform as a team—in addition to the tactics used on the regatta course.

Which is the greater challenge? Getting to grips with the new foiling technology or building coordination between yourselves?

Carolina: To begin with, I had to learn how the boat will respond if I turn the foil in one direction or another. How does the main foil interact with the rudder? How do you trim the sails to suit the foil? We have finally got that under control. Now we must synchronize to become one with the boat.

Johannes: The challenge is to gain complete control over the platform and sails so that we can take our eyes off the boat and focus on wind conditions, other competitors and the regatta course.

The Nacra 17 boats are a one-design class, which means that all teams sail identical yachts. Is there any scope at all to gain a technological edge?

Johannes: There are defined measurement limits within which we have to pinpoint what can be optimized. While constructing completely new foils that incorporate technical innovations is not permitted, we can optimize the existing foils to the nth degree. With the help of the Audi design department, for instance, we analyze the different foil sets using 3D scanning technology—because there are, of course, manufacturing tolerances.

Carolina: But ultimately, we must then compare the different foils in action on the water because the crucial question is: which fits best with our sailing style?

How would you describe your style of sailing?

Carolina: We were a little hesitant in the beginning. But now we’ve released the handbrake; we’re endeavoring to reach the limit and want to coax the last drop of speed from the boat.