He says that his thing is to sail, not to talk about it, but the truth is that listening to this navigator from Coruña talk about his passion for sailing is something that captivates. The two-time cruiser world champion and Platú 25 world runner-up, cites Melville and Patrick O’Brian to try to explain how he feels about the sea, and is grateful for initiatives such as that of Baiona Angra Atlantic Race, of the Monte Real Club de Yates, because it will allow him to participate, departing from his native Galicia, in an ocean regatta. The competition will start on July 3 in Baiona.
Mr. Pintos, did you know that you were one of the first sailors to sign up for the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race?
I did not know that I had been one of the first… but I did sign up early. I guess it’s the only way to ensure a good position in a sport as uncertain as this, because in the rankings it’s already more complicated.
What has encouraged you to participate in this competition?
Well, they have encouraged me to participate especially the miles. The fact that a club as beloved as Baiona has decided to resume its tradition of regattas with triple digits is an initiative that deserves an effort on the part of the athletes. The other reason is a tip from a friend. This year it is possible that the beautiful Huelva-La Gomera regatta will be resumed next September, and I would love to be able to link the two together.
How does a sailor face an ocean competition of this type? How does one prepare mentally and physically for the test?
With much desire. Preparation regattas are difficult to do here because, unless one wants to go up to France, there are none nearby. Mentally: living in Madrid is the best way to make yourself want to go to the sea. Physically: my wife is dedicated to that, and makes sure that I am the best I can be at my age.
Tell us about the ship you will sail with and its crew.
I will do the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race with my boat from the last 6 years, if it is not sold before. And that, speaking of boats, is a lot. Having sailed thousands of miles on a ship is like having lived with a person for decades: we have already told each other almost everything. As for the crew, I will only go with one sailor, and because the regatta does not allow solo class…
What will day-to-day life be like on the boat? I suppose there will be routines, but also improvisation…
The less improvisation there is, it will be a sign that we will be doing better, and how the day will be in this type of regatta will depend above all on two things: the weather and breakdowns. The difference between this regatta and another in which the fleet is sailed is that in the fleet you have your rivals next to you, and the decisions are short-term – I am better at having time to think. In an ocean race you are alone and decisions have to be made at least 2-3 days ahead. It is necessary to think more, weigh more factors and be more analytical. And above all, believe in the chosen path. It is very difficult to be a good fleet sailor if you have not started as a child, and it is not my case.
What do you think will be the biggest difficulties you will have to face during the journey?
If the weather is good, tactics. If it’s bad, survival. If there is little wind, dream. If there are breakdowns, technical. The ones that are not going to be for sure are the motivational ones, unless there were no rivals, because in all my life I have never been bored at sea.
In addition to the difficulties that may arise, we suppose that this type of navigation also has many attractions…tell us, Mr. Pintos. What is it that most attracts you to competitions at this level?
The sea. It’s that easy. I couldn’t explain it any other way. It is best to read the opening paragraph of Moby Dick. Melville writes it with an eloquence beyond the reach of a mortal.
“Call me Ishmael. Years ago, no matter how many exactly, with little or no money in my pocket, I thought of embarking for a season and discovering the sea. It’s my way of making the melancholy disappear. Every time I find myself wincing; every time there is a wet and drizzly November in my soul; every time I feel like going out into the street to beat people’s hats off, then I know it’s time to go back to the sea. Choose any path, and ten against one that leads you to the water. There is something magical about water that draws men from the land…and guides them over mountains, through streams and rivers to the sea. The SEA, where each man, as in a mirror, finds himself. And so it was that I arrived in New Bedford on time, one rainy Saturday afternoon late in 1841” (Moby Dick – Herman Melville).
With a career like yours, having been runner-up in the Platú 25 world championship, among many other triumphs, I suppose you will feel a certain pressure when participating in this type of competition… do people expect a lot from you?
I appreciate the courtesy, but I don’t think anyone but my daughter has such expectations. That trajectory, in the world of sailing, is very relative. Titles mean very little. They are not triathlon or boxing world championships. If I had been World Tennis Champion, you would now be talking to my representative. The only trajectory that I aspire to consolidate is that of being a good sailor, being one more in the fleet without being out of tune, and I still have a long way to go to achieve it.
Modesty and humility are certainly not lacking in this great sailor who, when asked about his greatest triumphs in the world of sailing, does not mention his long list of titles, but rather his ability to transmit his love of the sea to his daughter. A love that he himself inherited from his father “Chacho” Pintos. “It is –he says- like the song of the Diplomáticos de Montealto”, the bravú rock group from his native Coruña: “Miña nai deume os camiños eo meu pai deixoume o mare. Don’t dye more than leave me nin eu thought more leave”
Although he lives in Madrid and on many occasions he has no choice but to look at the sea with nostalgia, Pintos tries to sail whenever he can. In the coming months he will participate in the J70 Galician Circuit, in the Spi Ouest France, in the Monte Real Galician Solitaire Championship and in the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race, which, according to what he says, he is looking forward to.
Mr. Pintos, have you already been to the Azores?
Never. I have always gone under.
Where you have sailed is in Baiona, in some of the competitions of the Monte Real Yacht Club, which this year returns with the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race to international regattas. What is your opinion of this step?
I haggled in Baiona with my father in the early eighties, and since then I have always returned. It was the club where I had my first joys and my first disappointments as an athlete away from home, the Real Club Náutico de A Coruña. It is logical because Monte Real has always been the benchmark in terms of the level of cruising regattas in Galicia. It’s not my club, I’m from Coruña, but I’ve always felt at home and welcomed in Baiona. And, as I have already said, I am pleased that they have decided to resume this type of regattas, which they already did in their early days. Of course, for this type of initiative, you can count on me.
The two-time World Cruiser Champion and Platú 25 World Vice-Champion sailor from Coruña, Jesús Pintos, will participate next July in the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race, organized by the Monte Real Yacht Club and the Angra Iate Clube. The competition will depart on July 3 from Baiona to Angra do Heroismo. The participating boats must travel the more than 800 miles that separate both points in a maximum time of 9 days and 8 hours. The second stage will return to Baiona on July 14, and on the 23rd the awards ceremony will be held at the Monte Real Club de Yates. The registration period is now open and there are discounts for crews who register before APRIL 30.
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“Returning in Galiza to the tradition of regattas with three digits is an initiative that deserves an effort by two athletes”
He says that my dream is to navigate. It is certain that listening and speaking with this natural navigator from Corunha, given his country for sailing is a little complicated. The two-time world champion of Cruzeiro and vice-world champion of Platú 25, Melville cites to try to explain or make him sit by the sea, and thanks initiatives such as the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race, the Monte Real Yacht Club, because it will allow him to participate, starting from to his native Galicia, a new oceanic regatta. The competition will start on the 3rd of July from Baiona.
Did Senhor Pintos know that you were the first two sailors to register for the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race?
I did not know that it had been two first…. More sim, I signed up soon. I suppose that it is the only way to ensure a good position in a sport as uncertain as this, because the classification will be more complicated.
What or did you take part in this competition?
Or that I was encouraged to participate foram above all thousands. I am glad that a club as loved as the one from Baiona has decided to return to its tradition of regattas with triple digits and an initiative that deserves an effort on the part of two athletes. Another reason is a dream from a friend. This year it is possible that the beautiful Huelva-La Gomera regatta will be resumed, not next September and we will be able to participate in two days.
How does a sailor face an ocean competition of this type? How do you prepare mentally and physically for the test?
With a lot of claw. The preparation regattas are difficult to do here because, unless there is someone who wants to go up to França, the rest do not exist. Mentally living in Madrid is the best way to get the claw to go to the sea. Physically, the minha mulher is in charge-is disso and tries to make it as best as possible, in the minha idade.
Let’s miss the ship that will sail and its crew.
I will return to Baiona Angra Atlantic Race as my boat for the last six years, it has not been sold before. And isso, speaking of boats, they wanted to say a lot. After sailing thousands and thousands of miles on a ship, it’s like I’ve lived for decades with a person, for whom we’ve practically decided everything. Not that it respects the crew, I will only go with a crew member, and this is because the regatta does not allow a class of solitaires.
How will it be day-to-day on the boat? I guess there will be routines but also some improvisation…
How much less improvisação houver will be a sign that we will be doing things well. The way this type of regattas will be on a day depends largely on two things: the weather and the odds. The difference between this regatta and another in which it is sailed in rubble is that in rubbish the opponents are in sight and the decisions are in the short term. No case I prefer ter tempo to think. In the ocean regatta we are sozinhos and the decisions are taken for a period of 2-3 days, less than that. Faz needs to think more, ponder more factors and be more analytical. And above all, credit the escolha carried out. It is very difficult to be a good sailor in rubs, unless it has been started since childhood, or that it is not my case.
Quais now that will be the greatest difficulties that will have to be faced during the crossing
Se fizer bom tempo, tactics. Se fizer mau tempo, of survival. It fizer little wind, sono. Se tiver avarias, techniques. Or that there will certainly not be that motivation, unless I have no opponents, because in all my life I have never hated myself.
Apart from the difficulties that could arise, we knew that this type of navigation also had many attractions, Conte-nos senhor Pintos. Or what is more or attracted a lot of competition at this level?
Or sea. It’s just as simple. I couldn’t explain it any other way. O melhor é ler o opening paragraph of Moby Dick. Melville recounts with an eloquence beyond the reach of a mortal:
“Call me Ishmael. Years ago, no matter how many exactly, with little or no money in my pocket, I thought of embarking for a season and discovering the sea. It’s my way of making the melancholy disappear. Every time I find myself wincing; every time there is a wet and drizzly November in my soul; every time I feel like going out into the street to beat people’s hats off, then I know it’s time to go back to the sea. Choose any path, and ten against one that leads you to the water. There is something magical about water that draws men from the land…and guides them over mountains, through streams and rivers to the sea. The SEA, where each man, as in a mirror, finds himself. And so it was that I arrived in New Bedford on time, on a rainy Saturday afternoon in late 1841.” (Moby Dick – Herman Melville)
With a track record like his, knowing that he was vice-champion of the Platú 25 world among many other triumphs, I suppose he will feel some pressure to participate in this type of competition… do people expect a lot of yes?
I thank or praise, I do not mean that no one, unless it is a minha filha, will have similar expectations. This trajectory, no world gives sail, is very relative. The titles mean very little. There are no boxing triathlon world championships. If you had been world tennis champion, you would now be speaking as my agent. The only trajectory that I aspire to consolidate is to be a great sailor, to be more in a regatta without destoar and I still have a long way to go to achieve it.
Modesty and humility are qualities that are not lacking in this great sailor who, when questioned about his greatest triumphs achieved in the sailing world, does not list his vast list of titles, but only his ability to transmit the love that he has for the sea and peel your file A love that is inherited from his father “Chacho” Pintos. Even living in Madrid, or that he does not have more to observe or sea with nostalgia, Pintas tries to navigate whenever he can. In the next few months, he will participate in the Galician Circuit of 17, in the Spi Quest Francês and in the Galician Championship of Solitários do Monte Real and in the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race, for what he says, they have a lot of claw.
Senhor Pintos, ha esteve nos Açores?
Never. I always passed by downstairs.
I have always sailed in Baiona, the last of the competitions of the Monte Real Yacht Club, which this year returns with the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race to the international regattas. What do you think about this step?
I have been sailing in Baiona as my country for the first two years of the eighties and since then I have always been around. I had been a Club that gave me the first few joys and the first few deceções as a sportsman outside my home, or Real Clube Náutico da Corunha. It is logical because Monte Real has always been a reference at the level of cruzeiro regattas in Galiza. Não é o meu Clube, eu sou da Corunha, not so long I always felt at home and was received in Baiona. And as I said, I congratulate myself that they have decided to resume this type of regattas, that they will make us their first times. From logo, for this type of initiative, we can always count on me.
The natural sailor from Corunha, two-time world champion of Cruzeiros and vice-world champion of Platú 25, Jesús Pintos, will participate next July in the Baiona Angra Atlantic Race, an ocean regatta between Galiza and the Açores, organized by Monte Real Club of Yachts or Angra Iate Clube.
The competition will depart on July 3 from Baiona to Angra do Heroísmo. The participating boats will have to travel more than 800 miles that separate both points for a maximum time of 9 days and 8 hours. The second stage will depart back to Baiona on the 14th of July, and on the 23rd it will be for the delivery of prizes at the Monte Real Club de Yates. The registration period is still open and there are discounts for the crews who register before March 30 All information about the regatta can be consulted on the Monte Real Yacht Club website www.mrcyb.es
It is an interview with Rosana Calvo, head of communication at the MRCYB
