Tim Goodbody adjusts to new direction with third White Mischief

A well-known boat with a hallmark name in Dun Laoghaire and further afield for many years are at the end of an era together in a story familiar to many boat-owners considering retirement from racing.

Tim Goodbody and his Sigma 33 White Mischief have been regulars with many of the best championships and regattas in Irish waters and as the new sailing season prepares to get underway, at the age of 74 the Royal Irish Yacht Club stalwart has said a fond farewell to his trusted David Thomas design after 17 years at the tiller.

Before this, Goodbody was well-known in his J24 of the same name as well as for winning the 1987 Fastnet Race as part of the Admiral’s Cup. His tenure as Commodore of the Royal Alfred YC brought Corinthian sailing to an enthusiastic peak in the Dublin area.

There were 78 boats on the Sigma 33 starting-line in Cork Week ‘98 which convinced him to get into the class and while he’ll remain a member, the time has come to move on.

“It was becoming increasingly difficult to sail with my hip, back and neck so I needed a boat with a wheel as I was getting older,” Goodbody told The Irish Times. “Now I’m moving around like a Spring lamb - modern surgery is great!”

Hanging-up his sea-boots is far from his mind and he is not about to take on more leisurely racing pursuits.

Instead, he is moving up a size to a J109 where the extra space will permit wheel-steering rather than a tiller to enjoy some of the closest racing under both one-design and IRC handicap.

“Age isn’t a reason to give up sailing - it’s a chance to adjust what you’re doing. You have to watch what you do as you get older and tailor what you do according to your ability.”

The third White Mischief brings more familiarity as Goodbody’s long-standing crew-mates Paul McCarthy and Brendan Farrell, with 35 and 26 years respectively racing with their skipper and will be leading a core group of seven sailors on board.

In total, White Mischief’s crew panel will be 21 people in total including at least two novices to join the boat in lighter weather and for Dublin Bay Sailing Club’s Tuesday evening races.

On the other end of the spectrum, the team will be competing in June’s Irish Cruiser Racing Association National Championships at Howth YC before heading south for Volvo Cork Week in Crosshaven.

Crew contribute anonymously towards running costs as well as taking a share in upkeep duties. “I never know what it is or much or who does but it gives people a sense of pride and means they push that little bit harder,” he said. “It’s neither expected nor mandatory.”

Goodbody cites Joe Schmidt that by getting the basics right, the rest will fall into place.

He plans to next review his sailing at age 80 but provided the ability and enjoyment are still there, it will continue further. “This desire to be competitive - it just keeps you going until you cross the finishing-line,”

Less than two weeks after winning Gold at the Palma Olympic classes regatta, Ireland’s Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern had a reversal of fortune at the 49er European Championship in Barcelona.

After a strong start to the series with characteristic top ten results, the pair found themselves disqualified from Monday’s third race for early-starting despite appearing to win the 35-minute sprint.

The Ballyholme veterans from London 2012 were unable to regain their form from Tuesday as light and fickle winds defied the forecast of breezy conditions.

Nine races later, the Irish pair that have qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics failed to finish in the top 25 boats and Gold fleet racing that concludes today.

The championship includes the undefeated world champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke from New Zealand who have confounded the class with their performance since winning Silver in Weymouth four years ago.

The Kiwi pair is set to win this event even before tomorrow’s medal race final. London 2012 Gold medallists Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen trail in a distant second overall.

The Aussie runner-ups are training partners with Seaton and McGovern and were beaten into the Silver place by the Irish pair in Mallorca two weeks ago.