We sat down with our Sales Consultant and resident Pro Sailor, Mo Gray, to find out about his first year at Future Fibres and his sailing ambitions for the coming year…
- How has your time at Future Fibres been so far?
Good, getting to know work colleagues, understanding how the business operates and learning the products that Future Fibres produces have kept me busy for the last 6 months. I’ve also been impressed with the companies drive to continually improve existing products and introduce new ideas and technology.
- With some regattas starting to begin again, where can we find you in the next coming months and who will you be sailing with?
Assuming the regattas go ahead I am scheduled to be at the following events:
Regates Royales, Cannes – 19th to 26th September. Sailing in the Dragon Fleet on “Provezza”
Swan Nations Cup, Scarlino – 10th to 17th October. Sailing on CS50 “Perhonen”
Palma Vela, Palma – 18th to 25th October. Sailing on Mini Maxi 72 “Sorcha”
- Which regatta are you most looking forward to?
All of them! Being able to go racing again, when the majority of my sailing season has been cancelled, is something that I feel very privileged to be able to do and can only thank the various owners for their continued support.
- What latest developments on the racing scene have caught your eye?
I think the technology battle in the upcoming Americas Cup will be fascinating to watch, especially since Future Fibres products are on all the boats. Can all the designs complete “dry laps” (completing laps without dropping off the foils), something that will be essential to be competitive?
Also, the current trend on the racing scene largely seems to centre around windage, something that Future Fibres are well aware of and a have responded by producing the various Aero rigging packages, the gains in this area can be substantial and should not be ignored!
- What is there to look forward to in 2021?
Hopefully a full sailing season!
The TP52 Super Series, being one of the pinnacles of monohull racing, will be my most anticipated series of 2021, having had virtually the whole of our 2020 season cancelled apart from the first Cape Town event.
The one-design Club Swan 50 circuit will be another highlight, this Class is going from strength to strength with highly competitive racing and is well organised by Swan.
- Best sailing memory?
There’s a few:
- Winning my first World Championships – International 14, San Francisco, 1997
- Taking part in my first America’s Cup Race – GBR Challenge, Auckland, 2003
- Winning the TP52 World Championships – Ran, Miami, 2013
- J-Class World Championships – Ranger, Newport, 2017
- Biggest achievement in sailing to date?
Still being able to work in this extraordinary industry after 20 years.