Šime Fantela: Mastering the Winds from Moth to Wally V

After years of relentless battle in small boat classes, Croatia’s most decorated sailor has decided to briefly shift his perspective. Šime Fantela, an Olympic gold medalist and winner of numerous world titles, has taken a 'sabbatical' from Olympic sailing but that is by no means a rest.

This year, his 'offices' are varied and high octane: serving as the strategist aboard the Wally V, piloting the ultra fast Moth, and acting as tactician for the Stig crew in the Cape 31 class, where they recently opened the season with a victory in Porto Cervo. These are three vastly different boats and three different sailing philosophies, yet they share one common thread: the constant pushing of personal limits. Just weeks ago, the Caribbean regatta series concluded, where the V crew successfully defended their title in the Wally class.

COULD YOU INTRODUCE THE WALLY CLASS TO OUR READERS? WHAT SPECIFIC RULES DEFINE IT, AND WHAT DOES THE PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT OF SUCH A SYSTEM LOOK LIKE?
The defining characteristic of the Wally class is that these are 'owner driver' boats, where the owner must always be at the helm. In the case of Wally V, that is Karel Komárek, while the rest of us are there to provide support and ensure the boat and crew reach their maximum potential.

The core team operates like a precision mechanism: Karel on the helm, Ken Read as tactician, myself handling strategy, and a navigator feeding us real-time telemetry and weather data. It's a constant conversation, a triangle or a square, depending on the moment. While the navigator and I focus on the bigger picture, the wind and the optimal route, Ken manages the immediate battle with the competition on the water. That division of responsibility is essential on a boat with a crew of 25, where every decision has to be the product of rapid, collective analysis.

YOU RECENTLY FINISHED THE CARIBBEAN REGATTA SERIES, SAILING IN EXOTIC LOCALES LIKE ST. BARTHS AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. WHAT MAKES THE CARIBBEAN SO SPECIAL AS A RACING DESTINATION?
The Caribbean is unique because of the steady trade winds and warm waters what sailors like to call 'champagne conditions'. The trade winds blow consistently, mostly between 15 and 20 knots, which are ideal conditions for a boat like the Wally V. Alongside top tier sailing, it’s hard to ignore the backdrop itself. These are world famous yachting destinations like St. Barths and Antigua, places accustomed to a culture of elite sailing. The organization and logistics behind these events are on par with any European regatta. This year we had a special role; the Wally V team was one of the co organizers of the BVI regatta in the British Virgin Islands, where we also defended our title as series winners.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SAIL A BOAT THAT'S OVER 30 METRES LONG AND WEIGHS NEARLY 50 TONNES?
Funnily enough, you quickly forget about the 30 metres and 50 tonnes, because you're racing against boats of a similar scale. Of course, a yacht like this can't be as agile as an Olympic dinghy, but what sets this kind of sailing apart from small boats most is the way you have to think. It's closest to chess on water. Every manoeuvre has to be planned several moves ahead. Hoisting the gennaker, for example, takes the system around 20 seconds, and if we're doing it by hand, it can take several minutes. The forces involved are extraordinary, which means every decision has to be precise. A small mistake here doesn't just cost you a position, it can mean a broken line or a broken mast, and in an instant, that can mean the end of the season.

On the Wally V, Šime works closely with Ken Read. As one of the most recognizable names in American sailing over the last few decades, Read began his America's Cup career in 1995 as a strategist and coach for the Young America team. That engagement was a prelude to two helmsman roles 2000 and 2003 under the leadership of the legendary Dennis Conner.

After the America's Cup, he turned to offshore sailing: first as a member of the Ericsson crew in the final four stages of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005 06, and then as skipper of PUMA's boats Il Mostro and Mar Mostro in the 2008 09 and 2011 12 editions...

'I am entering my fourth year of collaboration with Ken, and it is truly exceptional. You can feel his vast experience with big boats and offshore regattas at every moment. Since we have many navigational regattas, Ken knows what is important and what to pay attention to at any given time. Whether it's strategy or tactics, Ken has an incredible feel for the boat. 

On the Maxi, we have a 'thousand' sails for every possible wind angle, and that’s where he is strongest he knows exactly which sail to set and when to do it to get the maximum out of the boat. 

We communicate a lot; Ken, the navigator, and I are constantly analyzing local conditions and what awaits us on the route. I truly enjoy that joint decision making on deck with a man of such knowledge.'

THE PEOPLE YOU SAIL WITH ON THE WALLY HAVE AN AMBITIOUS PLAN FOR THE AMERICA’S CUP WITH THE CHALLENGER TEAM USA. OWNER KAREL KOMÁREK IS FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING THE PROJECT, WHILE KEN READ HAS BEEN INTRODUCED AS THE CEO OF THE NEW AMERICAN TEAM. GIVEN YOUR SUCCESSFUL YEARS OF COLLABORATION WITH THEM, THE QUESTION ARISES: IS THERE A CHANCE WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE LINEUP OF THE NEW AMERICAN TEAM AT THE WORLD’S OLDEST SPORTS COMPETITION?
The candidacy of the new team has been submitted, and that is big news in sailing circles. As for the details regarding the crew lineup, at this stage, I can neither confirm nor deny anything. However, I can say that as a sailor, I would very much like to test myself in an America’s Cup project. It is every sailor’s dream, and I am no exception.

My entire journey so far from Olympic gold through the Moth class to the role of strategist on the Wally has actually been a kind of preparation for such a high level of competition. Collaborating with Ken and the people gathered around Karel Komárek over the past four years has created a special relationship of trust and professional understanding. Working in such an environment, where resources and knowledge are at the peak level, is ideal for any athlete. We will see what the future holds, but the challenge of fighting for the 'Auld Mug' is definitely something that motivates me and for which I feel ready.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU HAVE BECOME ACTIVE IN THE MOTH...
Entering the Moth was a natural and logical step. Today, it has become a standard in the world of professional sailing; if you look at the crews in SailGP or the America’s Cup, you will see that almost everyone trains specifically in the Moth. It is the best training ground for honing your feel for foiling and decision making at high speeds. When you are alone on such a boat, every body movement and every second make a difference, which is top tier training that easily translates to all other high performance projects later on.