Sailor Q&A

Katie Spithill, Newport, Australia

Katie Spithill started match racing in 1998 at the ripe old age of 16 and has been moving steadily up in the international rankings since then. Her "Team Acuity" has been in the top twenty on the ranking list for the last few years buoyed by their first Grade 1 in at the 2006 BoatUS Santa Maria Cup. They have gained some serious momentum with their last three events: the Grade 2 Mayor’s Cup (USA), the Grade 1 Lysekil Women’s Cup (SWE) and the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship (FRA). They finished second at the Worlds which should move them nicely up the ISAF Ranking List.

You may visit the team’s web site at www.katiespithill.com

QUESTION: Do you have any nicknames?
ANSWER: Not that I am willing to divulge…

QUESTION: Are you superstitious?
ANSWER: I believe in Murphy’s Law, definitely.

QUESTION: If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
ANSWER: Hmmmmm Probably a Labrador. My Labrador has the best life ever, going for walks, sleeps and eats.

QUESTION: Favorite part of match racing?
ANSWER: The team effort and the fact that everybody has the same equipment.

QUESTION: Name your dream team and who you would like to be racing against in a final series?
ANSWER: My dream team would be my current Team Acuity group, including our coach Traks Gordon.

QUESTION: Who has had the most influence on your life?
ANSWER: Definitely my family. From the beginning we have all sailed and interacted together, and they are always a big part of my decision making and traveling.

QUESTION: Who is your biggest fan?
ANSWER: Probably my mum!!

QUESTION: Who is your sailing idol?
ANSWER: I don’t have an Idol as such, but I respect a lot of the current Americas Cup sailors for their ability to handle pressure.

QUESTION: If you were going to create a reality TV show what would it be about?
ANSWER: I think it would have to be a sailing adventure show, that would require navigating to different islands with limited provisions.

QUESTION: If you were a superhero, what power would you have?
ANSWER: The ability to create a perfect breeze. Especially after we have traveled so far and are stuck on the beach.

QUESTION: What was your best subject in school?
ANSWER: Anything that was outdoors. I think Sport Development.

QUESTION: Who taught you to sail and how old were you?
ANSWER: My Dad taught me how to sail when I was 4 or 5 years old. I would then get put on with my older brother.

QUESTION: What is your favorite ride at an amusement park?
ANSWER: The Ferris wheel, it always gets the best view.

QUESTION: What is your most annoying habit?
ANSWER: Hmmmmmm……I’ll have to ask the girls that one…

QUESTION: Besides sailing what is your favorite sport?
ANSWER: Teams Sports – Touch Football, Soccer, ...

QUESTION: What is the best thing about your home town?
ANSWER: The beach in summer.

QUESTION: If you could travel to anywhere in the world where would it be?
ANSWER: I’m not sure I haven’t found the perfect location as yet, but there are a few that have become very close.

QUESTION: What is the most important item in your ditty bag?
ANSWER: Our reading Book.

QUESTION: What is one thing that you feel WIMRA could do for you?
ANSWER: Keep the WIMRA Site alive with news and the up to date calendar.