By
Doug
After the Master Midwinters, I was talking with
Dick Tillman about the upcoming Midweek Madness and Florida Masters and he said, "This will be my last Laser event." I asked, "You mean this
week?" And he answered, "No, these Midwinters."
This was a piece of sailing history I did not want
to hear.
Dick has been a sailing icon since winning the first three North American Championships, from 1971 to 1973.
Ten years later he won the North American Masters, and in 2002 won the Great Grand
Master Worlds. Is seemed like Dick would sail forever but, at the
age of 76, he's retiring from the Laser.
This is a reminder to all of us
that the Laser can be a brutal boat to sail and that we will all reach a point where it ceases do to good and starts to do harm, and it's time to move on to other challenges. I've had the privilege of sailing against Dick on many occasions in many countries. He represents
everything good about our sport and will be missed at Laser regattas. He's a classy guy and his
book, of course, is a classic.
Hear hear. It seems like Dick has always been on the Laser scene, keeping himself in great shape and winning major events for decade after decade.
ReplyDeleteBut I do think 75 or thereabouts is about the age that most of us will realize that we can't keep sailing a Laser indefinitely. A lot of very good sailors have to give it up even earlier if they get back problems or other issues.
Meanwhile Peter Seidenberg keeps motoring on like the Energizer bunny.
Great Laser sailor but good scow sailor as well, he sails on Wawasee. Great guy
ReplyDelete