The Spirit of Sailing - Elvstrom

[Couta]

Just came across this...

The "Great Dane"....unashamedly my hero ...captured here in 1969, already with 4 Olympic Golds and seven world championships...(he went on to several more). This film is absolutely awesome and captures so beautifully the essence of dinghy sailing as I see it. Watching Paul rig and launch his beautiful Finn is literally poetry in motion...so familiar, effortless and efficient...you can sense his "being as one" with his craft. I loved the Soling session - no harnesses, just a hiking rope- crew in jumpers & jeans. The fun of just jumping off a boat on a reach and re-righting it...his comments about "big boat sailing"...everything about this short film speaks to me.

https://filmcentralen.dk/museum/danmark-paa-film/film/spirit-sailing-paul-elvstroem

 

[guerdon]

Thanks for the tribute to a giant.

 

[SloopJonB]

I think it's a widely held view that Elvstrom was the greatest sailor of the 20th century.

 

[Mambo Kings]

The film is narrated by Richard Creagh-Osborne.   I learned a lot  when I started out racing sailboats, by reading books by Creagh-Osborne. Sadly I think R C-O died quite young. I dont think R C-O lived to see Paul Elvstrom sail in his last two Olympics in 1984 and 1988 where Elvstrom sailied the Tornado with his daughter.  Amazing life.

 

 

[Kevlar Edge]

Thank you.

 

[Rasputin22]

Trine Elvstrom was Pauls daughter and was a good combo with him on the Olympic Tornado.

    Paul would often helm from the trap wire which I emulated with my small light crew. At 6'4" we got better righting moment and I was more comfortable and could keep the spray out of my eyes and see the course better.

 

[Couta]

"You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors." ......Pretty much sums it up.

 

[Rushman]

"You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors." ......Pretty much sums it up.

Can someone please show this to Serena 

 

[BBender]

I still wear daily one of his regate watches . Used to use in around the cans races before technology took over.

 

[duncan (the other one)]

Can someone please show this to Serena 

Racist!

 

[Rushman]

Racist!

Hardly... but if it makes you feel better

Poorly behaved sports stars need to be called out when they think they are bigger than the rules that govern their game

 

[duncan (the other one)]

Hardly... but if it makes you feel better

Poorly behaved sports stars need to be called out when they think they are bigger than the rules that govern their game

whoooosh.

Sarcasm isn't one of your strong suits.

 

[Rushman]

whoooosh.

Sarcasm isn't one of your strong suits.

Too early for my sarcasm filter, I need more coffee

 

[TUBBY]

And besides he really meant to be sexist not racist. 

 

[Left Shift]

A lot more tiller-wiggling than I expected, especially in the shots of the Finn.  But who knew better how to work the waves.

 

[Secret Experiment]

"A lot more tiller-wiggling than I expected, especially in the shots of the Finn"

Yes, my thoughts exactly.

 

[duncan (the other one)]

"A lot more tiller-wiggling than I expected, especially in the shots of the Finn"

Yes, my thoughts exactly.

he's just blast reaching back and forth for the camera.

.. and yes, both sexist and racist.  Elvstrom is an old white guy, he must have a shady past.

 

[Couta]

Hiking straps, boom vang, traveller, trapeze...his contribution to the sport is legendary. No other sailor has had such an impact...from sail making, dinghy design, rules interpretation...he's been there & done that.

Raised by his mum, unable to read or write at school, his journey to sailing greatness is as fascinating as it is unlikely.

Here's a taste....

https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/The-Great-Dane-dies-at-88-Video/-150241?source=google.au

 

[kinardly]

A lot more tiller-wiggling than I expected, especially in the shots of the Finn.  But who knew better how to work the waves.

I saw that but then I noticed his wake was straight as an arrow.