Nyfiken på… Nick White & Expedition

Den här säsongen har vi kört Expedition för navigation och taktiskt stöd (här är ett inlägg från i mars). Inom kort skall jag försöka skriva en ordentlig utvärdering, men tills dess kan det räcka med lite skvaller med mannen bakom Expedition, Nick White.

Expedition Hall of Fame ;-) Orange II, ABN, Pirates, Ericsson, Maximus, Titan XII, Morning Glory, Pyewacket, Windquest, Rush, Alchemy, Bellicosa, Lexus, Pegasus och många andra… UPDATE: Pelle P startade tävlingen “en skall bort” – gissa vilken? :-)

Nick White har examen i fysik och matematik och arbetade som metrolog innan han seglade som navigatör åt Ross Field på Whitbread-vinnande Yamaha 1993/4. Han var också involverad i Team News Corp 2001/2 och flera Americas Cup-kampanjer som Tag Heuer och Stars & Stripes. Han är också känd för att han hoppade av Paul Cayards EF en månad före starten 1997, så jag vet inte hur poppis han är hos Salén/Olsson :-)

How did you get started with Expedition?
It was started for the 2001/2 Volvo race. Initially, it was just for testing sails as there wasn’t anything else available that could take the B&G data, analyse it and save tests. You could say that Stripchart was the start of Exp. Then it acquired charting, optimal routing and race schedule capabilities. We then went on to do the 2002 Americas Cup and it needed to gain some America’s cup style features very quickly – starts, two boat testing, weather boat fleets, Ockam support…

What were your biggest issues with other software?
Nothing did what I wanted … and I wanted/needed something simple to use.

What’s been the biggest change in navigation in the last 10 years?
GPS definitely, but there have obviously been a lot of other changes in related fields.

Do you think the navigators role has changed?
I think it has got a lot more detailed.

Could you say something about new features in Expedition?
I could, but some of these are being kept under wraps at present… I do have to compete with B&G, but it does seem they are stuggling to update Deckman. Basically, we are pushing Exp out in all areas – usability, interface, features, instrument systems… it all happens quite slowly and methodically though.

Top 3 navigators right now?
That’s a hard one. You can’t really count the AC guys as that is more of a technician field, so thinking about all round guys … I’d say Stan Honey and Peter Isler would be in my list. Not sure who else.

Windquest. En sån här snygg båt hade man ju velat ha i garaget. Inte konstigt att Nick gillar att segla med familjen de Vos… båten hette från början Zephyrus V och var en av bara tre maxZ86. Klassen dog när Disney (Pyewacket) och Plattner (Morning Glory) började kapprusta och råkade i luven på varandra.

Favorite boat to race?
For a class of boat, probably the TP52. For an actual boat – the 86′ Windquest. Just a great group of guys.

Favorite place to race?
Ft Lauderdale to Montego Bay.

Best racing memory?
Leg 5(?) of the ’93/4 Whitbread race.

Worst racing memory?
No comment.

What will you do ten years fron mow?
Still working on Exp!