Dickinson wants 20 wins before retiring

Stevie Dickinson’s name is a familiar sight on the Edward Cross Trophy, to say the least.

The veteran sailor’s name was engraved on the trophy a record 17th time, as he won the Long Distance Comet Race last week in what was his 36th go at the annual St. George’s to Somerset trek.

Dickinson’s infatuation with sailing started at around six-years-old, when his father was building comets and got him into the sport. His first official Long Distance Comet Race was at 14. Forty years later, he’s  missed only four races and still maintains the same love for sailing as he did when he started.

“I just have a passion for sailing,” Dickinson told the Bermuda Sun. “I’m always looking to improve. 

“Even now, as I’ve gotten older I feel like I’m sailing better than I ever have.

“I have a better understanding of what the boat likes, what the sails like, the sail shape, and the rest of the stuff. 

“Each race is always exciting for me, because of the passion I have for it. I just love sailing: dealing with the elements and trying to master them. It can be challenging at times, so I need to have patience, but I love it.”

Although his role has changed over the years as he has become more of a mentor to the younger sailors, Dickinson is still very competitive and eager to win the race a few more times before he retires: “I definitely think I have quite a few more years left in racing. I would like to take it up to about 20 wins; that would be good. 

“After I do that, I’m almost sure I would pass my boat on to someone else, some youngster coming up, so they can race in this race and enjoy it as much as I have.

“Most of the guys that I sail against look up to me and respect me as a sailor, and I’m constantly telling them different things about the rigging and how the rigging should be, and how to control their sails, and I’m constantly feeding them information to get them going faster, which is good so that the standard stays high. 

“If they know what they’re doing and they’re getting faster, it means that I’ve got to stay faster to beat them, and the standard just keeps growing and growing.”

The East End Yacht Club sailor had little trouble this year, leading everyone else home in a time of two  hours, 18 minutes, and 31 seconds. “The race this year was quite nice. I was well prepared, I was rested, and I got a very good start.

“I got to the channel first, where the wind dropped out and everyone crowded up in the channel. 

“Heath Foggo got out first, then I finally caught a bit of breeze and ended up out with him. He had maybe 50 or 60 yards on me but I sailed him down.

“We sailed right out to Catherine’s Point together but once I got around past Catherine’s Point it was smooth sailing. I just stayed in control of the race the rest of the way.”

Dickinson and Foggo have some history between them, both as rivals and team-mates, both in the Comet race and other events.

“The Central American and Caribbean games were very memorable. I don’t remember which year it was, but Heath Foggo and I sailed in the CAC games.

“It wasn’t a victory but it was a silver medal. Our boat actually came late for the competition, so we missed two races but still just barely lost the regatta by one point. We were very fast out there.”

As Dickinson continues to dominate the Comet class, he is also working hard to make sure to teach the younger generation as they start sailing Comets. 

“We’re definitely trying to get more young guys into it. We guys aren’t going to be sailing forever and the comet is just a really fun class to sail.”