Sattherwaite loves life in the pits

By JULIE ASH

As Craig Satterthwaite puts it, he has been "sailing all his life."

When he was 16, he trained with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron youth programme in Elliot 5.9s.

Since 1992 he's been a regular at the Steinlager Logan matchracing series, and with numerous big-boat races in the Pacific and Europe.

"I have been sailing all my life. My grandparents and my father were into sailing," he said.

In 1997 he competed on Swedish Match in the round-the-world race. The team finished third.

"It was great and I wouldn't mind going around the world again. Maybe in a catamaran."

Satterthwaite joined Team New Zealand in 2000. "I love it. I always wanted to do an America's Cup.

"Most of my sailing has been offshore, but I always wanted to be involved in the cup."

As a pitman, Satterthwaite is a key link between the helmsman and the bow.

He is responsible for handling the halyards and lines used to hoist and drop sails, and often makes the call as to what sort of sail drop will be made.

"You have to have good communications skills because there are a few decisions which have to be made."

Satterthwaite said it had been interesting watching the challengers race.

"I think after this week we should have a clear idea if one boat is quicker than the rest.

"The intensity has lifted a lot here. Our emphasis is on racing now, rather than testing."

Craig Satterthwaite - Pitman

Age: 29

Career highlights:

1997: Whitbread round-the-world race on Swedish Match.

Various: Kenwood Cup (2), Sydney-Hobart, Auckland-Fukuoka, Fastnet race record for a monohull, Steinlager Loganb matchracing since 1992, national and MRX matchracing, three wins, three seconds, keelboat national champion, RNZYS youth training scheme.

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