Swiftsure Skippers Series: #3 Corinthian YC Portland

#3 in the Skippers Series brings us members Frank Colistro and Steve Rander from Corinthian Yacht Club in Portland, Oregon. They race up to Victoria in the Oregon Offshore Race and then proceed to race Swiftsure a couple of weeks later.

Frank Colistro has a wonderfully different way of experiencing and engaging the world. His humour and candour have guided Wy’ East through many challenges.

Steve Rander, designer/builder of the Wylie line of yachts, has pursued excellence in both his design sensibilities and in pushing Rage to the wall. He was the winner of Oregon Offshore 2015 – and the only yacht to finish which is a testament to his drive.

Q1: Name Frank P. Colistro (Wy’East, Cascade 36)

Q2: How many Swiftsure races have you done? 25 or so

Q3: What year was your first Swiftsure? 1985

Q4: What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you or your crew when racing in Swiftsure? The head valve was left open, head flooded.

Q5: What was the most exciting or interesting thing that occurred while you were racing in Swiftsure? Tacking across the bow of a submarine late at night.

Q6: What advice would you give someone who’s thinking of racing Swiftsure for the first time? Don’t think about it. Just do it.

Q1: Name  Steven Rander (late of Rage, Wylie 70)

Q2: How many Swiftsure races have you done? Over 40

Q3: What year was your first Swiftsure? 1973

Q4: What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you or your crew when racing in Swiftsure?

There was one year that it was so calm and we were outbound just outside Race Rocks in the fog, late the first night. When it started to rain we all looked at each other and bagged the race as one of our crew blew taps using a snorkel.

Q5: What was the most exciting or interesting thing that occurred while you were racing in Swiftsure?

There is nothing as good as sailing back through the fleet at 18 – 22 knots of boat speed and picking the jibe angles.

Q6: What advice would you give someone who’s thinking of racing Swiftsure for the first time?

Come and play! Victoria is Disneyland for adults and Swiftsure may be the best race you have ever sailed in.