4 es Sports TheReview Wednesday, December 19,1990 — B7 Love of yachiing is reward enough by Mare Davis The Review aS Though he’s yet to turn 30, Eric Jespersen has a wealth of experi- ence in competing with the world’s top yachtsmen in the world’s foremost sailing events. A veteran of both of Canada’s challenges for the America’s Cup, Jespersen, 29, now works for his father as a boatbuilder in Sidney. It’s a mark of his love of yacht- ing that he’s seldom stayed far from the sea since he graduated from Parkland Secondary a decade ago. ‘I love all aspects of the sport. whether I’m racing or cruising, just being in a boat makes me feel good’ A lifelong love affair with sail- boat racing blossomed in 1982 when he earned a chance to sail on Canada’s first-ever entry in the America’s Cup competition. Racing with Canada 1 against the best sailors in the world on 12-metre Class 65-foot yachts was a dream come true for Jespersen. But being picked to race for Canada in the world’s most pres- tigious yacht racing event was just ¥ happy coincidence,” he mod- tly declared. “J just happened to be the nght age at the right time. They offered me $100 a week and room and board and I went for it,” he said. With no previous experience racing 12-metre yachts, Jespersen learned fast and his sail-trimming skills helped his team to reach the semi-finals of the 1983 America’s Cup competition in Boston. Since then he has raced all over the world “‘for the love of racing,” rather than for prestige and money. Unlike most sportsmen of his caliber, he just receives expenses and pats on the back when he races on the international circuit for some of the world’s top helms- men. : : _ But he’s rich with memories PANTHERS Continued from Page B4 Friday’s night loss 78-65 to high-ranked Abbotsford was referred to as a learning experience by Milligan. Despite being a close game, Parkland made too many costly blunders when put under pressure by the ninth-ranked team in B.C. “Our inexperience showed. We threw the ball away too many times. Otherwise we could have won the game,” he said. And Thursday’s 80-55 loss against the third-ranked team in ee province, Centennial, also taught Parkland a valuable lesson, he said. “We were blitzed in the early going. We didn’t play with any confidence because the guys felt a bit intimidated,” he said. But the Panthers rallied to fight back in the third and fourth quar- ters, when they scored more points than Centennial, he said Showing the Vancouver team less respect in the latter stages of the game proved to the home team that a big difference can be made by having a confident attitude, he said. “Now the boys have learned from that experience and should not be intimidated easily from now on,” Milligan said. from some of his racing accom- plishments. For instance, he’s proud of hav- ing crewed on a sleek racing yacht that he helped to build in his father’s boatyard — a boat that he then raced to victory in the world eight-metre yacht racing champi- onships in 1984. But his most cherished memory comes from his days as a crew member on Canada 2, which chal- lenged for the America’s Cup in Freemantle, Australia, in 1987. Helping Canada 2 to beat Amer- ica’s Cup maverick Dennis Con- her in one of the heats in Freeman- tle was a great thrill for Jespersen. Conner later skippered his yacht, Stars and Stripes, to a triumphant 4-0 win over the Aus- tralian cup holders in 1987 to prove himself the world’s Number One 12-metre yacht helmsman. Since Canada is sitting out the next America’s Cup competition, Jespersen plans to race next year on a grand prix circuit for a 50-foot Class of racing yachts. A crew of “virtually profes- sional international sailors” will help sail a Japanese entry in the round-robin series, which includes entries from all over the globe. The circuit of races will take Jespersen to the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Florida, he said. However, he may soon find him- self racing in Peninsula waters again — years after establishing a name for himself as a fiercely competitive sailing enthusiast at the age of 12. At one time, he won many races in his eight-foot dinghy while a member of the now-defunct Saa- nich Peninsula Sailing Associa- tion. But now he plans to return with a 30-foot boat he designed himself and is building in the backyard of his home. “But I won’t just race all the time. I love all aspects of the sport. Whether I’m racing or cruising, just being in a boat makes me feel good,” he said. Ultimately, he hopes to channel all his years of racing experience and his boatbuilding skills into his dream of becoming a racing yacht designer. And if he carves out a name as a boat builder that matches his repu- tation as a sailor, he’ll continue to be praised in yachting circles for many years to come. a Christmas in Sidney SIDNEY BY THE SEA THE FRIENDLY SHOPPING DESTINATION ii Sidney By-The-Searekindles the Spiritof Christmas pastby providing a level of service that only a small seaside town can. Join in the Christmas in Sidney Spirit as you stroll down Beacon Avenue and remember a time when Christmas shopping was a pleasure! More than any mall! Sidney By-The-Sea combines a wide variety of independent shops and services with unmatched convenience and atmosphere. You'll find 8 art deal featuring everything from local originals to creatively frarfed limited edition international prints. Twenty different clothing stores, Five Jewellers, Six Craft shops, Three Hardware Stores, Bookstores, and much much more. With over 200 shopping opportunities you're sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list! _ Plenty of Free Parking! TAKING A BREAK from his boatbuilding work, Eric Jesper sen contemplates his future as a yacht racing veteran . and former America’s Cup competitor of international renown. FRIENDLY SERVICE SELECTION SIDNEY SANTA HOUSE You can visit Mr. Claus at his Sidney Santa House inside Snapdragon Nurseries on Beacon Avenue. Photography by Sooter Studios. Santa House Hours DecemBer 8 - 22 WEEKDAYS | P.M.°4 P.M. SATURDAYS 10 = HOON @ 2 = 4 p.m. CLOSED SUNDAYS Christmas Shopping DOSCCSHSCOSTCCEESCE OCCHLCEOHM CCH CHOOCCOGSEOHOOCESBOSCCEBESOCEeeOeCESeCSCeCOBEe SE Set a day or two aside and experience a ination _ thatis without equal! © Sidney Association of Merchants GOTSHLHOHHHOHOHAHDAOESCHTFHHHOMSOSHSHAHHDHOHHHHSOHGHHHOHOHAOHGHHAHDHOHOHHOHDGHHKHHHHAHAHDHHOHHOHGOHLHHOMHDMHHHAOAHHOHHHOHDOKDHODHGOOGHOGDOGHDRHOE OOOO