K.Lane: I am here with Mark Strube who’s a member of Team Brick House 539 where he does the bow.  He’s fresh off a victory at Kiel in the competitive Olympic Star class.  Mark, first off congratulations on a strong win in Kiel.  That’s a big time event to win and you did it convincingly.  Tell us how you did it?

MS:  Thank you Kristen, The biggest thing that contributed to our victory was consistency.  We finished with two 3rds and two 4ths.  Only getting 4 races in didn't allow for a throw-out.  Some of the other top teams had at least one bad race they had to count.  Going into the medal race, which counts double, we were two points behind Ian Percy, the current Olympic Gold medalist.  He was sailing very well.  On the medal race day, his crew, "Bart" Simpson, had to go meet the Queen, having won the Gold Medal.   Well, their coach filled in.  Not to take anything away from the coach but they hadn't sailed together and he was about 50 lbs lighter.  Needless to say they didn't do so well.  We finished second in the Medal race, behind Pepper/Monk who moved into second overall.

K.Lane: On the Star you sail with Mark Mendemblat.   How did the two of you come together and describe what that sailing partnership is like.

 

MS: Mark and I met while sailing for the One World America's Cup team.  He was still sailing lasers at the time and went to Athens in "04.  He wanted to move into the star class after that and he and I were a good fit (weight wise).  I had been sailing the star for 10 years at the time.  It is a partnership in that communication is key.  There is a lot of idea sharing both on and off the water.  Logistics is also important.  If one of us is at another regatta, the other has to make sure the boat gets to where it needs to go and gets set up.  We agree on a lot of things but when there is a disagreement you need to discuss it and not get upset or take it personal.  This is a team effort and both of us have the same goals, to medal at the next Olympics.

K.Lane: Tell us about your Star boat.

MS: We have two right now, a Lillia and a Mader.  We have been sailing the Mader which is a little different to what we were use to.  Our first regatta in Palma didn't go as well as we hoped but we have made big strides in the setup and sails and are well on our way to maximizing performance in the boat. 

K.Lane:  Alright.  Let’s get into some more personal and interesting information, if you don’t mind.  Anyone who has met you knows from simply looking at you that you’re an athlete.  What are you, 6’ 5”?  (Standing next to Mark on the dock makes me look petite and thin) In fact, you look more like a football player then a sailor.  As it turns out, you and football have a past.  Tell us about it:

MS: Yes I am 6'5" and around 250lbs.  I have been involved in all kinds of sports.  Mostly Football, Basketball, Track and of course Sailing.  I got a scholarship at Northern Michigan University to play football.  For the first three years I played QB, but in my 4th year I had gained some weight and the coaches decided to move me to Tight End, as well as special teams.  My senior year I was awarded MVP for special teams.  During my last game in College I broke two vertebrae in my back and took some time off.  After I graduated I moved down to Miami to get my masters degree.  I was involved in the intramural football and one day after a game a friend told me that I had a great arm and should try out for the pros.  It just so happened that there was a tryout for the Miami Hooters Arena football team a few days later, so I attended.  I made the team but was later waived due to the cuts for the final roster.  I was later picked up by the Orlando Predators and played backup QB there for a year. We went to the Arena Bowl! but lost.  I was never fast enough to make the NFL.  For sure it was one of my best summer jobs.  I still like to throw the ball whenever possible.  

K.Lane:  From football you went to the America’s Cup.  How did that happen?  What campaigns have you been involved with?

MS: Sailing the AC has always been a lifelong dream of mine.  While I was in Lake Geneva sailing a Melges 24 regatta, Buddy Melges was launching the boats with his tractor and I asked him how I could get involved in the AC.  He basically told me to get him my resume and he would send it off to Dawn Riley with America True.  A few weeks later I was in SF for a tryout on the OD 48's.  I made the team and went down to NZ for an 8 month training session.  Things didn't work out there so I left and joined Abracadabra for the 2000 Cup.  After a taste of sailing those big boats I knew I wanted to continue.  In 2002/03 I joined the One World AC Team and for the last Cup I sailed with Victory Challenge out of Sweden.   

K.Lane: I know from sailing with you that you give your all on the boat.  But, tell us what you gave to a certain AC mainsheet block...

MS:  Yea thanks Kristen.  I was training in NZ with One World on a very windy day.  We had a English reporter doing a documentary on the team and the AC and there was a lot of carnage. Blown up kites, a broken pole, etc.  Very exciting sailing.  During our lunch break I went back to make sure he got his lunch and had enough gear.  During a tack I had my lunch in my left hand and as we hit a bad wave I reached up to grab the strop on the mainsheet for balance.  The main was still coming in and my pinky got caught in the floating block, ripping it right off.  I lost the tip in the block.  Charlie McKee was there to get it out and from there I went straight back to the dock to attempt to reattach it.  It was a little too crushed.

K.Lane: Tell us how you decided to leave your MBA job to become a professional sailor.  Any regrets?  What’s been the biggest surprise about professional sailing?

MS: After graduation I became a stockbroker.  I also was doing a lot of sailing.  One day I went into my bosses office to ask off for another regatta.  He said that I was taking way to much time off to go sailing and that I should make a decision to sail or continue working there.  I decided to take a chance and go for the sailing.  I don't regret it at all.  I have seen much of the world and met lots of very interesting people.  Surprises?  There really aren't any.  I knew what I was getting into.

K.Lane:  What stands out in your time with Team Brick House as the “most memorable moment?”

MS:  My most memorable moments at Team Brick House have been the individual wins in Charleston and Annapolis earlier this year.  It has been a pleasure to sail with everyone involved.  The talent is top notch.  I have learned a lot from everyone.

K.Lane:  What’s next for you?  What kind of sailing are you for sure doing and what sailing do you want to do?

MS:  I am home for a few days and then back to Kiel for the Star Europeans.  My schedule has a lot of Star sailing over the next few months/years leading up to the next Olympics.  I am open for anything, but would love to do some inshore racing on the Volvo boats.  Not sure if I would want to do the entire race.  I like to come home and sleep in a comfy bed.

K.Lane:  Any other professional sports you plan on pursuing in this lifetime?

MS:  I always wanted to be a professional race car driver but I am too old and big to get into that now.  As Ricky Bobby says "I like to go fast".

K.Lane:  Where can we follow the progress of you Olympic campaign?

MS:  I have a website www.markstrubesailing.com but am not good at updating it.  I'll have to work on that.  I think http://starclass.org  is a good way to  read more.  Mark and I plan on doing a lot of the major regatta's.