PETTER FJELD INTERVIEW
From Hankø to the world Petter Fjeld has been sailing 5.5 Metres since the early 1990s. A member of Hankø Yacht Club, venue for the 2021 Scandinavian Gold Cup and World Championship, he talks about his years in the class and the beauty of Hankø.
H
ankø was always on the old 5.5 Metre calendar. “Our late King Olav V was a very keen sailor that loved Hankø. It’s an intimate small club that perfectly suits the class and of course the sailing just outside the island is fantastic.” “The best conditions is always the seabreeze that builds during the day. It’s nice offshore sailing just a short distance from the dock.” His advice for next year: “Hankø is a nice holiday Island so try to enjoy that. It’s an island without cars where you can relax on the rocks after sailing. If the island is too small, Fredrikstad is only 20 minutes away and that town is getting quite good when it comes to restaurants and urban life.
Hankø is different, with lots of charm. Live the island life and enjoy it.” Petter Fjeld began his sailing career in a Flipper 2 person dinghy at the family summerhouse and sailed as a crew with his older brother. “Later at 14 I started windsurfing and at about 18 I was crewing on a cruiser. We did day racing around Hankø and it was very social and fun. My friend’s father was a great owner and gave us a great start in this sport. There was not many big results but many hours on the rail and many great parties.” As well as the 5.5 Metre Petter has sailed Star boats, Melges 24 and is currently active in the Finn Class. “When I started sailing 5.5 Metres there was an very active class at Hankø and big names were visiting from all over the world. The boats were beautiful and we all admired them and the dream was to sail on one of them one day. Thomas Borgen’s father had a 5.5 Metre and I asked for a crew position but I had no luck first time. Then in 1991 the fleet championship was being held and they needed a third guy. I had no experience but I loved it. The result after three days was a disaster and the skipper left the boat on the dock and went home. This opened a new chapter and Thomas now had the tiller in his hand and we started working and training towards the worlds in Hankø in 1993.” “We did our first international regatta on Garda in 1992 and from then I have been committed and in love with these Top and right: Clark Kent in Newport in 2020 Left and top right: Cowes 2018
44 • fivepointfive • april 2020
