Tunnicliffe is no stranger to the podium’s top step. Four years ago in Beijing she became the first U.S. woman in 20 years to win gold when she took first in laser radial, a class of boat in Olympic sailing. The win led to the first of four consecutive Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Eager for a new challenge, Tunnicliffe decided two years ago to switch to the Elliott 6 meter.
It was a fundamental change, in that she was no longer alone on the water. Single-handed sailing allowed the 29-year-old sailor to do what she wanted, when she wanted. Now she’s the skipper leading Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi. But that doesn’t mean she’s in charge.
“Each person has their own job,” said Tunnicliffe, whose current crew finished second at the Women’s World Match Racing World Championships last month. “Everybody listens to everybody else. Yes, I drive the boat, so I have the ultimate say, but it’s usually my best interest to do as they tell me.”
In laser radial, one person sails a 4.2-meter dinghy with a single sail, with the entire fleet racing simultaneously in races that last an hour. The longer Elliott 6m boat has three sails, and the races are quick head-to-head affairs that wrap up in 12 to 15 minutes. Tactics and positioning are key and a solid grasp of the intricacies of the rules will help a crew pin their opponent in an unfavorable spot.
Tunnicliffe is a good example of the physicality of sailing. She’s a CrossFit fanatic and former distance runner who showed the results of her work by posing nude for ESPN The Magazine‘s “Body Issue“. No one who sees that amazing photo can ever say sailors are not athletes in every sense of the word.
But Tunnicliffe says it was the mental aspect of the match racing that is most challenging.
“It is a chess game,” she said. “You’re always thinking two or three steps ahead, and the five or six options that go with that play. You really like be able to plan everything well head of time so that you’re ready for anything that your opponent throws at you.”
Wired sat down with Tunnicliffe to learn more about her and the sport she loves.
