MADISON, Wis. — Rick Roy can't remember a time when he hasn't spent time on a lake.
Roy, senior vice president of customer operations at CUNA Mutual Group, recalls those childhood days spent on inland lakes in Wisconsin going back some 30 years ago. His family would also spend the summers at their second home on the lake. It was then that young Roy was introduced to and bit by the sailing bug.
These days, starting around Memorial Day, Roy said he races sailboats nearly every weekend. He's traveled with his team to tournaments and regattas in New Jersey, Dallas and Florida, but mostly in the Midwest. Roy serves as the tactician, the team member who determines not only where the sailboat is, but what strategies are the most advantageous to stay on course. He works closely with the helmsman on sailboats ranging in size from 16 feet to 50 feet. The rest of his mates ensure that the right types of sails are being erected at the right time. Roy, along with the five other team members, is currently racing a 38-foot sailboat.
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"The wind and water are always a challenge," Roy said. "It's kind of like playing a three-dimensional chess game with the chess board moving. There are a lot of variables that can make [sailing] tricky."
To stay competitive, Roy said weight training and "good cardio" can make a big difference. The stamina is a must since a race can typically last one or two hours. Still, the excitement is worth it.
"It's a lot of fun to get a group of people together to practice and train in different wind conditions," Roy said. "Racing is very tactical."
On the other end of the spectrum is cruising. Roy picked up this type of sailing seven years ago. Roy and his family will charter a boat and live on it for up to two weeks usually somewhere down in the British Virgin Islands. The pace is much more relaxing but proper navigation is critical.
"Instead of going fast, you pick out the places you want to explore and you make sure that you get their safely," Roy explained, adding "I have seen [some dangerous outcomes]. It's a pretty sobering reminder that things can go wrong."
Whether it's racing or cruising, Roy said being out on the water and under the sky is the ultimate getaway.
"It's a great mental escape from what we do in our day jobs," he said. "The one thing we enjoy about the sport is we have met a number of fascinating people from all over the world that have come together with a common interest."
When the day comes for Roy to retire, he is more than sure "our retirement home will be floating."
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