LOCAL OLYMPIAN - JOHN DANE

By: Nancy Marchbanks

Our own Mr. John Dane, will be a competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which will take place in China, in the month of August. Dane and his son-in-law, Austin Sperry, will square off against the best yacht racers in the world. The race will take place in the town of Qingdao. Most of all the main events will be featured in Bejing, which is the Host city. The small coastal village of Qingdao is south east of Bejing, but proved to be the perfect location for the sailing tournament.
Dane is totally dedicated to his sport, and has sailed all over the world. He has gone head to head with other athletes in Australia, England, Germany, Holland, Canada, Nassau, Bermuda, St Maarten, and Mexico. To stay in top physical form, a visit to the gym each morning is the first order of the day. John begins his regimen at 5:00 AM. It is critical that he maintain a certain weight, which must be carefully monitored every 24 hours. Sailing is a team effort, two men in one boat. They must never go over a combined weight of 440 lbs, or it will mean disqualification. Racing attire is fitted very tightly to the body for less resistance. The fabric must be light and breathe so that perspiration is lessened in the extreme heat. It is not uncommon for Dane and Sperry to spend as much as six hours per day on the water. A healthy diet from all the major food groups is supplemented with power bars and power drinks to help keep the energy level up and increase stamina.
This is not a sport for the faint of heart. Dane explains, "We have to be able to hang by our ankles with our torso extended over the side of the boat. We also have to pull the lines, depending almost entirely on our physical strength." The two men are in the gym every morning, usually five days a week, unless they are sailing in regattas or training. They often train in Florida. Dane owns Trinity Yachts in Gulfport, and his job requires extensive traveling. When in town, he begins work at 7:45 but everything revolves around major regattas and training sessions with other "star" sailors.
There are 26 people on the US Sailing Team, which encompasses 12 separate sporting events. Dane and Sperry are coached by Hans Wallen of Sweden, and Rodney Hagebols of Australia. They have trained extensively with the German team, lead by Marc Pickel and Ingo Borkowski, and the Brazilian team, lead by Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada. It is interesting to note, that while they are training partners, once the Olympic games begin, they are fierce competitors.
John's love of sailing began as a youngster. He and his father began sailing together in New Orleans, at the Southern Yacht Club, when John was only ten. Born and raised in New Orleans, John's first job was working for a commercial and military boat builder. In 1981, he moved to Pass Christian after opening his own Shipyard in Moss Point. When Dane made the move to Mississippi, he joined the Pass Christian Yacht Club where he still sails today. He also enjoys memberships in the Gulfport YC, as well as in New York.
Several very prominent businesses sponsor Dane and Sperry. Oakley, of designer sunglasses fame - Gill, maker of fine nautical wear - Harken, manufacturer of sailboat fittings - International Yacht Collection - a yacht brokerage company, and Trinity Yachts. It has been an incredible journey for these two men, but the best is yet to be when they take on the world's finest athletes in the upcoming Summer Olympic Games. All of Mississippi and Louisiana must be particularly proud of their accomplishments, and will most certainly be cheering them on. We at GTP Monthly, wish them God's speed, and the best of luck!