
We caught up with David Křížek in Český Krumlov’s Unios Internet café, where he was the guest of honor at a function marking his successful qualification for the 2007 MINITRANSAT solo ocean race.
At the age of 34, Křížek has achieved what most people only dream of achieving in a lifetime. This young Czech seems to thrive on firsts: coaching Lenka Šmídová who became the first Czech to win an Olympic medal in a sailing event. Now, as the first Czech to qualify for the grueling MINITRANSAT race, Křížek hopes to be the first Czech
also to complete this extreme sailing test of endurance. The race takes competitors over 4,000 miles with stops in the Canaries, Madeira or the Azores, depending on conditions.
This Czech sailor who will cross the Atlantic solo, with all of the Czech Republic’s hopes behind his sails, is positive about the outlook for sailing in this landlocked country: “The popularity of sailing is increasing all the time. Sailing in the Czech Republic is becoming more popular than golf as far as sponsors are concerned.”
Křižek give the impresson of someone who will forever seek new shores. His current ambition is to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which would give him yet another first – the first Czechs to sail a large craft in the Olympics – and maybe to bring home a Gold. In the meantime, enthusiasts can follow Atlantik FT’s MINITRANSAT preparations and the race itself step by step on www.minitransat.cz
What has sponsorship been like for the Minitransat?
It has been fantastic! My boat, the Atlantik FT, is named after my chief sponsor.
Where is the boat at the moment?
In České Budějovice. The boat was modified – lighter fittings installed, ropes renewed and painting done. It looks fantastic now. I am taking the boat to France, on a huge truck. I will train there, before racing in the Fastnet. In August I will be back in the Czech Republic.
What did you have to do to qualify for the MINITRANSAT?
I completed 6,000 miles sailing the Atlantik FT, including five regattas.
When does the MINITRANSAT start?
At 12:02 on September 16 in La Rochelle, France. The next leg starts at 12:02 on October 6 in Madeira. We finish in Bahia de Salvador in Brazil after about 30 days.
Tell me about the Atlantik FT:
The boat is 6.5 meters. No electric charts are allowed in the race, only paper charts. The boat has GPS navigation, but no radio, no mobile phones are allowed.
Will this be your first Transatlantic crossing?
I’ve crossed the Atlantic twice. This will be my first solo crossing.
Apart from sailing races, what else do you do?
I am a sailing coach. I enjoy coaching young sailors and started the first Internet sailing course in this country. I also coach older sailors. Now that I have been so busy preparing for the MINITRANSAT, I’ve stopped coaching. This is a huge project – preparing the boat, the website, training, dealing with sponsors and the media.
How will you cope with lack of sleep for 30 days?
I have been practicing at home. I have a cat and she wakes me every half an hour to be stroked. I can only sleep for 20 minutes at a time at sea, then get up to check the boat for three minutes, sleep again for 20 minutes. It is dangerous to sleep for longer if you are solo. This race will be very difficult. It’s easy when you have a two-man crew; you can sleep, if you are seasick, you can lie down. When you are alone, you can’t do these things.
What about food on board?
I’ll eat dehydrated food. I pour boiling water in a packet and it’s ready to eat. I’ll drink only water.
When did you start sailing?
When I was four years old my father took me sailing. I started racing when I was 10.
Do you enjoy any other sports?
I like mountain biking, skiing, squash etc.
Where is your home?
I was born in Plzeň and still live there.
Are you married?
No, but I have a girlfriend. She is Czech and she sometimes goes sailing with me.
What are your personal views on Czech sailing?
It is very difficult to be a professional sailor in the Czech Republic. You have to transport your boat to France or some other place, live there for a month or more to train. You have no family there, not like the local sailors.
What type of boat would you sail in the Olympics?
The 49-er, a monohull, exactly 490 cm in length. This boat has a very big sail area and is really fast. I hope to sail in the Olympics with Patrick Hrdina.





















