Giving Paul Bieker Some Seahorse Love

I love writing profiles; it gives me an excuse to learn more about sailors and industry folks I’ve admired from afar. A few months ago, my husband suggested I interview the Seattle-based Paul Bieker for Seahorse Magazine… and I found myself completely fascinated by our free-range conversation. Judging by the number of compliments I’ve received since the story came out, you will be too.

Bieker designs cover a very wide range in both size and intention; America’s Cup/SailGP, cruising, even powerboats. That made for even more than the usual challenge when it came time to write the headline, so I finally just submitted my first brainstorm: Artfully, Quietly, Radical, figuring the editors would come up with something better. Instead I opened the issue’s table of contents to find a heart-warming compliment: “CAROL CRONIN is surely one of the few people who could sum up eclectic racer, designer, and engineer PAUL BIEKER so well in three words.”

I always enjoy the editors’ selection of photos and captions, though this time I was disappointed (but also completely unsurprised) that there is not a single headshot of Bieker himself. Instead it’s a smorgasbord of boat pictures, including his top three favorites; all technically racer-cruisers. The owners of flat-out raceboats are missing something, he told me, because “they don’t spend any time sailing their boats for fun.”

Seahorse has graciously allowed me to share the PDF with you, but to read the rest of an action-packed issue you’ll have to subscribe. Thanks for supporting the magazine that covers the international racing scene better than any other publication! And let me know if you have an idea for another profile, as I’m always on the hunt for fresh “victims.”