Thanks for agreeing to take part in this light-hearted Q&A session, Martin.
Can you start by telling us how old were you when you first learnt to sail and what kind of dinghy did you sail at the time?
I started sailing when I was 7 or 8, my parents had just joined the Sailing club Frensham Pond. The first boat I sailed was a Cadet; my father had also just built himself a Miracle from a kit in the front room!
Who taught you to sail?
I was lucky enough that after joining FPSC, one of the top Cadet helms, Karen Videlo was looking for a new crew, back then they wanted very small and light crews, so I fitted the bill. Her brothers had both been National & World champions in Cadets and Karen was attempting to follow in their footsteps. This meant that following a winter of training, I was straight into the open circuit, travelling around the country, and competing in the Cadet Nationals at Burnham-on-Crouch in the summer.
How old are you now (approximately, we won’t tell) and what is your job?
I am now in my fifties, so have been sailing for a number of years, you would think by now I should know what I am doing. I work for an IT company in Telford called Capgemini.
What kind of boat do you currently sail and why did you choose it?
I have gone back to sailing my Laser, I did have an Aero7 for a while, but I was not sailing enough now, so I decided to sell it. I have spent most of my sailing career in Lasers, being single handed allows me to decide if I want to sail and where without the need to worry about the crew. It is a boat I have enjoyed sailing over the years, and there has always been good competition wherever you go.
Are there any other designs of dinghy that you’d like to try?
When I was younger, I fancied sailing an 18foot skiff, multiple trapezes and very fast. After competing at Federation week down at Hayling island, the idea of sailing a Moth also appealed to me as they’re so quick.
There are other sailing clubs around, why did you choose Colemere and how long have you been a member?
Colemere because it is close is the honest answer. I did sail at Shropshire sailing club, but when they changed the races to be 30 minutes, I decided to leave and moved to Colemere. I have also sailed at Chelmarsh and Bala.
What kinds of sailing conditions do you most enjoy?
Windy conditions that are not fluky, probably why I enjoy sea sailing so much, nothing like sailing downwind in strong wind and big waves.
Is there a particular moment that is most memorable about your time at Colemere?
Not many that spring to mind, maybe breaking my mast on a day that wasn’t even that windy.
If you could sail anywhere in the world (dinghies or bigger boats), where would you go?
I have been lucky enough to sail at several clubs while competing in the Open circuit in various boats, also competing in numerous National championships around the country, I also got to sail a yacht to various places when competing in RORC and JOG series in my younger days. Cowes week and Cork week were always fun, a few Fastnets, the Round Ireland and the Round Britain & Ireland race. A few places I wouldn’t mind sailing in such as Lake Garda appeals to me for some reason. As for offshore, I’ve always fancied doing the Sydney Hobart Race.
Is there anyone you would really like to meet who could coach you to improve your sailing techniques? (Don’t say the Commodore just because he’s brilliant!)
Through my sailing career I have been lucky to sail with a number of top sailors, Tim Powell, Steve Cockrill, John Merricks, Ian Craig, Roger Gilbert to name but a few. One sailor who I would have liked to sail with was the late, great New Zealand skipper, Grant Dalton. When I first starting sailing yachts, he was one of the top skippers of his time.
Assuming you love sailing, why?
As I mentioned previously, you can’t beat sailing fast downwind in big waves, whether in a dinghy or on a yacht, the sheer exhilaration of the wind and waves.
Thanks Martin!
If you would like to take part in the Q&A series, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.
Carol Clinton
Membership Secretary
07970 860691