Paul Bayliss - a madforsailing profile

Where did you grow up?
Godalming, near Guildford in Surrey.

What job do you do?
I work in the RYA Marketing Department.

If you weren’t doing the job you are, what would you be doing instead?
Travelling or bumming round the Caribbean or Australia.

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
I keep talking about doing another rugby season, but I’ve said that for 10 years!

Any other hobbies or interests?
I like exploring new places by land or sea.

Favourite method of relaxing?
Beer and good mates.

Favourite bar or pub?
Clarke's Bistro in Wickham, it’s the best place to eat or drink in the area and it's about a hundred yards from my front door.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
My parents - they now go all over the world in a blue water cruising boat they built themselves, but we always enjoyed racing the family cruiser too.

Where was your first sailing club?
Portchester Sailing Club, opposite Port Solent in Portsmouth Harbour. I still sail there, because it has a great atmosphere and easy launching.

Which class did you first race in?
A Salcombe Yawl.

How did you buy your first boat?
My father funded my boats until I left school. Then as soon as I raised the money in my first six months working, I swapped my £250, 27 year old Fireball for a nearly new one.

Have you ever used a coach?
Only to go to France on a skiing trip.

Do you have any professional links to the sport?
Apart from being an RYA Employee - No.

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
Sailing an 18 Foot Skiff.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
To be thought of in the same terms as some of the great sailors, and not to fade away like so many people do. To irritate youngsters by having so much experience that I always know which way to go up a beat!

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
Not enough. Five years ago the answer would have been all weekend and three or four nights a week.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
Between major sponsors at the moment! Crewsaver help me out in the kit department.

Who are your Sailing heroes - and why?
The current Olympic team - they’re not just good, they are really tough as well, both mentally and physically.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever made for a poor performance in a race?
Breaking my tiller extension over the wing in a rage.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever heard for a poor performance in a race, and from who?
Clive Everest was so hungover one day at an RS600 meeting, that he vomited in the boat, then slipped over on it in a tack!

What’s your favourite sailing venue?
Falmouth, without a doubt the most beautiful place to go sailing.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of championship regattas?
Rules to mandate race officers to abandon lottery races - what happened to Barker and Hiscocks in Race One of their Olympic's was a joke!! It's happened to me in two Championships this year (ok, somewhat less important) and has cost me good places.

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
Focus and drive.

What’s your greatest weakness in sailing?
When I lack focus and drive I get mad.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
A guy called Pete Hiskey used to sail Fireballs at my club when I was a nipper. He said to me once, 'have a reason for every move you make on the race course'. It has stood me in good stead.

Would you rather sail with your friends - or with Russell Coutts?
There's a time to sail with your friends, and a time to learn from the greats.

Who’s the best sailor in Britain?
I take my hat off to Ian Barker who has made the transition from pedestrian boats like the Enterprise to top level 49er sailing.

Who’s the best sailor in the world?
Chris Nicholson - pleased to see our boys beat him in the Olympics though.

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