Stuart Childerley - a madforsailing profile

Where did you grow up?
Loughborough.

What job do you do?
Managing Director of JPM Aggregates Limited. It's now recognised as one of the top ten prepack suppliers in the country (all in five years). I've found this to be as much a challenge as the sailing. A lot of what I've learnt through sailing - the people I've met and the experiences I've had - has given me a huge amount of experience to use within our business.

If you weren’t doing the job you are, what would you be doing instead?
Flying my plane, playing golf and of course catching up with people and doing fun things. Ben, our four month old son, will need support with all sorts of sports etc. which I look forward to doing with him.

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
Golf, just beginning to do fitness training again (and the results are now beginning to show), gliding and flying.

Any other hobbies or interests?
Chainsaw work and cutting the grass in the garden (not as strange as it sounds).

Favourite method of relaxing?
A day at home chilling with not much to do, ending up at the Hotel du Vin, and a taxi home.

Favourite bar or pub?
Hotel du Vin in Winchester, and the King and Queen in Hamble (not too often though).

What inspired you to take up sailing?
Not sure, but the good sailors inspired me with their results.

Where was your first sailing club?
Staunton Harold Sailing Club, Melbourne, Derbyshire.

Which class did you first race in?
Graduate, then the Lark, crewing Fireballs and then Lasers.

How did you buy your first boat?
My parents helped out, and then Grandad bought me my first new Laser.

Have you ever used a coach and who were they?
Various coaches through youth training and Olympic programmes, Jim Saltonstall is brilliant and still is a close friend, John Derbyshire, Bill Edgerton and John Boyce.

What professional links do you have to the sport?
None now.

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
The Oracle Admiral's Cup campaign, it was very unpleasant and sailing was the last thing on my mind. Winning the Swan Worlds on Highland Fling with a great team. The Barlo Plastics Mumm 36 Admiral's Cup and Mumm 30 Tour Voile campaigns. And my first Admiral's Cup campaign on Indulgence in 1989, a fantastic bunch of guys.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
To continue to enjoy it, as much as I have done in the last two years.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
As and when - in between work and family.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
No.

Who are your sailing heroes and why?
The Barlo Plastics team I’ve sailed with in the last two years. A good group of guys with the right attitude.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever made for a poor performance in a race?
No bung in the rear buoyancy tank and too hungover to notice.

What’s your favourite sailing venue?
The Solent, because it is a tricky place to race - or somewhere warm and sunny with rum and coke at hand.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of championship regattas?
Consistent weather conditions.

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
Helming and reading the wind.

What’s your greatest weakness in sailing?
Being too aggressive and missing the point.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
Enjoy it and keep it simple.

Would you rather sail with your friends - or with Russell Coutts?
My friends.

Who’s the best sailor in Britain?
There is no one person, but we could make one hell of a team if we put together the best people for each job without compromise.

Who’s the best sailor in the world?
Paul Cayard, Russell Coutts - it’s not about people, it's all about teams!

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