Paul Campbell-James - a madforsailing profile

Brighton.

What's your date of birth?
4th April 1983.

What age did you start sailing?
Seven.

What was your first regatta win?
Weirwood Optimist Open 1993, Optimist Junior National Championships 1995.

What's your biggest championship win?
1997 and 1998 at the Optimist Easter Regatta Braassemermeer, Holland, with 270 boats.

Any other notable regatta wins you'd like to mention?
British 420 Selection trials for the 2000 Volvo ISAF Youth Worlds.
Optimist National Championship 1995 and 1997.
Spa Youth Regatta 1997.
Irish Optimist Nationals 1997.
Eighth at the Optimist World Championships 1997.

Do you like school?
Yeah, it's all right.

What's your best subject?
Maths.

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
Not many other sports because at school instead of football or whatever, I do sailing. But I like windsurfing, snowboarding, surfing.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
My father, who went to the 1984 Olympics in a Tornado.

Which sailing club do you belong to?
Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy.

Which class did you first race in?
Optimist.

Have you ever used a coach?
Yes, my dad to start with and now Rob Wilson.

What's your most memorable moment in sailing?
Winning Young Sailor of the Year in 1997.

What's your biggest goal in sailing?
Olympic gold, and helm in the America's Cup.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
Anything from ten hours to 18 hours.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
Helly Hansen give me clothing.

Who are your sailing heroes - and why?
Paul Elvstrom with four gold medals, and all America's Cup skippers.

What is the best excuse you've ever made for a poor performance in a race?
Itchy legs!

What is the best excuse you've ever heard for a poor performance in a race, and from who?
Cramp in little finger.

What's your favourite sailing venue?
Weymouth.

Who's the best sailor in Britain?
Ben Ainslie.

Who's the best sailor in the world?
Ben Ainslie.

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