Jerry Eplett - a madforsailing profile

Where did you grow up?
Fowey.

What job do you do?
Resting, or is it in between jobs, at the moment.

If you weren’t doing the job you are, what would you be doing instead?
I used to work at Proctor Masts.

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
Last time I played 5-a-side football I broke my leg, so I’ve decided other sports are for watching, not doing.

Favourite bar or pub?
The King and Queen in Hamble, and Turnmills in London.

Any other hobbies or interests?
Avoiding 5-a-side footy, and drinking at the King and Queen.

Favourite method of relaxing?
Watching TV at home with the Doris and doing DIY.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
You haven’t been to Fowey have you?

Which class did you first race in?
A local traditional keelboat called a Troy. Long keel, wooden spars (the spinnaker pole is a bannister rail!) and a bowsprit - oddball, but they’re great.

How did you buy your first boat?
It was my brother's hand-me-down Mirror.

Have you ever used a coach?
No, but I wish I’d been in Jim Saltonstall’s squad.

Do you have any professional links to the sport?
Not now, but I used to work for Proctor, Holt, Racing Sailboats and Ossie Stewart.

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
Sending the Bashford 41 Silk2 down the mine in Cowes Week, the bow was about 20 foot underwater with the bowman hanging onto the forestay at the time. Then there was a downwind leg at Lake Garda in the 18 foot skiff in which we overtook a car on the coast road, in fact, most downwind legs under the cliff at Garda.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
Winning the next regatta.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
I sail every weekend, and as many weeks as possible, around 75 days year.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
Ronstan supply hardware for the International 14. In the past, Glenfiddich and DBS sponsored the Melges 24 and Ultra campaigns respectively.

Who are your Sailing heroes and why?
John Merricks. He was a red hot sailor, and great fun. He’s missed.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever made for a poor performance in a race?
It started to rain, or maybe the Silk2 crash story . Then there was, 'The protest committee didn't recognise the term "Incoming!", and said I should have asked for water in the usual way'.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever heard for a poor performance in a race, and from who?
I didn’t see them until it was too late because my contacts had just been washed out.
You kicked the mainsheet out of my hand.
I couldn’t tack because of the helicopter.
My crew forgot to put the bung in.
We sailed into a tree.
I’d rather not name names.

What’s your favorite sailing venue?
Rive del Garda, Key West, Melbourne - somewhere hot and with good breeze.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of championship regattas?
Less waiting around between races, unless there is a very good reason for it. I hate that.

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
I concentrate pretty hard and I quite like fresh to frightening downwind stuff.

What’s your greatest weakness in sailing?
I’m sometimes not great at dealing with stressy helms!

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
Always use long-fingered gloves, never short-fingered - and avoid sailing with tyrants.

Would you rather sail with your friends - or with Russell Coutts?
Both, preferably.

Who’s the best sailor in Britain?
Whoever I’m crewing for that day (helms are a fragile breed).

Who’s the best sailor in the world?
Still whoever I’m crewing for that day.

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