Ian Barker - a madforsailing profile

Cardiff

What’s your date of birth?
10/8/66

What age did you start sailing?
8

What was your first regatta win?
South Wales area champs

What’s your biggest championship win?
505 Worlds

Any other notable regatta wins you’d like to mention?
Enterprise Worlds

Where did you grow up?
Penarth, South Wales

What job do you do?
Don’t, just sail

If you weren’t doing the job you are, what would you be doing instead?
No idea

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
Skiing

Any other hobbies or interests?
Nothing special

Favourite method of relaxing?
Strong Lager

Favourite bar or pub?
Any with strong lager

What inspired you to take up sailing?
Started sailing with my Dad.

Where was your first sailing club?
Penarth YC

Which class did you first race in?
Enterprise

How did you buy your first boat?
Saved money from loft insulation job.

Have you ever used a coach?
Yes

Do you have any professional links to the sport?
Used to be a sailmaker

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
Olympics

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
To win the Americas Cup for GB.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
20 hours

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
Holt Allen fittings

Who are your Sailing heroes and why?
When I was young it was Ian Southworth in Enterprises. He used to win everything.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever made for a poor performance in a race?
Don’t make excuses.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever heard for a poor performance in a race, and from who?
Hangover. Ian Walker, Tim Robinson

What’s your favourite sailing venue?
Durban, South Africa.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of championship regattas?
Race officers stopping races that are crap.

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
Tactics

What’s your greatest weakness in sailing?
Don’t really have one.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
Use your brain

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

Who’s the best sailor in Britain?
Many, many good sailors in Britain. The one who made a lasting impression was Peter Colclough.

Who’s the best sailor in the world?
Again numerous. The best sailor I have raced against is probably Chris Nicholson.


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