Phil Laycock - a madforsailing profile

Bradford.

What’s your date of birth?
15th April 1966.

What age did you start sailing?
At five - when I could swim a length.

What was your first regatta win?
Yeadon Sailing Club Laser open meeting - 1982.

What’s your biggest championship win?
I’ve never really won a major championship. I did win the Salcombe Town Regatta week this year and a few open meetings over the years.

Any other notable regatta wins you’d like to mention?
Not many wins at major events but a few good results, second Grafham Grand Prix slow handicap fleet in 2000.

Where did you grow up?
Bradford.

What job do you do?
Managing Director Recruitment Consultancy.

If you weren’t doing the job you are, what would you be doing instead?
I would like to run the RYA some day.

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
Golf, running.

Any other hobbies or interests?
My baby daughter - Alexandra.

Favourite method of relaxing?
Sailing or watching TV and videos.

Favourite bar or pub?
Browns in Cambridge.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
My parents were both keen sailors.

Where was your first sailing club?
Yeadon Sailing Club (near Leeds).

Which class did you first race in?
National 12.

How did you buy your first boat?
My Mum and Dad bought it - a Mirror - for me.

Have you ever used a coach?
Only for travelling!!

Do you have any professional links to the sport?
No.

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
Qualifying for the British Team for the Finn World Championships and Gold Cup in Weymouth this year.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
Attending the Olympics as part of the British set-up - either competing (!), or supporting. Probably the latter.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
Virtually every Sunday, with the occasional Saturday.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
MC2 Management Consulting (I own the company).

Who are your sailing heroes and why?
Ian Percy, unbelievable Finn sailor and nice guy, not really a hero but I do admire him.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever made for a poor performance in a race?
Suncream in my eye.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever heard for a poor performance in a race, and from who?
I’ll think of one.

What’s your favourite sailing venue?
Lake Garda.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of championship regattas?
Race officials not thinking that they are God! What is wrong with a little humility? Sometimes I think that the RYA and clubs are too used to dealing with kids, the way that they treat some competitors.

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
Starting.

What’s your greatest weakness in sailing?
Sailing downwind in waves.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
Give it your best shot as early as possible in life because when you’re 30 you’re too old.

Would you rather sail with your friends - or with Russell Coutts?
Probably my friends, but Russell could come too.

Who’s the best sailor in Britain?
Ian Pinnell, Paul Brotherton - both incredibly versatile.

Who’s the best sailor in the world?
Tough question in terms of dinghy sailing, I really admire Freddie Loof the Swedish Finn sailor, probably the best of all time in Finns.

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