Mark Campbell-James - a madforsailing profile

Chertsey.

What’s your date of birth?
18/09/80.

What age did you start sailing?
8.

What was your first regatta win?
Optimist Junior National Championships 1992.

What’s your biggest championship win?
Youth Match Racing World Championships 2000.

Any other notable regatta wins you’d like to mention?
Youth Nationals in 420 class 1998.

Where did you grow up?
Seaford, East Sussex.

What job do you do?
Student.

If you weren’t doing the job you are, what would you be doing instead?
Sailing.

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
Don't really have much time, but like windsurfing, football, squash.

Favourite method of relaxing?
Messing about with mates.

Favourite bar or pub?
Elbow Room, Bayswater.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
My dad got me into it, he sailed in the Olympics in 1984.

Where was your first sailing club?
Newhaven and Seaford SC.

Which class did you first race in?
Optimist.

How did you buy your first boat?
Dad bought it.

Have you ever used a coach and who where they?
Used loads of coaches. My dad and Jim Saltonstall probably most.

What professional links do you have to the sport?
I know a lot of people who work in sailing, but I hope to sail full-time after I finish university.

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
Winning the youth nationals and the youth world match racing.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
The Olympics.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
Wednesday afternoons and weekends.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
Helly Hansen, Marlow Ropes, LG Electronics.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever made for a poor performance in a race?
There have been plenty.

What’s your favourite sailing venue?
In England probably Seaford, although it's very hard to launch there. The best place I've been is probably Sydney or Auckland.

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

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
Can sail fast most of the time, and know how to use the rules to my advantage better than most.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
Have fun when you sail or there is no point in doing it.

Would you rather sail with your friends - or with Russell Coutts?
Would like to sail with Coutts as he's obviously a legend.

Who’s the best sailor in Britain?
There are loads, it’s too hard to single anyone out

Who’s the best sailor in the world?
Again, loads. Cayard and Coutts are quite impressive, though.


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