Andy Budgen - a madforsailing profile

Greenock, Scotland.

What’s your date of birth?
26th September 1971.

What age did you start sailing?
Windsurfing at eight years and sailing by age ten.

What was your first regatta win?
Schools week on the Clyde.

What’s your biggest event or championship win?
Laser 5000 and 49ers.

Any other notable regattas you’d like to mention?
Skiffs at Southend.

Where did you grow up?
Gourock in Scotland.

What job do you do?
I run a property company.

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

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
Squash, windsurfing and triathlon in the past.

Any other hobbies or interests?
Computing and DIY.

Favorite method of relaxing?
Watching Star Trek Voyager.

Favorite bar or pub?
Icon, a club in Southampton.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
My father.

Where was your first sailing club?
The Royal Gourock Yacht Club.

Which class did you first race in?
Local keelboat called a Piper and Etchelles.

How did you buy your first boat?
Saved up the money and bought a 420 with my brother.

Have you ever used a coach and who where they?
Yes, quite a few over the years.

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
Coming 2nd in the 1999 505 Worlds.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
To win the Skiff worlds and get to the Olympics.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
Average 4 days a week.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
Previous sponsors have been Henri Lloyd, Ronstan, Oakley, Splashdown and Banks Sails among others.

Who are your sailing heroes and why?
Too many to mention.

What is the best excuse you’ve ever made for a poor performance in a race?
Who needs them!

What is the best excuse you’ve ever heard for a poor performance in a race, and from who?
Mark Emmit is the master.

What’s your favorite sailing venue and why?
Sydney Harbour.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of championship regattas?
A good race officer is essential.

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
General boat handling.

What’s your greatest weakness in sailing?
Communication.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
Try to learn by sailing with as many different sailors and try to get good coaching as early as possible.

Would you rather sail with your friends - or with someone like Russell Coutts?
Friends, for sure.

Who do you think are the best sailors in Britain?
Too many to list as there are great sailors in all areas of sailing and they may excel in their field, match racing, offshore and transatlantic for example.

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