Barry Parkin - a madforsailing profile

Leeds, Yorkshire.

What’s your date of birth?
1st April 1964.

What age did you start sailing?
Four years old.

What was your first regatta win?
Cornwall Schools U15 champs.

What’s your biggest championship win?
Soling Europeans (twice).

Any other notable regatta wins you’d like to mention?
Four times National Match Racing Champion.
Flying Fifteen Nationals.

Where did you grow up?
Falmouth Estuary, Cornwall.

What job do you do?
Purchasing manager for Mars.

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

What other sports do you do outside sailing?
Golf, skiing, mountain biking.

Any other hobbies or interests?
Family.

Favourite method of relaxing?
Food and drink.

What inspired you to take up sailing?
My parents.

Where was your first sailing club?
Restronguet SC, Falmouth.

Which class did you first race in?
Mirror.

How did you buy your first boat?
It was a Christmas present.

Have you ever used a coach and who were they?
Bill Edgerton and Jim Saltonstall.

What professional links do you have to the sport?
None.

What’s your most memorable moment in sailing?
Winning the first race at the Flying Fifteen Worlds at my first world championship.

What’s your biggest remaining goal in sailing?
To win the Flying Fifteen Worlds with my wife Sue.

How much time do you spend on the water each week?
None at the moment.

Do you have a sponsor, and if so, who?
Not any more, but it used to be United Airlines.

Who are your Sailing heroes and why?
Jochen Schumann and Jesper Bank because they managed to win the big events when I was competing.

What’s your favourite sailing venue?
Cowes.

What’s the single thing that could most improve the running of championship regattas?
Good race officers.

What’s your greatest strength in sailing?
Starting.

What’s your greatest weakness in sailing?
Getting bored in long races.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you could give to younger sailors?
Enjoy yourself.

Would you rather sail with your friends - or with Russell Coutts?
Friends, he’s not that good.

Who’s the best sailor in Britain?
If you had to race a range of classes then possibly Ian Barker.

Who’s the best sailor in the world?
Russell Coutts.

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