Sailing or school

John Greenland examines the dilemma facing most potential Olympians

In the ladies 470 fleet the pairing of Josie Gibson and Saskia Clark have been juggling degrees and competition for the past two years.

Prior to starting her course at Oxford Gibson thought long and hard about how to achieve her goal of competing in the Olympics. "I chose to apply to do a three year degree as I knew I wanted a year out between my first and second year at uni and had I done the four year course I would not have had the sailing experience I gained in my year out," explained Gibson. The gap year, between the first and second year, coincided with the Sydney Olympics year when all of the top events are filled by the top competitors - peaking in time for the Games. The two top 470 sailors have an ISAF World Ranking of 11 and spent christmas in Sydney, Australia, training in the fair weather of the Southern Hemisphere.

Walker believes Gibson and Clark's solution is the ideal one, but this obviously depends on your organisation skills to balance work, play, and sailing. "It is possible to do a lot of sailing whilst at school or college. A typical University may have 20 weeks of holiday per year which is enough time to earn some money and do lots of regattas. There is always time for sailing later but you cannot go to school or uni later," said Walker, who favours finishing your education rather than heading into sailing straight away. "Sailing is a technically very challenging sport - especially the America's Cup. A bit of time improving the old grey matter cannot do any harm! Learning how to learn is more important than what you learn."

Gibson points out it is difficult to keep going with university with full-time sailing so tempting. "Well it has definitely been hard to stay here. People do wonder why on earth I am still at Oxford and not sailing.  I would love to sail," explained Gibson, before adding a big but. "What if I don't get what I want out of sailing.  I would be left for the rest of my life wondering if uni would have been a good idea.  After all, University/college or whatever type of education only lasts three years of your life (five years if you include A-levels)."

Many find juggling social engagements and university work difficult enough, making the prospect of adding in a sailing campaign as well particularly daunting, as Gibson concluded. "It does not suit everyone and there are some very sucessful people in life who do not have degrees. I think each individual has to choose for themselves."

Would Walker have done anything different? "Yes," he explained, "I would have got fitter, woken up earlier and not gone out as much at night ....... but that wouldn't have been university would it?" Otherwise - university is definitely Walker's recommendation.

The possibilities are endless. Which choice is the best choice is dependant on the individual. Gibson and Clark appear to be capable of combining top level international competition with study successfully, however the determination and self-discipline required is not for the faint-hearted. Ainslie has succeeded in professional sailing without the need for a degree. Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield, ranked second in the world for the 470 class, are also well on their way toward success having avoided university.

However, be warned: very few sailors reach the pinnacle of racing where a living can be made purely from competition and coaching. Failure could leave you high and dry. Without further education your employment prospects are slim, and you could end up unable to afford to sail at the level you wish because of financial constraints. And don't forget, "university years are the best years of your life," said Walker.