Medalling about in boats

BRITAIN came away from last year's Olympic Games with five sailing gold medals, making it our strongest sport - by far. The country has obviously hit a rich seam of watery talent - though it's also likely that lottery funding has had significant impact.

Success on the water, it seems, is breeding success.

And following Sydney's triumphs, glory at the 2004 Athens Olympics is hopefully presently being incubated in Hampshire as you read.

For Hamble is a place where sailors with a "mine's-a-medal" glint in their eye congregate to hone their skills and wear extremely trendy sunglasses.

One presently poised to dive in at the deep end of Olympic sailing is Martin Sellars.

He's about to give up his job to concentrate on training full-time - a move made possible by recently-won lottery backing.

Martin is obviously a focused man.

He doesn't even suffer from particularly bad pre-competition nerves and is no doubt cool during the inevitable pressures of racing.

He needs to be.

The events he enters push people to the limit.

"It's such a complex sport. It's very physical - but it's also very mental. There's a lot of logic associated with it but that's blended with having to have a gut instinct for it," he says.

"Every time you go sailing, it's very different, winds, conditions, etc. It's always changing, it's always new."

Martin took up sailing relatively late for someone who now represents his country abroad at the sport, only joining a Norfolk sailing club at the age of 14.

"None of my family sail at all, it was a complete break from tradition. My father is a minister of religion and my mum is a teacher.

"I badgered them to buy me a little boat and they got me a little dinghy for a few hundred quid. They can't quite believe it. I think they are quite amused, but it's all a bit alien to them."

However if you think Martin's talents are only apparent when he's afloat, you're wrong.

Showing a quite absurd flair for numbers, he gained a masters degree in mathematics from Southampton University.

It was while he was a student there that the 23-year-old started shinning his way up the yachting ladder, exchanging university dinghies for large racing yachts, culminating in his participation in the 1999 Admirals Cup "which was quite an eye-opener".

"We didn't do very well, so you can skate over that," he adds, tucking into his sandwich with relish (enthusiasm not condiment) during lunch at a Winchester bar.

But Martin's real lucky break came when he started sailing with experienced Olympic competitor, Steve Lovegrove, 35.

A year into their partnership saw success on the European circuit.

Then, as they attended the world championships and the European Grand Prix events - racing 20ft Tornado catamarans - the results just got better and better.

Last July the pair were placed 12th in Europe and, in doing so, secured themselves the crucial lottery cash.

"The only way to break into the squad is to achieve a good result. We wouldn't have been able to continue without funding," Martin confesses.

Although members of the Olympic squad, they're certainly not home and dry in terms of getting to Athens.

The pair need to re-qualify for further grants next year at an international contest at Martha's Vineyard, America and then clinch a place on the team.

"We've proved to ourselves that we've got the potential. Bonding is very important. Steve has a reputation for being a bit feisty but I think he's mellowed with age and we get on well.

"Going to Athens would be the best thing of my life. I've always been quite competitive but I guess I didn't realise how far I could keep improving."

Steve and Martin are currently regularly training with the Olympic squad in Weymouth, which includes those who returned triumphant from Sydney.

Each squad member has a different reputation, the lazy ones, the super-competitive ones.

Martin says he doesn't know what his reputation is, then grins disarmingly.

The only blot on the horizon is that while the big hand that booms "It could be you", has selected Martin as the recipient of a year's worth of living expenses and cash for equipment, its coffers cannot extend far enough to enable the pair to buy a yacht. They desperately need sponsorship of around £13,000 so they can continue training.

"We did own a boat for the last season but we've had to sell it because of the cost of competing."

However as Tornadoes maintain much of their value, Martin believes the advertising and publicity a company could receive from backing them makes for a favourable deal for a potential partner.

Now if you think this shows that this is a man of considerable business acumen, you've hit the nail on the head.

For this immaculately-suited man is actually an actuary.

With so much piled on his plate (endeavouring to climb to the top of your sport while studying for professional exams, plus meeting a new girlfriend) Martin confesses he doesn't have much time for hobbies.

And then, right on cue, 22-year-old history of art student Mirrin Copeman sweeps into the bar in a cloud of blonde hair.

A sure finalist in the competition to find the prettiest creature on the planet she is presently quite pre-occupied with her dissertation and Poppy, her Jack Russell puppy.

During the ensuing canine discussion Martin sits back and surreptitiously rests his hand on Mirrin's knee.

If anything, he seems relieved the focus of attention has shifted away from him.

But one thing is sure.

The "mine's-a-medal" glint in the eye is definitely there.

* Would you or your company be prepared to sponsor Martin and Steve? If so, please contact Ali Kefford on 023 8042 4777.