Here is the final video in the series with Team GB sailor Alex Mills Barton. And, in this grand finale, we see a race pitting the guys from Mailspeed Marine and Boatshop24 against each other.
Jack and Balazs have been shown all the techniques required over the series and only one can come out on top! Watch the video to see who will be crowned the champion.
And, as well as the final race, the guys also chat to Alex about the financial aspect of sailing. He also offers some tips for beginners and others who want to get into sailing.
Jack and Balazs have been shown all the techniques required over the series and only one can come out on top! Watch the video to see who will be crowned the champion.
And, as well as the final race, the guys also chat to Alex about the financial aspect of sailing. He also offers some tips for beginners and others who want to get into sailing.
Transcribe
Jack: Hi. I'm Jack Stonehouse from Boatshop24.
Balazs: And I'm Balazs Jarai from Mailspeed Marine.
Jack: And you join us today in Sussex with Alex Mills Barton, a 2016 GB sailing hopeful. And he's hopefully going to teach us how to sail, in a day.
Balazs: Well we've had a great day out on the water with Alex today. He's showed us some great maneuvers, been very informative. Shown me and Jack a little bit how to sail. Now we're going to put it down to the true test. Me and Jack are gonna race it out, see who's going to be crowned the champion. Up around the buoy, the far buoy there and back home. So, best of luck.
I lost the coin toss, so I'll be going first.
Alex: You ready?
Balazs: Yup.
Alex: Okay.
Balazs: So what kind of tips or advice do you have for young people, or for kids who really want to get into sailing?
Alex: I think you just got to get down to your local sailing club...
Balazs: Yeah.
Alex: ...if you really want to get into it really. Down here, everything that I've experienced with sailing clubs is that they're very, very friendly, very open. They want new members but, it's in their interest to help you out. And they make it as easy as they can really for you. It's not a hard thing to get into. What you need to do is join a club and turn up for some training really. All clubs will be doing it. And eventually from there going and trying to expand a bit. And going and doing some area training. Some local training at other clubs and stuff, within the southeast or whichever area you're from. And then just kind of, building it up.
Balazs: I know that some people obviously believe that sailing is a bit of a money commitment. What kind of commitments are there really in terms of money? Is there funding available for people who want to get involved in sailing?
Alex: Yeah. Well, I mean it is quite an expensive sport to get into. Obviously the initial buy of a boat is pretty expensive. I'm lucky enough to have a sailing club that helps me out with new boats each year. So for me that's quite a small part of it. But yeah, there's funding for younger sailors as well. I think they've been making a big push at sailing because it has been one of Great Britain's most successful sports in the last few Olympics. Balazs: Definitely, yeah.
Alex: There's always kind of local grants and area grants, that I was lucky to have when I was younger. And then at the moment I get money from UK Sport, the national lottery.
Balazs: Yeah.
Alex: Coming into the last little bit. He's finished.
Alex: You ready?
Jack: Yeah.
Alex: Okay.
Balazs: Again the general consensus is that you obviously have to live by the sea in order to get involved with sailing. Is this the case?
Alex: No, not at all. I mean, as you saw today. We've had great winds here, great fun. This is actually where I learned to sail. I don't think I probably went to sea for at least a year, when I started, so. And then all the open training I did was basically in like South London. At reservoirs up there. So there's no reason you need to live by the sea. Obviously, once you start doing a bit more of the bigger events, then they do tend to be on the sea. But to start out, no reason you can't start to sail at a local lake or reservoir.
Balazs: With the digital world expanding and the rise of tutorials on YouTube, social media advice, lots of blogs and websites out there, massive online resource. This has been kind of beneficial in various sports. Would you think that sailing is also going to benefit from this?
Alex: I've not personally involved myself in that kind of media stuff. But, I mean yeah, of course. I've watched a couple of videos, of learning how to sail and stuff. When I was younger. Just like extra tips and bits. Yeah, it helps. You can watch it over again and it kind of solidifies it in your head. I still think that nothing compares with, practical, with getting down to your local sailing club and getting out there. But yeah, you can definitely learn the basics and little tips and stuff and it all helps, so.
Balazs: Where can people go if they want to find out a little bit more about you? Can they track you and your progress in upcoming competitions? And your future in sailing?
Alex: I've got my own website which is ambsailing.com and I'm also on Twitter @alexmillsbarton. And the sailing club usually keeps an update on me and that's Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club.
Balazs: Cool.
Alex: So if you find their website as well.
Balazs: Thank you very much. Best of luck. Cheers. Alex: Thank you very much. Cheers.
Alex: Okay so just finished the race, the time trial. We've got the results in. And looks like Balazs picked up the quickest time but unfortunately, he didn't manage to get round the mark. He did a jibe just on the other side of it, but didn't quite round it. So he's going to have to be disqualified. The win goes to Jack. Great racing.
Balazs: Thanks dude, it's been great.
Alex: Thanks guys.
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