My other life: Jonathan Clark, Scor, sailing

How did you get into sailing?
In my last year at school one of my friends suggested I might like sailing and so I tried it out. I suspect I would have given it up but for seeing the 1976 Olympics. Watching the TV late one night I saw Rodney Pattisson going for his third Gold in the Flying Dutchman class and at that moment I was hooked. Just 12 years later I had the privilege of competing in the Olympic trials with him and, for me, that is one of the beauties of sailing – that we can compete with and against our heroes on the very same course.

What has been your greatest achievement to date on the seas?
Being the captain of the Royal Thames Yacht Club Nicholls Trophy team that beat the New York Yacht Club team in Newport after some fantastic racing. We took a talented mix of youth and experience, and got the blend right. There can be few better places in the world to sail than at Newport, the home of America’s Cup yachting.

When did you last compete?
I have recently been competing in Cowes Week for the first time in years. We were in the X One Design class, which is a three-person keelboat designed in 1909. There are 56 boats in the class at Cowes and it is the most testing and tactical racing. We had a wonderful week and finished in eighth; we learnt a lot and all really enjoyed the challenge of sailing such a difficult boat against such able competitors in tide and changing winds.

What do you think most insurance people’s perception of sailing is?
A lot of insurance people sail so they will have their own views. I suspect it still has a gin and tonic view but as we get more profile through the Olympics maybe it is seen as an activity to be involved with – I hope so. At sea there isn’t time to think of anything other than being in that moment.