While it s no secret that Great Britain produces some of the world s best competitive dinghy sailors, what goes on behind the scenes is often kept quiet. Skandia Team GBR includes nearly 90 sailors who are supported, advised and coached by over 35 specialised support staff.

Ian Maynard, the lead Sport Psychologist for the RYA, is just one of a number of specialists that the RYA employs to keep Great Britain at the top of its sailing game. Recently winning the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences annual award (BASES), Maynard took some time out to explain how he helps Skandia Team GBR sail to the front of the fleet.

When did you start working with the RYA?

I first started working formally with the RYA in 1991/2. Three of the four sailors that I was working with privately, qualified for the Barcelona Olympics and the RYA asked me to attend the Olympics as the 'official' Sports Psychologist.

From Sport Psychologist I took over in 1994 as the Sport Science co-coordinator for the RYA, whilst based at Chichester University. When I left Chichester in 1999 and moved to Sheffield Hallam University I focused more on the development of a Sport Psychology programme to encompass Start and Potential as well as Performance Sailing.

What are your roles and responsibilities to Skandia Team GBR?

I am now the lead Sport Psychologist for the RYA with a primary responsibility to the Sailors, Coaches and Support Staff of the Performance Squad/Skandia Team GBR. I also work with Dr. Ben Chell who over see s the develops, manages and delivers the Sports Psychology Programme to our World Class sailors. 

I conduct one-to-one work with Sailors, work in partnership with Sailors and their Coaches, provide a service for other Support Team Members and work at a more strategic level with Stephen Park (Olympic Team Manager), hence I probably influence directly or sometimes more indirectly most members of the Team.

You have recently won a BASES. How does it feel to win such a prestigious award?

I was very proud to win the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) annual award (2005) for outstanding contributions to applied practice. I am sure this is in no small way a reflection of the fantastic achievements of Sailing, Diving and Boxing, the three sports I worked with in Athens and my thanks go to all three National Governing Bodies of Sport for their support.

However, my greatest appreciation must go to Sailing. Over the years I have learnt most from the Sailors and Staff of the RYA and believe that Sailing as a Sport offers an exceptional model for all of British Sport about 'how to go and win Olympic medals' and I am very lucky to have been swept along in the current.