VITAL STATISTICS
Name: Luke Patience
Date of birth: 04 August 1986
Star sign: Leo
Place of birth: Aberdeen
Current hometown: Portland
Nickname: LP
First boat sailed and where? An Optimish in Rhu Marina.
Who got you into sailing? My dad
Favourite boat? I loved my optimist and never wanted to move into another class! Not sure it’s my favourite though, perhaps a foiling moth.
Biggest influence in your career to date? My parents and Kirsty Bonar.
My worst moment in sailing? Either losing the 2000 optimist europeans due to illegally being team raced by 3 Italians or losing the 420 youth trials in 2004.
My best moment in sailing? Winning a silver medal at the 2009 470 World Championships with Stuart Bithell after just a few weeks sailing together.
Best sailing venue in the UK? Pwhelli, Wales.
Best sailing venue in the World? Lake Garda
Most annoying rule in the sailing rule book? Sculling, part of 42.
If you weren’t a professional sailor what else would you be? I think working for Greenpeace trying to prevent the Japanese slaughtering literally tens of thousands of whales every single year.
How do you progress from a club sailor to an Olympic class sailor? GOALS, GOALS, GOALS, Use stepping stones to set small realistic goals. Set it-achieve it.
What are your greatest passions outside of sailing? Spending as much time in Scotland as my schedule allows with my dog and friends. My favourite place is Tiree so I love spending time there. Also surfing, biking, snowboarding as well as guitar and whisky!
Has injury ever prevented you from sailing? Almost at the 470 worlds 2009, a back injury almost ended our event.
Most expensive sailing accident? I think taking up the sport!!! A good accident though.
Football club you support? Hate the sport, Scotland if I had to choose!
Do you actively go and see them? Nope....never
Do you follow any other sports? Downhill mountain biking because it is epic. Also tennis.
Any heroes? Roger Federer and Sam Hill.
What other sports do you play? I like all racket sports, windsurfing, surfing, climbing, downhill mountain biking, snowboarding.
What would you love to do but never have the time or money for it? Make a documentary of our sailing career that featured all the day to day activity and excitement of the sport.
Worst habit? Saying ‘you know……?’
What word or phrase most depicts your personality? Excitable
If you were a pantomime character – who would it be? Aslan
Do you have any lucky charms or rituals? A lucky charm of a wee green man.
What’s your greatest fear or phobia? Irreversible global warming effects on the planet.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? ‘Don’t Cry Out’ by the Shiny Toy Guns
Favourite reality show? Don’t know, I don’t have a TV!
Name 3 things that are always in your shopping trolley? Coconut, whisky and Highland Spring water
What was the last book you read? Papillon
What makes you angry? Ignorance
Dream holiday? Maldives on a boat and surfing holiday.
What better about football than sailing? I’m not sure there’s anything… I would say money but it turns them all loopy at 20 years old!
Where do you keep your medals? I keep world championship medals and world cup medals hanging down from the mantel piece.
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