Sunderland's own sailing champion

John is never happier than when out on the ocean

Two-time world sailing champion, John Robertson, was one of six British disabled sailors in the ParalympicsGB team in 2008.

His sailing career began at the age of just 10 when he joined his local yacht club in Sunderland with his father, Ian.

John had a motorbike accident which left him paralysed and becoming a wheelchair user.

But that ill-fated accident has brought him international sporting success.

John started off by crewing with his brother, Adrian, but when they were older, they sailed solo.

Ian, John's father, says: "He was always keen and, as soon as he was old enough, 12 or 13, he was on the rescue boat, driving that about. He was always keen to be on the water."

Courage and fortitude

Although John now competes all over the world, in the early days, he sailed mainly around Sunderland, Tynemouth and Shields. Scaling Dam and the Lake District was about as far as they would travel.

Then, in his mid-20s, John had a motorbike accident which left him paraplegic and permanently in a wheelchair.

Concentration from the crew is vital for success

He didn't give in.

His father says: "I admire him tremendously for that. He's always been positive. Great courage and fortitude has John. I admire him tremendously."

He's convinced that John's passion for sailing, gave him something to carry on for.

He says: "I think it gave him a focus. Something to go for. And he could see that it could be done. He started in the Challenger class and then the Olympics people, the RYA, spotted him and asked him to sail the Sonar."

John has a specially adapted boat in which to sail. He has a bench seat that slides from side to side, but curved at the edges so he doesn't fall out.

This means he can move from one side of the boat to the other as he changes course, or tacks, and the sail moves across the boat, or jibes.

Beijing bound

John's crew's successes are reflected in their commitment

John was one of six British disabled sailors in the ParalympicsGB team for the 2008 Paralympic Games, and competed at the Olympic Sailing Centre at Qingdao.

There are three Paralympic boat classes at the Games.

John helms a Sonar, a three-person keelboat.

He skippered the same crew in Beijing as he had in Athens in 2004, leading 22-year-old Hannah Stodel, from Essex and 31-year-old Stephen Thomas, from South Wales.

They won world championship golds in 2005 and 2006 and finished sixth in Athens, but their medal haul in Beijing wasn't quite as rich - finishing sixth.

Despite this, John says it's good to have had the same crew for the past six years. They work very well together, have learnt each other's strengths and weaknesses.

"They know what to say and, more importantly, what not to say. After all," says John, "we spend more time together than a married couple."

To have had Beijing in their sights, John says, was: "Fantastic really, to get to go to the games is pretty special. And then to get to go twice is pretty special really."

If past experience is anything to go by, John's parents will have been anxiously awaiting news of their son's progress.

Ian says he's always on the internet, following the races, frustrated by time differences, watching as John goes up and down the leader board.

Solo kiting by the seat of your pants is really exhilarating

He says: "I've thought of the word pride. You know, what it means. And I'm just in awe of him sometimes. What he does and how he copes with his disability. Tremendous thing. I mean, they're all worthy of that, all these disabled sailors."

ParalympicsGB Chief Executive, Phil Lane, said: "To be selected for a Paralympic Games is the pinnacle of an athlete's career and an achievement that these athletes should be proud of."

John is currently relaxing between periods of team training... well, relaxing for him - as he enters the Nationals in Helensburgh, Scotland. Bon voyage.