BEM for 30 years of service to youth sailing
Mike Chapple, Guernsey’s foremost youth dinghy racing coach, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to sailing in Guernsey.
The award is recognition of 30 years of volunteering to inspire and improve the racing capabilities of the Bailiwick's budding sailors.
‘I am totally shocked and quite humbled to have been awarded this honour,’ he said. ‘I have no idea who nominated me – it’s really quite intriguing.’
His involvement with the Guernsey Yacht Club began when his own children were beginning to show an interest in sailing.
‘My passion was for racing but that became a passion for teaching,’ he said.
‘I have been so lucky to have had the chance to teach some amazing youngsters. Some kids have more natural ability than others, but what it really comes down to is hardwork and application.’
Among those young sailors were his own daughter and son who were at one time ranked fifth and 12th in the world as juniors.
Mr Chapple began by coaching late primary school-aged children but soon realised the process must start earlier if it was to make a real difference.
He launched ‘Pirates on the Pond’, a programme for children aged five and upwards, in conjunction with the Guernsey Sailing Trust.
His coaching also extends to parents, to help them support young sailors and play their part in building a culture of excellence.
Although he is now retired after a career in finance, including a spell as the manager of the Smith Street branch of Lloyds, he has no plans to stop.
‘I have to thank my employers too who were very liberal with the amount of time they gave me to travel to events,’ he said.
‘My late wife, who passed 15 years ago, was there for the first half of my volunteering and was very supportive of the time I gave to sailing.’
Mr Chapple now holds the position of Rear Commodore Juniors and still funds off-island coaching trips from his own pocket.
Just this August he accompanied three young Guernsey sailors to the British Open Championships in Pwllheli, in north Wales.
‘I now have grandchildren who are getting to the age when they could start so I have I’ll probably be involved for at least another 10 years,’ he said.
‘If anything the award has enthused me to carry on. Sport is so important for the island’s children.’
