Singing starJonathan Ansell beats nerves to takes to the waves again

Singing star Jonathan Ansell has gone sailing for the first time since he was a boy with Bognor Regis Sea Scouts.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jun 2009, 13:06 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 17:46 BST

Mr Ansell took to the waves again to compete in the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island race.

But the singing sensation admitted that experience last weekend was even more nerve-wracking than singing in front of thousands of fans.

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The former G4 star was part of the crew on the Challenge Breast Cancer Care boat as 1,779 boats competed in the annual race, the fourth-largest participation event in the UK.

Mr Ansell '“ whose album Tenor at the Movies was nominated for a Classical Brit award this year '“ admitted the prospect of sailing the 55-mile course alongside Olympic champions Ben Ainslie and Sarah Webb had given him sleepless nights.

"It was definitely far scarier than going on stage and having to sing in front of people '“ no matter how big the crowd," he said.

"The stage is my domain and I've been singing in front of people since I was a kid in West Sussex Boys' Choir.

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"The only real practice I've had sailing was on little topper boats when I was in the Bognor Regis Sea Scouts so it was quite a leap to be competing against Olympic champions.

"The race is a very special event and there is a great mix of people from young children to pensioners and everyone in between. Everyone gets along and has a really good time being a part of it."

While the likes of Dame Ellen MacArthur and triple Olympic champion Ainslie were battling it out at the front, Mr Ansell maintained there were far more important issues at stake at the back of the field.

He was racing on the Breast Cancer Care boat in memory of his aunt Brenda, who died of the disease two years ago.

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"It's a fantastic charity that was so good to my auntie Brenda during her last few years," he said, after also competing in the 2007 London Triathlon for the charity.

"I hope that we will keep raising as much money as we possibly can and that I can continue to help as much as I can in my own small way."

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