OLYMPIC sailing team manager Stephen Park is well aware of the sacrifices needed to make it at the top.

Stephen, known as ‘Sparky’, has spoken candidly of what his team give up in order to represent their country at the highest level ahead of the biggest ever world-class regatta to hit the borough waters.

Skandia Sail for Gold 2011, which begins on Monday is the selection event for the majority of international teams to decide who will represent their countries in the Olympic and Paralympic test events.

Sparky, a former Scottish youth squad sailor and Olympic Tornado catamaran coach, became team manager in 2001.

As the head of the most successful British Olympic sailing team in 100 years, which brought back a medal haul of four gold medals, one silver and a bronze from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games – topping the five medals his team claimed in Athens 2004, Sparky boasts a formidable track record.

But the pressure is now on to represent Team GB on home waters, when the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events come to Weymouth and Portland next year.

He said: “Having a home Games is obviously huge, it’s a once in a lifetime.

“The last time London hosted the Games was 1948 – I’m not likely to be team manager for another 60 years, even with my level of commitment. It’s a great honour to be team manager of a sports team that is as successful and committed as our guys are.”

Sparky amused friends when his 2012 links extended off the water and his six-year-old daughter Grace was born on 20 December – 20/12 – in the year London made its bid, 2004 and became an official 20/12 baby.

The keen sportsman is gearing up for a gruelling challenge on July 17 when he undertakes a 212km leg of the Tour de France, the L’Etape du Tour, with the Sky Pro cycling team, representing the Titchfield Terriers football team and Skandia Team GBR.

Sparky, 43, who spends more time in Weymouth and Portland than his home in Hampshire, said top athletes often had to make compromises in their personal lives.

He said: “In the short term the sacrifices often don’t feel like sacrifices – the fact you’re away from home 200 days a year competing in lovely places like Palma.

“But when you’re on year 15 and you’ve never been home for your wife’s birthday or your wedding anniversaries or your children’s birthdays and Christmases that’s when it becomes tough.”