I have sailed all my life and have been sailing professionally for the last 5 years, sailing aboard a large range of racing yachts. I grew up through youth dingy racing and national/European events.I made the step to keel boat and have taken part in many high profiled inshore events including;Maxi Giralia cup (1st in Class Wally maxi), Maxi worlds (2nd in class Wally Maxi), Les voiles de Saint Tropez (3rd in Class Wally Maxi), Newport (3rd in Class Swan 601), Antigua (2nd in Class Swan 601), Cowes and Cork race weeks (Youth team), European championships in SB3’s, IRC and IRM nationals.
My real interest is in offshore racing, most recently completing Newport Bermuda race (1st Class Zero 601), 2007 Transatlantic (3rd, Wally Max), Giralia Offshore (1st in Class), 2 RORC offshore series and Fastnet (3rd in Class Youth team)
I have had input in all positions whilst racing but have spent most of my time as bowman, which I think gears you up well for the mini transat.
I also having a degree in Sports engineering, specialising my final year on Hydrodynamics and keel designs/development for the Mini Transat. After this I worked for a marine engineering/boat building company and was involved in many unique yacht development projects, these included one off mast builds, 2006 Volvo navigational domes and hull research and development models for the 2007 Americas cup.
Other projects included running a Humphry’s 40 race boat project, a race conversion of a Swan 65, working on complex structural laminating, rig setup and deck gear fitting and a full refit of a Sydney 60.
I have worked hard and saved for many years to finally buy my boat Night Fever in June 2009. I have self funded my self up to now as I wanted to show my personal commitment to my campaign. I have spent the second half of the 2009 training and sailing between the Uk and the West coast of France trying to get good practice miles behind me. At the End of the 2009 season I took part in my first race in Medoc.
Now in 2010 after a full refit over the winter, customizing the specifically to suit my sailing style I have taken part in 3 major events. The Demi Cle, Pornichet Select and the MAP. Next week I have the Mini Fastnet and then later in the season the Azores race from Les Sables to Azores and back. I am happy with the results I have achieved generally finishing around 10th out of 50. I think this means I am sailing well as I am out performing the boat I am in. Night Fever is great, but is an older, water-ballasted, not canting keel boat and out of the boats similar to fine I am always first back. Promising for the future!
As well as the Mini, I am still heavily involved with the racing on the Wally and have 3 events this season. I am also looking to the future for other project I hope to take part in. I really have the multi hull bug and eventually hope to race trimarans. For 2012 I want to put together a campaign to take part in the Archipelago raid, 5 days racing around Swedish coast in an F18.
