THE START LINE
It all started when my parents moved from the UK to New Zealand and my father brought a trailer sailor of his own. His love for the sport was passed on to me when he took me sailing when I was a young boy. I began racing an Optimist at the age of 6 and worked my way through the dinghy classes as I got older. I competed in dinghy competitions throughout New Zealand placing well in some competitions and winning others.
I was introduced to keelboats around the age of 14 and joined the Royal Port Nicholson’s Youth Training Scheme In Wellington. I learnt to match race in Elliots 6’s and started competing in international Regattas. At this time I also began sailing larger keelboats and took part in inshore and coastal races. Recreationally, I also spent a lot of time on the family cruising yacht.
In 2017 I moved from Wellington to Auckland NZ to commence a sail making apprenticeship at Doyle Sails, and joined the RNZYS Youth Training Programme as helmsman and trimmer. I competed nationally and internationally, achieving a personal world match racing ranking position of 68th as a skipper and in 2018 becoming the national champion of New Zealand.
I spent 5 years in Auckland, New Zealand where I raced many classes of racing yachts; inshore, offshore and coastal races. These yachts include fast 40’s, TP52s, and classic yachts. After completing my sail making apprenticeship, I was ready for a new challenge and was hungry to learn and move forward, so I took a job with ‘Team Malizia’ who are an Imoca 60 sailing team based in France. I joined the team halfway through their new boat build as a rigger and sailmaker and have gained great experience in the technical aspect, learning about hardware, systems, ropes and technology on an offshore racing yacht. I sailed on the Imoca 60 as much as possible and after working with the team through their 2023 Ocean Race campaign, it has given me the drive to achieve my personal goals as I aim to compete in The Ocean Race, 2026/27 and I am prepared to take the necessary steps to get there.
2024
For the year of 2024 I had been invited to join Orient Express Racing Team the official French Challenger for the 2024 Americas Cup, the most prestigious sailing event in the world. I have joined this incredible team made up of great talented people from around the globe (and France of course ) in a bid to win the Americas cup!
I will be working with this team as a Sailmaker and Rigger, a great chance to learn more about the systems and technology that make these boats fly 🪰
My skills as a sailor and a technician have created a unique pathway for me to be involved in the highest calibre of sail racing and a opportunity to work in an Americas cup team was one not to be missed.
view the Orient Express Racing Website here
