Professional Coaching
Throughout the many decades of my sailing career, I have really enjoyed helping others realise their full potential, whilst also focusing on creating an enjoyable learning environment. I have been coaching elite level sailing teams since 2003.
I spent three years as Head Coach for the Artemis America’s Cup Team in the 34th America’s Cup. More recently, I have been lucky enough to have coached World Championship winning teams in several one-design keelboat classes - Farr40’s, Farr30’s, RC44’s, Etchells, J70's and the Star. I also helped guide an 18ft skiff team to success at the highest level in Sydney.
In recent years, I have enjoyed time with a great span of clients. This has ranged from a 100ft superyacht with 26 professional crew, to a corinthian level one-design J70, to a 1929 classic timber yacht preparing to achieve great results in some of the UK’s biggest events and races.. I am very comfortable in any sailboat-racing setting. The consistent theme being enjoyment, improvement and further understanding all of the elements in our sport.
I consider myself an all-rounder as a coach. I have been exposed to a diverse range of teams and classes in my time as a coach. I am comfortable discussing tactics, weather strategy or race starts with the world’s leading tacticians. I am also at home with the collection and analysis of data. I also value the role that psychology plays in our sport and the mental approaches that have proven fruitful for me over a long and varied sailing career.
As I do sail myself in parallel to the coaching, it is a constant reminder of the empathy required in the coaching of sailors. What do sailing teams and sailors need to hear from a coach and when do they need to hear it? To repeat a phrase told to me recently "A good coach should trouble the comfortable, and comfort the troubled….". Suffice to say that I consider the coaching of sailors part art and part science. It continues to fascinate me.
So whether you want to take on the local rockstar who's been beating you every weekend at the club, or you are trying to win a World Championship, get in touch today.
Life of a coach at the Maxi Worlds with Bella Mente in 2019
Photos from over the years of coaching
