Sailors

​AL NEWTON

 

Al Newton has been at the forefront of international boat building and played a massive part as project leader in the construction of many of the UK’s most successful craft, including Iain Percy and Andrew Simpsons Olympic Star.

An accomplished sailor in his own right, he has accumulated many awards from dinghy sailing to major offshore events.

​ANDREW HURST

 

Andrew has ensured that his finger has stayed firmly on the pulse of competitive racing throughout his life. Notable achievements include representing GBR at the Olympics as well as winning the UK Star Class Nationals in 1980. His skill set and love for offshore racing led him onto such winning multihull projects as Jet Services IV, Spirit of Apricot and Sony Playstation.

Also notable are many winning Admirals Cup, Fastnet Race and numerous RORC races.

Andrew now works at the RORC as Editor of Seahorse sailing magazine.

​ANDREW "BART"SIMPSON MBE

 

Simpson started his competitive sailing career in the Laser class, before switching to the heavier Finn class. He claimed the bronze medal at the 2003 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cadiz in the Finn class; his training partner Ben Ainslie took the gold, with Great Britain topping the medal table.

 

Simpson then moved to the two-man Star class, partnering lifelong friend Percy; they won a bronze medal at the 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The pair won the gold medal in Beijing. After winning the Olympic gold, Percy and Simpson took a break from Star sailing and were in the TeamORIGIN afterguard for the 2010 America's Cup. In 2010, he and Percy won the Star World Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

 

Simpson and Percy made the podium in every meeting of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in 2012, including gold at the Hyeres French World Cup regatta. They competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games, again in the Star class, failing to defend their title despite being in the lead throughout the competition, but winning the silver medal. After the Star class was removed from the Olympic sailing disciplines, After the Olympics in 2012, the Star class was removed from the Olympic sailing disciplines and Andrew joined the Swedish Artemis America’s Cup team as a leading member.

 

His effect on the team was immediate, he brought a talent and a will to win that was born in his Olympic spirit. Always shining in a team environment, Andrew was immediately the gelling force that brought people together and extracted their very best. Andrew was enjoying the campaign and had relocated his family to San Francisco for six months.

Andrew tragically died at the age of 36 in an accident onboard the Artemis AC72 yacht in San Francisco Bay

​ANNIE LUSH

 

Annie started sailing as a child but became heavily involved in rowing whilst at Cambridge University, where she received a Blue for winning the 2001 Woman’s Boat Race.

Since university she has returned to sailing, competing on the Olympic sailing circuit, as well as racing on the Match Racing World Tour and in many other major sailing events both inshore and offshore. She is a double ISAF Women’s World Match Race Champion, three time winner of the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship and represented GBR in the Elliot 8 class at London 2012 but bowing out in a controversial decision

​ANTE RAZMILOVIC

 

Ante is a long time "one design" keelboat sailor starting with the Soling in the late 1980’s followed by Etchells and Star Class during the last decade. Accomplishments include victories in several National and European Championships in the Etchells as well as several podium finishes at World Championships. Ante, together with crew Brian Hammersley trained alongside Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

​ANTHONY SHANKS

 

Anthony has sailed many boats from a childhood in mirrors to the last 12 years racing an International star. Sailing with Max Treacy, Anthony has competed in 10 star world championships, and been through 3 Olympic campaigns qualifying Ireland for the 2008 Olympics  in China.

 

In addition to this Anthony is an accomplished Dragon crew and Etchells helmsman having finished in with a silver medal at both the Etchells and Dragon European Championships. As the training partner to Iain Percy for the 2004 Olympics and Iain and Bart for the 2012 Anthony has been uniquely positioned to have witnessed one of Great Britain's greatest sailing talents in action.

​ARND GLUNDE

 

Arnd learned to sail in Optimists at the age of 6 in his home town Flensburg, Germany. Sailed his first races locally aged 8 and moved directly into the 470 after getting too old and heavy for the Optimist. He became a member of a German 470 Youth Squad in the 1980s

.

Arnd started to sail Star Class at the age of 15, initially as a crew and since 1999 as helm. His greatest success in the Star Class was qualification for European and World Championships, and more recently the Worlds 2014 in Malcesine/Italy.

Arnd is a Life member of the Star Class and as such is committed to continue sailing Stars.

​BRIAN HAMMERSLEY

 

Brian Started sailing Optimists aged 4 on his local gravel pit until the age of 12. Moving onto various dinghy classes until University where he represented England at the 1999 Student Yachting World Championships achieving 3rd overall.

In 2000 Brian started sailing Etchells with Ante Razmilovic's  brother Nils and had numerous successes including many wins at UK Nationals, Europeans and a top 10 at the Worlds.

​IAIN PERCY OBE

 

Amongst numerous successes Percy competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he won Gold in the Finn class. Percy won World Bronze in the Star Class with Andrew Simpson in 2007 and European Championship Gold in 2009. The duo won Gold in the same class of boat at the 2010 World Championships which took place in Brazil.

With his previous partner Steve Mitchell, Percy won the 2002 Star World Championships in Los Angeles, and medalled in the next 3 World Championships, winning Bronze in each of them. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing he again won a gold medal, this time in the Star class with Andrew Simpson and again with Andrew at London 2012 Olympics where they won Silver.

​JOHN GIMSON

 

Details coming soon.

​JOHN GREENWOOD

 

John has had notable sailing success throughout his life with his first win in the Mirror class in 1973. He  then became encompassed in the RYA Finn Squad in 1981 and in 1983 placed a respectable 9th at the Finn Gold cup. In 1989 he teamed up with Bryn Vaile and had great success winning the Star national championships and the District 12 championships before teaming up with Mark Covell until 1992. John then went back to his roots sailing in the Finn winning the world masters championships in 2000 and 2002.

 

Since then John has enjoyed success in the ¼ tonne cup 2010 and 2012.

​LUKE PATIENCE

 

Luke Patience, who grew up in Rhu, near Helensburgh, started sailing at the local marina when he was just seven. Encouraged by his father, two years later he was sailing competitively and says that training in often cold and unpredictable Scottish climate helped to toughen him up ready for the challenges ahead.

 

He partners Stuart Bithell in the 470 class, with their recent successes including winning silver at the 2011 World Championships in Perth, Australia and silver at the 2011 European Championships in Helskinki, eventually helped them to win a hard fought silver at London 2012.

​MARTIN BUDGETT

 

Martin was born in Gibraltar, brought up on The Solent and now lives in Norfolk. He first sailed at the age of 5 on the Norfolk Broads and began racing in Portsmouth Harbour and on the Solent at the age of 11. From 16, he teamed up with his Norfolk cousin, Nick Eastwood, in the Star Class and competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials. Whilst enjoying competitive sailing in a Flying Dutchman and Flying Fifteen in Northamptonshire, Martin kept contact with Star sailing throughout his developing career in Teaching and semi-professional music. Now settled in Norfolk, he enjoys cruising with his family in their Hunter Sonata and, inspired by involvement with Fine Art Sails, has returned to competitive Star sailing as part of the Norfolk fleet.

​MAX TREACY

 

Max has an enviable record in small dinghies in Ireland. When he was in his early twenties together with Anthony Shanks Max campaigned stars for 3 Olympic games.

 

Max was a training partner for Iain Percy in 2004 after which he went back to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland to study medicine. In 2008 he qualified for the Olympics for Ireland in Beijing. Max also sailed in the afterguard for the Italian Americas cup syndicate +39 with Iain Percy as helm.

​MIKE MCINTYRE

 

Mike started his sailing career aged 11 at Helensburgh Sailing Club in the West of Scotland in a Mirror dinghy. During the next few years he mainly sailed OK Dinghies and 505s, winning multiple senior Scottish Championships. In 1977 he finished his studies at Glasgow University and moved to the South of England to start his Finn sailing career.

 

Over the next seven years he won the British Finn Championship twice and in 1984 won the European Finn Championship and was  seventh at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, finishing the year world ranked number 1.

 

In 1986 Mike joined the British America’s Cup campaign in Perth and sailed on White Crusader as mainsheet trimmer. In October 1987 he teamed up with Bryn Vaile to compete in the Star Class.

 

They sailed together for less than a year but in that time won the UK

Olympic Trials, placed third in the last European regatta before the Olym-pics and then won the Olympic Gold medal. At around ten months and only 27 races it was, and still is, the shortest ever campaign to win Olympic Gold.

 

In 1989 Mike was skipper of Juno 4 in the British team that won the Admiral’s Cup and in 1991 he skippered Juno 5 to second in the World 50.

​NICK HARRISON

 

Nick made his name as a sailor competing in the Laser class and won Laser Masters Worlds, European & National Championships and Albacore World & National Championships. 19 years ago Nick met Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson and developed a trusted, mutual friendship and respect with the "Star Boys" having worked with them in the run-up to Beijing 2008. He continued this relationship coaching them up to London 2012, helping Iain and Bart fulfil their ambition of winning a second consecutive Olympic medal.

​PIPPA WILSON MBE

 

After joining forces with Olympic gold medallists Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb in the Yngling team, Pippa Wilson won her first Olympic Gold Medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

 

Pippa has never lost touch with sailing and after taking time out to complete her degree, Pippa has joined forces with John Gimson to tackle the Nacra 17 catamaran. The pair with high sailing pedigree are  a favourite to reach to

coveted GBR place.

 

Pippa has recently decided not campaign for Rio 2016.

​STEPHEN MILNE

 

Details coming soon.

​STEVIE MORRISON

 

Sailing since age 10 and competing at the top levelas a member of Skandia Team GBR since June 2002 Stevie has consistently moved up the rankings.

Stevie has numerous major National and International sailing titles to his name including 49er European Championships and 49er World Championships with Ben.

​STUART BITHELL

 

Bithell was born in Rochdale, England and now lives in Portland. He was introduced to sailing as a seven year old at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club in Rochdalein a Firefly. Bithell began racing competitively at the age of 12 and became a member of the Skandia Team GBR Development Squad at the age of 18.

 

Recent successes including winning silver at the 2011 World Championships in Perth, Australia and silver at the2011 European Championships in Helskinki, eventually helping to win a hard fought silver at London 2012.

​XAVIER ROHART

 

Xavier has been at the forefront of French star sailing for the last 24 years. Highlights include winning the French Finn Nationals in 1989, a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics (Star), wins at the 85th Bacardi Cup, Miami and the 2003 star world championships and representing France at China in 2008 and London 2012.

​FABIANO AVANCINI

 

Fabiano started sailing Optimists in Fraglia Vela Riva del Garda at age 7 and is a native passionate sailor since those early ages.

Sailing all kinds of dinghies on the northern Garda, as part of his family is from Riva , he was spending almost all his time in that spot.

After a while he started competing on larger boats, spending much time on a ULDB 60, participating in the Italy Round Race in '90 for his city, and many others races.

His job in photojournalism, starting in 1992, took him to sport photography as a soccer photographer, away from sailing.

In 2008 he became a passionate Star sailor, sailing many regattas in Italy and abroad.

He moved back to the Garda in 2011 putting all his effort to focussing on the Garda and the practice of sailing the Star Class.

He continues to seek ways to connect photography and sailing.

Hope to see you on the water.

 

 

 

 

AL NEWTON

ANDREW HURST

ANDREW "BART" SIMPSON MBE

ANNIE LUSH

ANTE RAZMILOVIC

ARND GLUNDE

BRIAN HAMMERSLEY

IAN PERCY OBE

JOHN GIMSON

JOHN GREENWOOD

LUKE PATIENCE

MARTIN BUDGETT

MAX TREACY

MIKE MCINTYRE

NICK HARRISON

PIPPA WILSON MBE

ANTHONY SHANKS

STEPHEN MILNE

STEVIE MORRISON

STUART BITHELL

XAVIER ROHART

FABIANO AVANCINI

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Simpson started his competitive sailing career in the Laser class, before switching to the heavier Finn class. He claimed the bronze medal at the 2003 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cadiz in the Finn class; his training partner Ben Ainslie took the gold, with Great Britain topping the medal table. Simpson then moved to the two-man Star class, partnering lifelong friend Percy; they won a bronze medal at the 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The pair won the gold medal in Beijing. After winning the Olympic gold, Percy and Simpson took a break from Star sailing and were in the TeamORIGIN afterguard for the 2010 America's Cup. In 2010, he and Percy won the Star World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Simpson and Percy made the podium in every meeting of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in 2012, including gold at the Hyeres French World Cup regatta. They competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games, again in the Star class, failing to defend their title despite being in the lead throughout the competition, but winning the silver medal. After the Star class was removed from the Olympic sailing disciplines, After the Olympics in 2012, the Star class was removed from the Olympic sailing disciplines and Andrew joined the Swedish Artemis America’s Cup team as a leading member. His effect on the team was immediate, he brought a talent and a will to win that was born in his Olympic spirit. Always shining in a team environment, Andrew was immediately the gelling force that brought people together and extracted their very best. Andrew was enjoying the campaign and had relocated his family to San Francisco for six months.

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