About

For the last three decades I have avoided the realities of a real job by making my way of life my living. I raced sailboats professionally for 20 years starting when the sport was in its infancy and helping develop it to the point now where talented sailors can make a decent living doing what they do best; making boats go fast. 

As hard as this is to believe I got tired of sailing. Too much time away, too much time alone and too much time with a wet backside and a damp sleeping bag. The charm had gone, but what do do? I was unemployed and unemployable.  Luckily I found that I could tell a fairly decent story and turned life on land into a career as a writer and public speaker. Not bad work if you can get it.

Pushing 50 I needed to do something big with my life before it was too late. Like most good ideas it started on the back on a napkin on the back end of a long night’s drinking with my good mate Josh Hall. The next day we formed Global Ocean Sailing Ventures and announced our first race; a single-handed, double-handed race around the world. The following two years were an exercise in determination, frustration and blind optimism before we finally signed the city of Portimão, Portugal as our title sponsor. On the 12th October, 2008 the Portimão Global Ocean Race started. Yes dreams really do come true.