I started sailing at the age of 8 on the family Sadler 25. Sailed mirrors from the age of 10, progressing to Firefly’s and then two man skiffs by the mid 90’s. Thereafter time was spent racing the family sigma 33 to win the 1997 National championships. Wishing to helm a boat myself a lot of time was spent campaigning a J24 in the following years.
After being the bridesmaid on more occasions than i care to remember at both National and European level, we were fortunate enough to win the 2008, 2009 & 2010 J/24 National Championships.
I’ve worked in the marine Industry since 1997 as a sailmaker and became a director of Penrose Sailmakers in 2010.
With the first of three children arriving in 2010 but also having more responsibility at work, sailing was limited to customers within the local Falmouth fleets.
In late 2013 I stumbled across videos of the 2011 IOM World Championships @ West Kirby and decided radio sailing was something that i wanted to have a go at!
A few people that i knew locally sailed IOM’s so i sourced a boat for £400 and joined West Cornwall RSC, the rest i guess is history!
The £400 IOM was updated by mid 2014 with a new Barry Chisam Asbo and the 2014 IOM Nationals being my first event outside of the South West.
I haven’t missed a IOM nationals since and have participated in most IOM rankings since 2015.
The UK has without any doubt some of the finest radio sailing skippers anywhere in the world and i enjoy not only the hard competition but the knowledge of the experts on tap and social after racing.
In 2014 I became the MYA South West District Secretary followed by the IOM Class Captain in late 2016 until early 2020.
