January 2025 Update

Happy New Year everyone!  

Last year turned out to be a transition year for me.  The big, mighty and beautiful J Class yacht TOPAZ that I raced and managed for the previous 5+ years decided to end their racing program.  With this major change I decided to take a pause from racing and consider my future, rather than jumping straight into another racing campaign.  And it was during this reflection time that I decided to change course and step back from the intense Grand Prix type racing that I have been doing for 30+ years.  My plan now is to only take the special, fun, and enjoyable projects that come my way.

I have watched many a sportsman try to hang on too long in their career.  People driven by work and success, afraid to end their addiction, or step out of the limelight.  This most often results in a diminished or unhappy final chapter of a career.  I have just had one of the most wonderful chapters of my career, racing in the top-end TP52 circuit, driving and managing a J boat with a wonderful owner and team, and being selected into the National Sailing Hall of Fame.  A perfect time to transition to the wisdom phase in life and career.

I also have other goals in life to accomplish and enjoy.  This is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy my life & profession more, travel, volunteer, coach the younger generation, and give back to my sport and community.

So yes, a time of change, some uncharted paths, learning to slow down, but I’m so grateful to be the one making the choice, and it’s absolutely the right one.  It’s an interesting time now in the world, with a very uncertain future, so I encourage everyone to pause and step back occasionally, trust your instincts, have the courage to change, and help others along the way whenever you can.

So on my new path, my next sailing event is the St. Barths Bucket in March on a 156 foot (48m) Hoek Design Classic Sloop.  It’s a fantastic challenge to race these huge yachts and orchestrate a crew of over 20 people, around one of the nicest French Caribbean islands.  Following this I’ll be coaching a local high school team in their first big boat regatta on my home island of St. Thomas.  And then on the horizon might be a Superyacht regatta or two over in Europe during the summer racing season.

Best wishes everyone for a happy and healthy 2025!

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