Meet Volvo Ocean Race winning skipper and Doyle Sails CEO Mike Sanderson.
Nationality: New Zealand
Date of birth: May 29 1971
Family: Wife Emma and three children
Bio: Sanderson (aka ‘Moose’) has won the Whitbread Race Around the World (1993-94) and the Volvo Ocean Race (2005-06). He is best known for becoming the youngest ever Volvo Ocean Race-winning skipper in 2005-06 when he led the ABN AMRO I crew to a comprehensive victory. His emotional acceptance speech quote afterwards has gone down in the annals of Volvo Ocean Race history:
“This is my Olympic gold, my Mount Everest, this is my childhood dream, to get to skipper a boat and win the Volvo Ocean Race.”
Sanderson has also been involved in three America’s Cup campaigns – including a role as team director at the British Team Origin syndicate – and as CEO of global sailmakers Doyle Sails remains involved at the cutting edge of professional yacht racing.
Career highlights:
2007 – 2010: Team Director at British America’s Cup challenger Team Origin
2006: ISAF World Sailor of the Year
2003: Set new transatlantic crossing record of 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds
as skipper of Mari-Cha IV
Volvo Ocean Race participation:
2011-12: Sanya – 6th
2005-06: ABN AMRO I – 1st
1997-98: Merit Cup – 2nd (Whitbread)
1993-94: New Zealand Endeavour – 1st Maxi class (Whitbread)
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