Chair – Guy Chester
Guy has sailed over 150,000 nm including two circumnavigations, mostly solo. He has sailed in all oceans and raced in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. He founded the Louisiades Yacht Rally in 2007 and ran it for seven years. He is a past Commodore of Half Moon Bay Yacht Club and past Yachting Queensland Board member. Guy was recently awarded the Australia Medal by the Ocean Cruising Club for single handed ocean passages.
Guy owns the trimaran Oceans Tribute, a sistership to Verbatim, in which he has recently completed a solo circumnavigation and a campaign of crewed racing in New Caledonia, three Caribbean seasons and New Zealand.
On why he conceived the 2028 Race Around Australia: “The 1988 Race inspired me to follow shorthanded racing. Gavin LeSueur and I chatted in Cairns about organising or entering a potential around Australia race for 2008, and again for 2018. When I bought Oceans Tribute in 2020, a sistership to Verbatim/Bullfrog, Ian Johnston flew to New Zealand to help me refit her. Ian’s stories of the 1988 Race, tall tales and true got me thinking! Meeting Don McIntyre in Fiji in 2025 and discussing the organisation of the 1988 race, and his encouragement to make it happen…. Gavin, Ian and Don, its all your fault!”
Secretary – Don Cortis
Dan grew up on the waterfront of Pittwater and learnt to sail on a VJ. He has built and owned yachts for over 40 years. He has completed two Atlantic crossings aboard the catamaran Sanctuary. Don is Commodore of Yorkeys Knob Boating Club Inc., he is an experienced event manager having hosted the Flying Ant National Titles.
Treasurer – Gavin LeSueur
Gavin Le Sueur has owned eight multihulls and started his shorthanded racing career across the Tasman through Cyclone Bola in 1988. He lost his cataman ‘D Flawless’ to a whale collision en route back. He was loaned the cat ‘John West’ for the 1988 Bicentennial Race, sailing with his co-skipper Catherine and finishing second in the 40-50ft Multihull division. He famously proposed to Catherine at the finishing line with a handwritten flag made from a destroyed spinnaker. He has sailed 100,000 nm with extensive solo and shorthanded racing and cruising. Gavin a published author, including his story of the 1988 race ‘The Line – not just a boat race’.
Members
Ian Johnston
Ian Johnston has sailed 150,000 miles in trimarans. He has held to record for the Solo Trans Tasman and still holds the Solo TransPac record. Ian sailed the 40’ Crowther Trimaran, Verbatim in the 1988 race and was the first Australian by more than 5 days. In addition to this Ian took a Twiggy trimaran to Europe where he competed in the Route du Rhum and Round Britain.
Ian has been awarded Australian navigator of year and was a finalist for Australian yachtsman of year and has been awarded enty into the yachting hall of fame. Ian is a Master class 5 yachtmaster ocean, boatbuilder, co-founder of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival and a published yachting author.
John Cadwallader
John Cadwallader (Master 5 MED 3, retired) sailed St Therese in the 1988 race. He has sailed 200,000 offshore miles and races. He has been on and under the sea from boyhood. 30 years of Abalone & Oil rig diving, 2 circumnavigations of Australia 1987 & 1988, 3 Peaks & 3 Ports Races, Brisbane to Gladstone, Darwin to Ambon & Bitung, Coral Sea Classic to PNG, Coastal Classic NZ, 3 Atlantic & 2 Pacific crossings.
John was a C Class Cat & world sailing speed team member, Yellow Pages, Extreme Fifty and Macquarie Innovation. John is a pioneering “trimaraner”, a founding member of the Trimaran Yacht Club of Victoria, and the Southern Hemisphere Editor for the Trimaran magazine.
Kevin Le Poidevin OAM
Kevin Le Poidevin OAM is retired from the Air Force. He has sailed over 90,000 nautical miles, including the Solo Globe Challenge, SoloTransTasman races, three Sydney to Hobarts, the Melbourne to Osaka and many Atlantic passages mostly solo. Kevin raced in the 2023-24 Global Solo Challenge non-stop from Spain, sadly retiring in Hobart.
Mark Hipgrave
Mark Hipgrave (40,000nm) has sailed in ten Sydney to Hobart Races, in 2023 as doublehanded. He sailed in the solo Fastnet in 2016, the OSTAR in 2017, the Melbourne to Osaka in 2018, the Solo Trans Tasman 2014 and 2023 and many other offshore miles racing and deliveries.
Bruce Arms
Bruce Arms and his Chamberlain design catamaran Big Wave Rider holds the solo nonstop unassisted around Australia record. His time of 38 days 21 hours, 41 minutes and 42 seconds sets the solo world record. Bruce has sailed the SoloTransTasman three times, wining it in 2007 and 2010, he sailed in the Three Peaks races three times winning in 2012. Bruce was Australian Sailing’s Queensland yachtperson of the year in 2012.
Bruce understands boat and sailor preparation for extended voyaging being Jessica Watson’s project and voyage manager for her record breaking solo circumnavigation.
Advisors
SHORAA is support by three great advisors who, alongside the Committee form the advisory group. We will be actively expanding this group as the planning and management of the event continues.
Jon Henry – Advisor
Jon has been a involved with the Short-Handed Sailing Association of NZ, both competing in many short handed races and as the Race Director for the Round North Island doublehanded race in New Zealand for twelve years. Jon is a YNZ safety inspector. He assists Yachting New Zealand with Sailing Instructions and Notice of Race for offshore events.
Sharon Ferris Choat – Advisor
Sharon has sailed in the Olympics for New Zealand and has vast experience in offshore sailing including sailing non stop around the world with Tracey Edwards in the 110′ catamaran Maiden II. Sharon and partners have recently bought Vixen a Class 40, a perfect boat for the Race Around Australia!
Nic Douglass – Advisor
Nic is well known globally as the “Sailor Girl”. She ia a multiple world champion. Her sailing and media experience is extensive from Sydney to Hobarts, Americas Cup, Sail GP and Olympics. Nic and her firm Sunset Media are providing great support and advice for the Race Around Australia.