Life of a Former Sailor Turned CEO Leading Red Bull Italy SailGP in Monaco

Growing up near Sydney in Pittwater meant that all my travels, from school to shopping, involved a boat ride.

I ventured into windsurfing at the age of five and soon graduated to solo boat trips. Inspiration came from two local heroes, both crew members of the victorious 1983 America's Cup yacht, Australia II.

My boating career began in 1991 at Beashel's Boatshed, even before finishing primary school. Colin Beashel, part of Australia II's crew, and his father Ken, who managed logistics, were key figures.

The Power Hours series offered by BI showcases how influential business leaders shape their days. More stories are available in this collection, or you can contact editor Lauryn Haas if you wish to share your own routine.

I achieved a third-place finish in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1998. At the age of 20, I captained Young Australia in the 2000 America's Cup and helmed the victory in both 2010 and 2013.

Transitioning from competing, I now manage the Italian SailGP team as CEO and part-owner, focusing on strategic leadership and growth whether on water or on shore. Let me walk you through a typical day.

Sail GP hosts fast-paced races globally featuring identical, cutting-edge F50 catamarans. Events span cities from New York to Geneva; thus, travel accompanies my role. On race days, early starts are crucial.

Maintaining an athlete's mindset, I function better when the day begins with exercise. My routine starts at the gym before any other task.

Breakfast, a combination of coffee and a shake, sets the stage for reviewing the day's agenda. This often involves significant meetings with investors or discussing promotional activities with other Red Bull athletes, given their partnership role.

Following a scan through emails and weather updates, I hold initial communications with our athletes to ensure readiness.

Preparation for Races

Before races kick off, there's an all-inclusive meeting similar to those seen in Formula 1—coaches, analysts, and athletes deeply engage in data evaluation from prior races to highlight strategies and areas needing attention.

SailGP boasts unparalleled data transparency, accessible across all teams. Navigating the sheer volume to distill actionable insights is always a challenge.

Typically competing on weekends, I frequent the pit, akin to that of Formula 1, mingling among coaches, team members, and guests.

Visitors to SailGP events are invariably amazed by the sight of twelve high-performance boats racing at speeds reaching 100 km/h in a compact setting. It's a brief yet exhilarating spectacle.

Post-race, there's a detailed evaluation session aimed at performance improvement for future races. This might be followed by meals with sponsors, though adhering to my organic diet can be tough during travels.

After the Day

Approaching nightfall, I tend to watch race footage again before sleep. Maintaining a non-distracting bedtime routine, such as minimizing phone usage, is in progress.

On non-race days, my schedule relaxes. Although I'm based in Monaco, family resides in San Diego, necessitating frequent travel. A week each month is dedicated to being home.

Between events, focus shifts to planning sustainability and success for subsequent competitions. Video calls, primarily on Zoom, help dissect past performances with athletes.

With a young but adept team, dedication is non-negotiable in sports. Shortcuts don’t often lead to long-term gains.

As the newest participant in SailGP, our ambitions drive us. Financial stability within the league is rare, but achieving it is our aim.