Phil Barnard
BPA owner and Lead instructor
Racing Skills and Competencies
- Navigation and weather routing: deep knowledge and experience of how to seek out the best weather conditions for making the boat go fast
- Tactician: Proven ability to make the split-second decisions that outwit competitors
- Skipper: Demonstrated ability to lead a team to victory while keeping everyone safe
- Race preparation: Encyclopedic knowledge of all aspects of boat design, manufacturing, rigging, sails, deck layout, gear, maintenance, provisioning and equipment
Robin Elsey
Lead Singlehanded Instructor
Robin is our Basic Singlehanding Instructor at the Barefoot Performance Academy
Robin started racing in Mylor, at the small Restronguet Sailing Club. His first introduction to sailing was on the Optimist and after mastering the Opti, Robin moved into Toppers, a highly competitive class in the UK. It was here that he developed the skills needed for the boat on boat competition required to be a racing sailor.
Through his teen years, Robin moved up through the RYA’s Junior and Youth Racing Programs, finishing his RYA youth training in the Laser class. Robin represented GBR in Junior and Youth European championships and World Championships.
- 2 time figarist, winning the extremely prestigious rookie of the year, and achieving the best every non French result in the Transat AG2R.
- Expert on singlehanded performance sailing and racing.
- After competing in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race whilst a member of the British Keelboat Academy Robin was selected to join Artemis Offshore Academy.
Sam Goodchild
Advanced Singlehanding Instructor
In 2006 he was selected as the youngest member of the British Keelboat Academy, resulting in his 1st Transatlantic with Alex Thompson (2nd, Vendee Globe 2016/17).
This was followed by selection for the renowned Artemis Offshore Academy in 2010. Here he was introduced to the extremely competitive one-design Figaro circuit in France; a series that has launched countless prestigious careers and still sees the occasional return of sailing legends such as double Vendee Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux.
- 80,000miles sailing & over 15 ocean crossings
- Diverse experience: maxi-trimaran, Imoca60, Volvo65, Volvo70, class40, Figaro
- Crew member on record breaking maxi-trimarans Phaedo3 and Spindrift 2
- 3rd Match Racing World Championship 2017
- 4 x Solitaire du Figaro
- 3 x Transat Jacques Vabre
In the last 3 years Sam has broken countless offshore records with the MOD70 Phaedo and is now part of the elite Spindrift Racing Team. - A credit to his adaptability, he goes head to head with America’s Cup hopefuls in the World Match Racing Tour as well as crew on the fastest sailing trimaran ever built, Spindrift 2.
- It’s with this team, and this boat, that Sam prepared for his greatest challenge yet, placing 2nd in the Jules Verne Trophy.
Will Oxley
Advanced Navigation and Weather Routing Instructor
More than 350,000 nautical miles of ocean sailing and racing: Highlights include 6x RTW, 19 Sydney Hobart races (1 Line honours, 2 handicap wins) and 22 Hamilton Island Race Weeks (5 wins, 3 seconds).
Short-handed sailing features strongly in my background with many thousands of miles of double handed racing including three Melbourne- Osaka Races and two Transat Jacque Vabre races.
I have extensive experience in leading and project managing teams in the marine environment in both yachting and marine science. I am a regular contributor to sailing magazines. In 2014, I published an e-book titled Modern Race Navigation and another in 2017, Expedition Navigation Software, A Gentle Introduction. I also teach/coach Marine Navigation in bespoke courses.
Highlights
- Six round the world (RTW) races:
- 2014-15 Navigator on Alvimedica. Volvo Ocean Race.
- 2011-12 Navigator on CAMPER Emirates Team New Zealand. Volvo Ocean Race 2nd place,
- 2008-09 Shoreside Navigation/ Weather support for Puma. Volvo Ocean Race. 2nd place, 05-2005-06 Navigator on Brunel. Volvo Ocean Race.
- 2005 Navigator on Maxi Cat Doha 2006. Oryx Quest Non-Stop Round the World. 1st place, 2000-01 Skipper/Navigator on Compaq NonStop. BT Global Challenge. 2nd place.
Primary Marine Certifications
- AYF Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor # 228 (1999)
- RYA Yachtmaster Ocean # 2422 (1999)
- AMSA Master <24m endorsed out to EEZ. Revalidated 01/06/2021.
Other Marine Certifications
- Yachting Australia Umpire Seminar and training (2014)
- RYA/ISAF Safety Sea Survival Course (Most recent Dec 2018)
- Australian Coaching Council Level 1 Yachting coach. # 76228 (1989)
- GMDSS General Radio Operators certificate #GC02869 (1999) Valid to 20.12.2022
- Commonwealth of Australia Marine Radio Operators licence # Q17018 (1985)
Awards
- 2019 Wizard Crew: RORC Boat of the Year.
- 2018 Ichi Ban: RORC Boat of the Year.
- 2019/2018/2010 CYCA Ocean Navigator of the Year
Tac Boston
Sail Trim – Sail Inventory Management and Development.
Highlights include 13 Chicago-Mackinac Races (1 First in Class, 1st Overall), 11 Bayview-Mackinac Races, 1 Pineapple Cup, 1 Nassau Cup. Two Lauderdale to Key West Races. 11 Time North American Champion in 3 different classes. Canadian National Champion in 2 different classes. 2001 Sonar World Champion.
My background in Sailmaking and mostly One design sailing. I have been full time in the Sailmaking world since I was 16. I have been lucky to be involved in many great teams with great people.
I have extensive experience in leading and project managing teams in the one design arena including MUMM 30’s, Farr 40’s, C&C 30 OD as well as the refit manager for a Custom 43 foot race boat. M strengths on board are in sail trim, crew management and when class rules allow being the helmsman.
Highlights
- 7 time North American Champion in the S2 7.9 Class
- 2 time North American Champion in the Ultimate 20 Class
- 2001 Sonar World Champion
- 24 time Mackinac Race Veteran. (First Overall on RX Sight, Swedish IRC 70’er)
Awards
The US Sailing Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal
Eric Blondeau
Behavioural Mechanics and High Stress Decision Making.
Eric Blondeau works in distinct areas of expertise that all have decision-making and performance in high-stake environments in common.
He has developed a protocol that deciphers behavioural and decisional mechanisms to provide a better understanding of how the mind is structured and arbitrates when transitioning from intention to action.
He applies a targeted questioning technique to the 11 levers that influence our decisions in order to identify and correct the paradoxes that get in the way of performance.
- His managerial experience has been forged over 30 years working both in France and abroad. His career led him to live and work over 10 years in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Barbados and South Africa.
- He brought home from his travels a deep understanding of interculturality and a particular curiosity for differences in perception and their consequences on the decision-making process.
- The variety of his experiences and a multicultural approach allow him to assist and guide clients in all hierarchical positions using an original approach while integrating the expected performance and personal commitment requirements.
Sidney Gavignet
Self Mastery Instructor
Accomplished professional sailor. Single handed, double handed, crewed experience. Sidney’s qualifications:
- MBA
- Master Coaching & Performance
- Equi-coach
Sidney combines his career experience and new qualification to accompany individuals and teams in their performance approach.
SAILING EXPERIENCE
- Route du Rhum, Class Rhum mono. Winner
- Oman Sail, Skipper
- 3 world records ( 2014 : single handed Round UK & Ireland; 2015 : crewed Round UK & Ireland; crewed Round Ireland)
- 2 Route du Rhum (2014 : 5th in Ultim Class on a 100 feet trimaran)
- 2 Round Europe Races (2014 : 2nd)
- 4 Sailing Arabia the Tour (winner in 2013, 2014, 2015)
- 1 Tour Voile (2014 : 3rd, 50% Omani crew)
- 4 Volvo Ocean Race, watch leader
- PUMA, Watch leader (2nd). Multinational team
- ABN AMRO, Helmsman (Winner). Multinational Team
- ASSA ABLOY, Watch leader (2nd), Multinational Team
- 2 solitaire du figaro
- Louis Vuitton Cup, Team Marc Pajot.
- Full season + double handed transat
- Olympic campaign, Tornado.
Marcus Hutchinson
Teaches the Business of Sailing and Race Boat Management.
The business of yacht racing. (Logistics)
Marcus’ professional career has crossed from yacht design and engineering through writing, journalism and editing various specialist publications, through to event management, communications and media relations all the way up to sailing team management and coaching, and lately specific project consulting. Its difficult to put a label on Marcus but his experience and contact base is built on total trust, solid relationships and real and relevant experience primarily in the many different areas of the international yacht racing arena.
Marcus’ extremely important section of the BOSS-PA speciality training focuses on the Business of Yacht Racing. Beginning with the very first decisions that must be made when first looking at yacht racing, to developing a team with structure. From selecting, approaching and managing your sponsors/partners all the way to the logistics of running a race boat which competes at events both regional or internationally.
Rob McLean
BOSS Coordinator and Lead Cruising Instructor.
Rob McLean has 64 years of sailing and boating experience, his passion for sailing began at age 4 on the shores of Georgian Bay.
Rob is a certified Sail Canada Instructor as a Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Catamaran, and Offshore Cruising instructor, Basic and Intermediate Powerboating instructor, and Coastal Navigation instructor. He and is also qualified to teach and examine candidates for the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) with DSC Endorsement, and International Certificate of Competency (ICC). As a Senior Sail Canada Instructor Evaluator (IE), he helps train Sail Canada instructors, and is active in initiatives to enhance keelboat training in Canada.
* Sail Canada Coastal Navigation instructor and Basic Cruising Instructor Evaluator.
* Basic Coastal Navigation and Marine Radio and delivered a Basic Cruising Course working with Wavelength Sailing School in Kingston, Ontario.
* Cross-qualified to instruct under the American Sailing Association standards, and teaches ASA 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, and 114, working with Barefoot Offshore Sailing School in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Rob is the only offshore instructor certified by both ASA and Sail Canada.
* In collaboration with Wavelength Sailing of Kingston Ontario, in 2017 Rob co-founded LearnToCruiseOnline.ca, which offers online navigation, ashore knowledge, and maritime radio courses, collaborating in the development and delivery of online navigation, marine radio, and ashore knowledge learning modules.
* Advanced Cruising standard in an afloat course led by Jamie Gordon, and qualified as an Intermediate Cruising Instructor.
* ASA instructor qualified clinic and became qualified to teach ASA 101, 103, 104, 105, and 114 in collaboration with Barefoot Offshore Sailing School in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). He taught ASA courses in SVG in February, 2018.
* Sail Canada Intermediate Powerboating instructor, as an ASA Advanced 106 Cruising Instructor, and successfully participated in a Sail Canada Senior Instructor Evaluator Clinic.
* Sail Canada Advanced Cruising instructor, passed the Celestial Navigation exam as a student, and obtained his Offshore student qualification. In 2020 he completed the requirements to become an ASA 107 Celestial instructor.
* ASA and Sail Canada Offshore Cruising Instructor in early 2021.
Barefoot Group of Companies
Contact Us
P.O. Box 39, Blue Lagoon,
St. Vincent & The Grenadines,
West Indies VCO 100
Tel: +1-784-456-9526
or: +1-784-456-9334
Fax: +1-784-456-9238
