Possibly the best 'homegrown' coach in possibly the best sailing nation on earth!!

Over the last 15 years his sailors have won numerous Australian Championships in International classes and World Championships in 420's (twice) Mirror Dinghy and Topper.

As a junior sailor Mick showed enormous potential, until a crippling arthritic condition somewhat curtailed his competitive activities.
In an effort to participate in the sport he loves, he initially took up voluntary coaching duties at Albert Sailing Club, and then with the Victorian Yachting Council Youth program, Mick was instrumental in raising the status of Victorian youth sailors to the very top level. In 1987 he designed a program aimed at wiining the 1991 World Mirror Championships, preferably with a youth sailor.
In 1991 Tom King (17) and Raf Heale (15) won the World Mirror Championships!!!

In 1994 Mick moved to sunny Queensland where he quickly established himself as the 'sailor maker'. His first QLD project was to coach and prepare a small team of 420 sailors for the forthcoming 1995 420 World Championships in Perth WA. Using radical methods because of the short (less than 12 months) time frame, radical rig setups and tapping in to the incredible skill, discipline and dedication of the sailors, Mick was able to help conjure up a win at his first attempt at 420's.
The sailors, Roger Perrett and Teague Czislowski were the only crew in the Worlds regatta who did not sail the invitation regatta beforehand. As this regatta was traditionally used for 'practice' for the Worlds, this coach initiated decision to skip the event, attracted a lot of criticism from the 'experts', but paid off big time!! On the first day of the worlds they came out fresh and won both races. Its now history that they won that championship convincingly!
Whilst also doing "learn to sail" and schools sailing, and interspersed with overseas appointments, Mick also found the time to run an intensive coaching program for interested QLD 420 sailors. By 2000, the 420 fleet in Queensland was probably the most competitive in the world.
Micks methods are simple but tough and not all sailors are cut out for the rigorous schedules he devises. After Matt and Dan Belcher convincingly won the 2000 420 Worlds in France and the amazing performances of the Malaysians in the 2001 SEA Games there can be no doubt that his methods work!
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Mick is always innovative and working with 'new' classes enables him to keep up with the latest trends in the sport.