This year’s crew of Nomad 1 are all graduates of Nomad Sailing. We’ve managed to persuade (or is it pay) Jim & Lou to let us loose on their beloved Jeanneau Sunfast 37′. Lou is skippering Quantum Leap, another Sunfast 37′, so you can bet she won’t want us beating her. Sounds like a challenge.

Paul Blacknell – Skipper

I caught the sailing bug in 2010 and have grabbed every opportunity to sail since. Soon after my family trained as Competent Crew and we bareboat chartered in the Ionian islands in 2011 having an outstanding time. In 2013, I passed my Yachtmaster Coastal exam in Plymouth. I’ve crewed on Nomad 1 during the 2011, 2012 & 2013 Round the Island races and vow to enter in each of my remaining years.

Other ambitions? Well, having completed a few channel crossings I’d like to take on more ambitious deliveries perhaps to the Mediterranean. I’m also up for the Fastnet. In the nearer term, my family are chartering in Croatia this summer.

Pete ‘The Knot’ May – Mate

Likes to think of himself (that’s him on the left) as a really good ‘natural’ sailor, who could have been in the Olympics if he’d taken it up sooner – or wasn’t so well packed with ballast. When not sailing, he’s busy day dreaming about sailing and fantasising about his abilities thereof.

Sailing history – several bare back trips to Turkey – generally what lacks in wind is made up for with Raki and diving off the bow into gorgeous blue waters. Has also chartered several boats on the Solent, including skippering one around the island in May 2012 (and running aground!) It’s all about learning from the experiences, he likes to think.

Sailing ambitions – completing his Yachtmaster Coastal next year, then Sea Survival, then the Fastnet. Generally mucking about on boats as much as possible.

Bob Munday – Crew

Got the bug whilst travelling in Australia and spent far longer than planned in the Whitsundays sailing retired Maxi yachts in a truly stunning environment whist allegedly working.

Recent experience is a little closer to home having qualified as Day Skipper in the Solent and subsequently enjoying many bareboat charters and weekend trips in the Solent and along the south coast.

Really looking forward to my fourth consecutive RTIR and beating the time set in 2013. My ambitions are now simply to somehow find more time for sailing…

Andy Keleher – Crew

I started sailing a couple of years ago after a recommendation from a friend. My wife and I both got the bug, and passed as Day Skippers within the year. We then spent a summer bareboating in Greece and loved it. This will be my third RTIR. I have lost the last two to our skipper and am looking forward to a win this year. If you can’t beat them, join them!

Leanne Keleher – Crew

I started sailing a couple of years ago and I have to admit that I wasn’t sure what I’d make of it. However, after that first weekend. when we did our Start Yachting course I was smitten! After that I completed the day skipper course with my husband and then a bareboat trip around the Ionian two years ago. Since then I’ve not done much sailing due to the arrival of our daughter who is now one but I can’t wait to get stuck in during the Round the Island Race this year!

My ambition is to be confident enough to take my daughter out on the water, and make sailing the regular family summer holiday. Maybe one year we’ll be competing in RTIR with our daughter too! I look forward to sailing in Italy, Croatia and maybe even the the Caribbean.