Tim Hughes

With over six years as Head of Operations for the world renowned United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) under his belt, Tim Hughes is a hugely experienced water sports business professional at the forefront of industry development for all aspects of marine training and leisure activities.

Tim’s career path has lead him to run marine operations around the globe including the Caribbean, Middle East, Mediterranean and Australia. Diverse environments such as leisure and tourism, local education and professional training mean that he has broad commercial experience, excellent financial awareness and a positive customer driven service ethic.

• Marine Qualifications Include:
• RYA/MCA Commercial Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail and Power)
• RYA Powerboat Trainer and Examiner
• RYA appointed Centre Inspector
• RYA PWC Instructor and Trainer
• RYA Dinghy Senior Instructor (and Advanced Instructor)
• RYA Windsurf Advanced Instructor
• BCU Kayak Instructor

Chris Eades

After an extensive background in development of overseas watersports centres, Chris became the first Regional Development Officer for the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). This involved working with multi-million pound facilities, projects and government led sports development programs, whilst maintaining the national governing bodies standards in training and centre inspections.

He has had over 150 RYA centres under his guidance, and has been an overseas inspector for centres in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Chris has been instrumental in raising overseas industry standards and has put himself at the forefront of overseas operations, safety procedures, equipment and staffing. He has re-developed active holiday market leaders, and has extensive knowledge of how to deliver customer focused and safe, yet financially viable, on-water activities.

• Marine Qualifications Include:
• RYA Dinghy Coach Assessor
• RYA Appointed Centre inspector
• RYA Powerboat Instructor (Safety Boat)
• RYA PWC Instructor
• RYA Windsurf Instructor

Jamie Boag

Jamie’s solid business background in sales, marketing and finance has been gained over the past fifteen years and has involved establishing the family aviation business and working as an equity dealer and investment manager for 5 years in Ireland and the UK. Returning to the marine industry in 2000, Jamie has been involved with some of the worlds top designers and yards on high value custom racing and cruising projects, and with prestige yacht brokerage through Europe’s largest yacht broker. Jamie is also a yachtsman of international repute and former professional sailor.

Jamie has most recently specialised in the project management and marketing of high performance luxury cruising yachts and race boats, and was also responsible for establishing a new luxury brand within the industry over the past three years. Jamie is married to double Olympic sailing gold medalist Shirley Robertson.

Ian Walker

Cambridge graduate, Ian is a double Olympic silver medalist, and the most recent skipper and sailing manager of the 2002 British America’s Cup Team. Ian is currently one of the Worlds top racing helmsmen/tacticians and actively manages large scale racing projects worldwide. Ian has been at the forefront of his sport from an early age and has built up a reputation as one of the most disciplined and professional people in the industry.

Ian has also been involved with other successful campaigns in an organisational and coaching capacity most recently with Britain’s Olympic Gold medal winning women’s keelboat sailing team. Following his 2007 campaign as tactician with the +39 Italian America’s Cup team, Ian has taken on the challenge of being the skipper of the Green Team, Ireland's entry for the 2008/2009 Volvo Ocean Race. Ian continues to provide the company with invaluable access to high level corporate events and personalities.