Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Iain Murray joins Australian Sailing as Performance Director

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 3 Sep 2017
Regatta Director, Iain Murray - America's Cup 2017, May 27, 2017 Great Sound Bermuda Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz
One of Australia's most accomplished sailors, Iain Murray has been appointed to the role of Performance Director of Australian Sailing according to a report on Fox Sport's website.

No formal announcement had been made but that is expected on Monday. Murray will start on October 4.

He takes over the role from Peter Conde, who had worked with the Australian sailing team for the past three Olympiads. He had been with the former Yachting Australia for 13 years. In a move announced at the end of August, Conde leaves to become Director of the Australian Institute of Sport. The announcement of his departure can be read by clicking here

Murray takes over the reins of one of the most successful Olympic teams - winning three medals in the 2008 Olympics and four medals at each of the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Sailing was Australia's top Olympic sport at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Iain Murray has a long record of success in sailing covering design and sailing, having won seven 18ft skiff world titles beginning in 1977 in Auckland with Colour 7 - a boat he designed and skippered.

Murray skippered the 12 Metre Kookaburra III in the 1987 Defence of the America's Cup in Fremantle, as well as competing in the 1983 and 1995 Louis Vuitton Cups. He competed in the 2008 Olympics in the Star class, and is a long-time competitor and former world champion in the Etchells class.


As a designer Iain Murray is best known for his continuous development of Australia's top ocean racer, Wild Oats XI. The ongoing hull and appendage surgery has kept the supermaxi owned by the Oatley family as the boat to beat in any event at which she graces the start line. Murray has also continued a strong coach/designer relationship with the 18ft skiff Gotta Love It 7 campaign, winning several JJ Giltinan trophies, the unofficial world championship of the class.

For the past two America's Cup Regattas, Iain Murray has been the Regatta Director. Although a sometimes controversial figure in the San Francisco event, he did an an outstanding job at the Bermuda regatta to the point of running a faultless event in regard to race management. He had indicated at the end of the 35th America's Cup that he was keen to continue in the role, if required.


Between the 2013 and 2017 America's Cups, Murray was thrust into the role of leading Team Australia for the Hamilton Island Yacht Club as he attempted to negotiate a Protocol with representatives of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, after HIYC were accepted as the Challenger of Record following the 34th America's Cup. The Challenge was backed by the Oatley family with whom Murray has had a close and trusted relationship over a number of years. However, the Challenge did not proceed when the gap between the terms under which HIYC was comfortable and GGYC's demands became too great.

The Oatley family have also been strong supporters of the Australian Sailing Team, and that strong relationship is expected to be enhanced with Murray's appointment as Performance Director.







Zhik 2024 DecemberB&G Zeus SR AUSRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

North launches new Wingfoil Race Collection
Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace. Engineered with a VMG-optimised partial double skin for improved aerodynamic efficiency, lower drag and precise manoeuvres at higher speeds.
Posted today at 10:35 am
AEGEAN 600 Attica Warm-Up Race
5th edition sets sail with strong winds and signature Greek hospitality Under perfect sunny skies and brisk northerly winds, the 5th edition of the annual AEGEAN 600 kicked off with a flawless start both on and off the water.
Posted on 4 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D5
Stage set for Finals showdown in Marstrand With just one day to go at the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, the stage is set for a thrilling finale in both the Open and Women's classes.
Posted on 4 Jul
Sam Goodchild in the Course des Caps
The final phase is full of potential pitfalls Sam Goodchild, the British skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance who has been dominating the IMOCA round Britain and Ireland race since the start of the third day, says the goal now is to focus on the complex finishing section.
Posted on 4 Jul
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 2
Light breeze, boat park buzz and big wins off the water >Day 2 brought lighter winds to Lake Garda, but the energy around the event stayed sky-high.
Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead.
Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again?
Posted on 4 Jul
International Moth Worlds begin this weekend
Pre-Worlds are under way at Malcesine From 6 to 13 July 2025, the 2025 Moth World Championship officially gets under way, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine and preceded by the Pre-Worlds on 4 and 5 July. The event marks the culmination of three weeks entirely dedicated to foiling.
Posted on 4 Jul
K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup."
Posted on 4 Jul
PredictWind to show new race tracker in August
The Ocean Race joins with PredictWind as Official Tracking and Weather Services Supplier The Ocean Race, often described as the toughest test of a team in sport and widely recognised as a leader in impactful ocean health initiatives, and PredictWind, a global leader in marine weather forecasting, are collaborating on a new race tracker.
Posted on 4 Jul