Jeremy Koo, how he came to be a navigator

by China Team media on 19 Jul 2006 Jeremy Koo joined the China Team crew just in time to take part in the Act XII regattas. The young Malaysian, age 25, participated in the Elba Cup alongside Pierre Mas and his team.

From the jetties of the Royal Selonger Yacht Club to those of Valencia and Porto Azzuro, Jeremy has taken part in all the big sailing competitions around the world and is one of the most experienced members of the crew. We asked him a few questions about his career to date.

What age were you when you began to sail?

I began sailing when I was 9 years old. I lived in the city but every year there was an important boat show just an hour away from my home on the coast. We often visited it with my parents. My father dreamt of buying a boat. Unfortunately he never did. But behind the yacht club there was a river and the children could play in the smaller boats moored there. That was how I started. I loved the sensation of being in the boat and thought it was all great fun, but it was really the beginning of something much more. Then my parents allowed me to join the sailing club. I went every Saturday and Sunday. I started navigating the Optimist boats and a year later my father actually bought me one. Between the ages of 10 and 13 I represented my region in various boat races. I moved on to lasers and 420’s and took part in all the competitions that corresponded to the region.

How did you move on to bigger boats?

There is a famous race that is run in Malaysia every year called the Raja Muddha Cup and my club suggested that I take part in it. I sailed a Beneteau, then a Mumm 30. That’s how I met Franck Pong. After the race Franck asked me to sail his Maxis. I have been doing that for the past three years as part of his crew.

Is that how you ended up in Valencia?

That’s right! I have a lot of experience now on big boats which I am putting to good use here, but at the same time I have never sailed on a Class America. It is my first time and it is very different. The boat is very sensitive and the sail enormous. It really is another world.

You have just taken part in the Elba Cup and got to the quarter finals. Peter Gilmour won the title. It is the first time you ran the Elba Cup: what are your impressions of the race?

It was a good experience for me and a great way to prolong Act XII, even if the skills required for this kind of regatta are completely different from those on Class America. When there are five of you, which is the case for the Elba Cup, it’s all about tactics. Class America has a crew of 17 so the tactics employed are very different. For me the IACC are far more complex and difficult to navigate and demand some serious team work. But it is a fabulous opportunity. I am very happy to be here in Spain. It was a childhood dream to take part in the America’s Cup and I was delighted to be a member of the crew for the Elba Cup too.


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