Top US sailor, Tony Rey joins Doyle Sails - opens new office in Newport
by Bliss Neagle 22 Aug 2018 02:26 PDT
22 August 2018
Mike Sanderson, CEO of Doyle Sails International, welcomes Tony Rey into the Doyle business © Doyle Sails
Today Doyle Sails announced the exciting news that World Class sailor Tony Rey is joining Doyle Sails as a Partner to the US business and opening a new Doyle sales office in Newport Shipyard in Newport, Rhode Island.
Tony will work in partnership with Founder Robbie Doyle as well as Mike Sanderson and the management team of Doyle Sails International.
Doyle Sails was founded by American Robbie Doyle back in 1982 and since then has built a strong brand profile, business and customer base in North America. The Salem loft is world renowned and a state of the art loft facility and there are a further 15 lofts across North America serving Superyacht, Grand Prix, One Design and Cruising customers.
Tony Rey, American, is a world class tactician, coach and race team leader with years of experience on the winner’s podium in racing yachts from 15-200 feet. He is a veteran of the America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and Olympics and has raced at the highest levels of Grand Prix circuits from TP52s to maxis and Superyachts.
Tony Rey commented on his new partnership with the Doyle brand and business:
“I have always been impressed with the technology behind Doyle Sails, especially at Grand Prix and Superyacht levels. Robbie Doyle is one of the great innovation trailblazers in our sport, and his sailing career has long been an inspiration for me having grown up racing in the US.
Ultimately success in sailing comes down to teamwork with the right group of people, and what really led me to this partnership are the great sailors, designers and sailmakers already working at Doyle, both in North America and around the world across the loft network. It’s high time that Doyle had a presence in Newport and I’m proud and excited to work with Robbie and the team in Salem, and with Mike and his New Zealand partners to grow Doyle North America to its fullest potential – I can’t wait to get started!”
Robbie Doyle, Founder, Doyle Sails, adding his views on working with Tony: “I first met Tony about 30 years ago when he taught my children Tyler, Ethan, and Jennifer to sail. All three are active sailors today. He was a very impressive instructor, and very mature for his age. I then went on to compete with Tony on various race boats over the years and he was always a competitor against whom it was enjoyable to race against. More recently I got to sail with him on P2 and I could see then how he had developed and could manage a campaign programme. I also got to work with Tony when he coached Peter Duncan in his J70 World Championship win in Sardinia in 2017.
"I have built the Doyle Sails business from the ground up and know that it takes a great team to deliver success. The North American market is changing fast, growing in new directions, with more yachts travelling the world than ever before so for us to have a strong presence in Newport, Rhode Island is essential. Tony brings with him a wealth of contacts and experience and a drive to take the business to new levels and I look forward to working with him.”
Mike Sanderson, Owner and CEO of Doyle Sails International, summarized his thoughts on today’s announcement:
“Doyle Sails North America is the founding home of the brand, where it has a strong reputation and business and where I first encountered the brand in action under the leadership of Robbie Doyle. Across the world the business is changing and so many of our clients and their yachts are moving around the world and we need world class customer relationship managers in the right places around the globe. Tony Rey is exactly that – a talented sailor, well connected and experienced – and opening a sales office in the mecca of sailing in Newport, Rhode Island is exactly the right move given how the Doyle business is growing.”
Tony starts his involvement with Doyle Sails immediately and plans to open the new Doyle Sales Office in Newport Shipyard on 1 September 2018.
For more information about Tony Rey and Doyle Sales Office in Newport Shipyard, please contact: Tony.rey@doylesails.com