Another top Volvo OR sailor joins Doyle Sails
by Bliss Neagel, Doyle Sails 29 Aug 2018 05:07 PDT
30 August 2018
Luke Molloy - Leg 8 from Itajai to Newport, Day 11 on board AkzoNobel. 03 May, © Brian Carlin / Volvo Ocean Race
Doyle Sails Palma announced that legendary pro sailor Luke Molloy was joining the team as Grand Prix Sails Consultant.
Doyle Sails Palma announced new leadership back in February 2018 with the news that Chris Sherlock and Phill Maxwell were taking over the business and planning to expand the Doyle offering in Palma. Since then a new loft has opened, the team has been growing and business is booming!
Luke Molloy, Australian, has an incredible breadth of experience in the pro sailing world. He most recently completed the 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race onboard Team Akzo Nobel where he also managed to achieve the current 24-hour record at 602 nautical miles. He was a helmsman/trimmer and in charge of the sail programme for that campaign.
Prior to that Luke was part of the Victory Challenge team in the 2007 America’s Cup, the ABN AMRO 2 team in the 2005/6 Volvo Ocean Race and has achieved many other victories across classes such as Melges 32, Farr 40s, Swan 45s, TP52s and many other Maxis and Grand Prix race boats.
Luke is a qualified sailmaker and a highly experienced sail programme manager and so brings a huge talent to the Doyle Sails Palma business and Doyle as a Group.
Luke was part of the young and highly talented ABN AMRO 2 team back in the 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race.
Luke Molloy commented on his new role with Doyle: “I met Mike Sanderson way back in 2004 when he gave me a huge opportunity to become part of the ABN AMRO 2 team which, for me, was a massive springboard for my professional sailing life. My sailmaking career combined with my passion for grand prix racing and sailing around the world has enabled me to sail on some of the most spectacular and fast race boats. I’m super excited now to join the Doyle Sails Group and continue that path. Chris and Phill are building a really strong business in Palma and I hope to be able to contribute to that ongoing business growth by becoming part of the incredibly talented Doyle team.”
Luke starts his involvement with Doyle Palma immediately and will be competing in the Maxi Worlds in September.
Chris Sherlock, Managing Director of Doyle Sails Palma, added his thoughts:"Phill (Maxwell) and I are super happy to have Luke join our growing team at Doyle Sails Palma. I have personally sailed many thousands of miles with Luke as a helmsman/trimmer/watch leader over the last dozen years and his knowledge as a sailmaker and a great racing sailor will strengthen our Doyle Palma team, especially in Grand Prix and superyacht s. Luke is another perfect example of our philosophy at Doyle sails, our team actually sail at the very highest level of our sport from Superyachts and Grand Prix to the Volvo Ocean Race. 100% built by sailors for sailors.”
Mike Sanderson, Owner and CEO of Doyle Sails International, summarized his thoughts on today’s announcement: "I first met Luke back in 2004 when we were putting together the 2005/6 ABN AMRO teams for the Volvo Ocean Race. Luke was selected as one of the ‘kids’ for the ABN AMRO 2 team and he impressed me from day one with his enthusiasm, determination and hunger to learn. Since then he has gone from strength to strength and brings to Doyle a significant talent in making boats go fast, managing sail programmes and working with owners to achieve maximum satisfaction.”
Luke starts his involvement with Doyle Sails Palma immediately and will be competing in the Maxi Worlds in early September in his new role.
To contact Luke Molloy and the team at Doyle Sails Palma, please contact:
www.doylesails.com/palma