Meet the Team
Megan Thomson
Education:
Diploma in Outdoor Recreation & Leadership + Bachelor Sport & Recreation Majoring in Outdoor Education
Achievements:
Currently on the RNZYS team for the 2021 Youth America's Cup.
Received the 2020 Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award.
2019 RNZYS Long Race Series Winner.
2019 Most Outstanding Youth Girl.
3rd at the 2017 Marineassess Match Race Regatta in Sydney.
2nd at the 2018 Australian Women’s Match Racing Championships.
2015 Selected for the Laser Radial Youth Worlds.
Hidden Talent:
Inventing new words and onboard phrases with calls such as “bailing to starport” or “go for a big fast”
Serena Woodall
Education:
We're still working on this one - Much to her mothers dismay she currently spends more time sailing than she does at School.
Achievements:
Currently on the RNZYS team for the 2021 Youth America's Cup.
In 2019 Serena took on the role of a young Blake Inspire environmental leader and was awarded the Young Leader award at the Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards.
2019 Teams Racing National Champion
2019 Etchell Auckland Champion
2018 was also a succesfull year:
2018 Youth Match Race National Champion
2018 Centreport Youth International Champion
Place 4th at the 2018 NZ Match Race Nationals.
She was also awarded RNZYS Outstanding Youth Girl in 2018.
Hidden Talent:
Big chat - Serena may look small but she is a mighty big asset to the team. The only one who dares talk back to the Skipper's crazy requests. “Kiwi drop?” “No!”.
Lisa Dartnall
Education:
Bachelor Marine Biology and Geospatial Science.
Achievements:
2nd Place Arafura Games 2019
3rd John Messenger Women’s Regatta 2019
1st B Division Commodores Cup Round Kawau Race
Hidden Talents:
Team mum, financial manger and social media guru. What does the rest of the team do? - yeah not much! In all honesty our team would be a wee bit lost without Lisa. Without her we would have missed flights, forgotten our lunch, and our Facebook and Instagram pages would not exist. Also, did we mention Lisa regularly sleeps for 10 plus hours!
Chelsea Rees
Education:
Currently immersed in her studies in Law and Environmental Science at the University of Auckland.
Achievements:
2016 Yachting NZ Youth Performance Award. Selected for the 420 Worlds team in 2016.
Hidden Talent:
Chelsea can snap a Jib better than Elle from ‘Legally Blonde’ can bend and snap! (Please look up the reference if you don’t get this joke). In more recent years Chelsea the guru at kiteboarding, currently co-president of the UoA Kitesurf Club. When she first started training with us we don’t think she remembered what a boat actually looked like... but when it comes to reading the breeze, this girl is valuable to have onboard!
New Team Member
To be announced soon!!
We're excited to announce our newest core member of our team. We know you'll love her! Stay tuned.