The Skipper

David Melville's career, has never taken him far from the sea. Although growing up in landlocked St Albans, where it 'all started', meant that his love for the water began with dinghy sailing in local reservoirs.



Joining the Merchant Navy at 16 as an apprentice Navigation Officer, David learnt seamanship and navigation. Leaving to study for a Marine Geography degree David began yacht sailing and racing in earnest. After setting up his own charter company, Carmel Yachts, David went back to study for a Postgrad in International Shipping, Trade and Finance. From here David became a director for a company specialising in financial risk analysis within the shipping industry, launching a subsidiary company in America where he became President during what David describes as his 'yuppie' stage in life!

However in 1998, the pull of the ocean bought David back to professional sailing and he has proved this was the right move by already carving out a successful career in yacht racing, winning the highly competitive second leg of Challenge Business' inaugural Challenge Transat 2002 aboard Vail Williams. David came second overall. The crew were reunited for the 2003 Round the Island Race and came in first out of the twelve Challenge yachts entered. David also skippered BP Explorer to a first place win, in the closely fought Round Britain and Ireland 2004 race that completed on June 11th 2004. He intends to be a serious contender in the Global Challenge 2004/5.

So what are David's expectations for the race? "It's quite a bloody business - it's not called the world's toughest yacht race for nothing. It's going to be hard going but I hope the camaraderie amongst the crew will knock the hard edges off the most of it."

Being a good skipper is what got David to the position he is in now but what, in his opinion, will make the difference? "You have to be good at sailing. There's a lot of talk about good management but you have to get the boat going fast, in the right direction. The second thing is to get the crew to come along with you."

So, what would be his luxury item, as he cannot take his wife and newborn baby? "A Max Sea lap top routing system