Our Coaches
National and world champions who've been where you want to go — and know exactly how to get you there.
Champion of Champions
Nick Craig
Nick Craig is the 'Champion of Champions', having won the Endeavour Trophy 7 times. He has also won 50 National Championships, 6 European Championships and 20 World Championships to date, in a variety of classes including the B14, D-One, Enterprise, Finn, Merlin Rocket, OK, Tasar and Phantom. Remarkably he is not a professional sailor — all of this has been achieved alongside a full-time job. Nick was awarded the YJA Yachtsman of the Year in 2011 and the Yachts & Yachting Amateur Sailor of the Year in 2013. In the last 12 months, he won the Tasar Worlds together with another ARC coach Toby Lewis and the D-One and Zenith Nationals.
Speciality
Big fleet strategy, wind reading, mental resilience, race psychology
Multiple World & National Champion
Tom Gillard
One of the UK's most decorated dinghy sailors, Tom has won an extraordinary 37 major championships across ten separate classes, including the Merlin Rocket, Scorpion, Fireball, Solo, and Streaker. His deep understanding of boat speed, rig tuning, and tactical decision-making makes him an invaluable coach for sailors looking to break into the top tier.
Speciality
Boat speed, rig tuning, tactical racing, two-boat testing
Personal Trainer & Nutritionist
Jonathan (Jonny) Bailey
Jonny is an experienced former bodybuilder and current Personal Trainer and Nutritionist with over 30 years of training experience. He spent 16 years at Virgin Active and worked with the English Institute of Sport before going self-employed, running his Professional Coaching Academy and providing 1:1 coaching focused on training, nutrition, and goal setting. For ARC sailors, Jonny builds strength and resilience for racing, designs efficient progressive training programmes, delivers performance-focused nutrition plans, and sets goals for consistent training. His coaching philosophy is rooted in elite bodybuilding standards: determination, discipline, and hard work — encapsulated by his motto, "The pain of discipline is better than the pain of regret." He advocates short, high-intensity workouts for sailors to maximise performance efficiently.
Speciality
Strength & conditioning, stamina training, agility, bespoke nutrition programmes
Champion & Coach
Rachael Gray
Rachael combines competitive pedigree with a natural coaching instinct. Her focus on boat handling fundamentals, starting technique, and building mental resilience has helped countless sailors find their confidence on the race course.
Speciality
Boat handling, starting technique, mental resilience
Multiple Championship-Winning Crew
Toby Lewis
Toby is a multiple championship-winning crew, typically sailing alongside Nick Craig at the very highest level. What sets Toby apart is his extreme mind-over-matter approach to 'flow state' crewing — an ability to shut out distractions, lock into the moment, and deliver flawless execution when the pressure is at its peak. His calm thinking under pressure is extraordinary, allowing him to process complex tactical situations and communicate clearly with his helm even in the most intense racing scenarios. Toby's unique blend of mental composure and championship-level crewing makes him an exceptional coach for anyone looking to master the art of crewing or develop unshakeable race-day focus.
Speciality
Flow state crewing, mental composure under pressure, tactical communication, championship crew work
Train with the Best
Our coaches have won more national titles than we can count. Now they want to help you win yours.
Start Your Journey