In 1987, Australia unsuccessfully defended the America’s Cup in Fremantle, Western Australia. I was seventeen years old and the Cup was like the world coming to the door of a sleepy port town.

There were yachts that were more diverse and larger than had ever graced the Western Australian Coast with crew in matching uniforms. There were racers, cruisers and those that really knew nothing about the sea but were just happy to be associated with the event. I was hooked.

I didn’t go straight into yachting, though. The lure of the recently opened Defence Academy with salaried academic degrees and maritime training was too good to ignore, offering a chance to do something I viewed as noble in support of the country. I was young and idealistic.

Naval service extended into nine formative, excellent years, though yachting was never completely out of the frame. Ocean racing filled the gaps; there were Sydney to Hobart and Fastnet races and even a tilt with a short-lived Australian-based America’s Cup campaign. It was exciting and I would draw upon these experiences later.

Navy service allowed me to circumnavigate Australia and visit the Asia–Pacific region. It was an amazing privilege to be able to patrol the Kimberleys, the outer Indian Ocean atolls and islands, the near and far islands of the Asia–Pacific and, of course, the east coast, including Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef.

After leaving the Royal Australian Navy, I turned to commercial training, which allowed work in the tug, barge and offshore industry of Northern Australia. Again, a wonderful time to get to know an area of Australia more intimately.

All the time, I was looking at magazines that featured incredible motor yachts in Europe and the Caribbean. There was not a clear pathway from Australia – the internet was new and the established means to approach yachting was to fly to Antibes or Fort Lauderdale with a pile of printed CVs and walk the docks.

I was at the cusp of making the step when a childhood friend called and said there was a vacancy on a yacht, but only if I accepted immediately. So I did. Joining them in Monaco, we sailed immediately for New Zealand via Florida.

A small-town boy, I had never imagined such a world existed. When I saw the magnificent yacht Lady Moura, which at the time was relatively new, I remember just staring for the longest time. How could such a vessel be privately owned?

The years passed and the yachts increased in size but still, my awe never diminished, even with captaincy, which began with Princess Mariana and continued across nineteen years with Octopus, Vava II, Amadea and Andromeda. All were a privilege and allowed me the chance to sail a global program and interact with some of the most interesting and influential people in the world.

The Asia–Pacific and Australia remained close to my heart and I maintained a connection with the hard-working businesses and government agencies in the region. So when the first edition of The Great Southern Route was developed, I was very keen to be a part of it and sought to support it in some way – many editions were lobbed at yachts that might possibly sail to the Asia–Pacific!

Along the way, I promoted to as many young Australians as would listen that yachting is a legitimate career path, providing a full and rounded career overseas as well as on return to Australia. Now, after enough years, it is pleasing to see some of these young crew members have progressed to senior roles in the yachting community.

With some well-reported regulatory changes in Australia and a general mood in yachting to sail further, I feel the Asia–Pacific region’s time has come. I am proud to be working alongside Ocean Media and The Great Southern Route to support yacht owners and their captains in their efforts to cruise the area.

Megan counts sailing out of Sydney Heads on a blustery day as one of the most exciting things she has ever done – the exhilaration, the sense of adventure and the absolute faith put in a much, much more knowledgeable sailor stays with her still.

Though mostly a twilight sailor on the harbour with a few offshore jaunts to inspire her, she appreciates the pull – and skill – of ocean racing, recognises the unmistakeable trust that forms between those on board over time, and treasures the inexplicable and unforgettable poetry and peace that the ocean imparts (while being ever respectful of its power).

All this makes a nice change from her desk job as an editor, which embarrassingly, also gives her great pleasure. Yes, she says, dotting i’s and crossing t’s is strangely satisfying, but above all, it’s the thrill of publishing – bringing together the expertise of a wide range of people, refining ideas and concepts, and creating a polished, cohesive publication – in print or online – that drives her.

She often jokes it’s a bit like gathering the wind, and it’s something she’s made a career of since the internet was just a baby, books were big business and wfh was just business as usual. Over this time, she has spent stints with major organisations and publishers, most notably the ABC, but also balances the commercial with the not-for-profit, volunteering her skills for good.

Who knew, as a young arts graduate, that following what you were interested in would lead to such a varied and interesting career – and you could vicariously enjoy the sailing world from your desk.

Scott’s love of the ocean developed very early aboard a succession of family yachts, most notably Barbarian, which raced in the 1971 and 1975 Sydney Hobart Yacht Races.

After graduating through the dinghy ranks, he won his first spot on a crew in the great race in 1987. More than three decades on, he’s lining-up for his 17th trip south to Hobart, having clocked-up more than 50,000 miles in sailing and motor yachts.

Scott has also spent nearly twenty-five years as a broadcast journalist, working for Australia’s largest media organisations, including Channel Nine, and as a business reporter and producer at the ABC. He combines journalistic acumen with extensive knowledge of the marine industry, garnered from his family’s business as former dealers for Grand Banks and Cheoy Lee motor yachts.

He rejects any prejudices aligned to power or sail, preferring to welcome all those who choose to go sea as kindred souls willing to venture beyond the far horizon – but with good instruments, EPIRBS and a decent water maker.

Scott is a passionate advocate for the protection of the unique marine environments that encompass our planet, and the creatures inhabiting them that are our responsibility.

Charlotte has been a passionate sailor since before she could walk and has subsequently faced the horrors of a naval architecture degree and such dubious delights as racing through the Southern Ocean.

Her highlights, however, have all involved superyachts, exotic locations and a plentiful supply of rum.

A former editor of Boat International magazine, she is an experienced journalist, photojournalist, editor and agency creative specialising in the travel, technology, yachting and luxury lifestyle sectors.

“Simplicity is key. When a design looks like it’s been designed, it’s not good design,” says our Canadian expat, who chose Australia after too many dark, dreary winters took their toll.

Having art directed three large national magazines, Stephen was brought out to design ‘Australia’s leading men’s magazine’, where he continued his run of international design awards.

For many years he ran his own successful branding design business, where clients ranged from large multinationals right down to the corner coffee shop. When the opportunity arose to work on Ocean and Sails magazines, and redesign The Great Southern Route (GSR), he recognised the opportunity to reignite his passion for editorial design.

At Ocean Media, Stephen enjoys working with some of the most talented photographers and illustrators in the world. He says, “I realised a long time ago you brief creatives with what you require and then leave them alone. They invariably come back with something that is far better than what you originally envisioned.

“Working on titles that revolve entirely around water is a wonderful, daily challenge. I couldn’t swim a stroke when I first moved here. I can now.”