Simon Clay & Joff Brown

Simon Clay studied at Bristol and has a BA hons degree in Economics and Politics, following which he spent 3 years working in advertising in London.  He went on to pursue a career in sailing, where his passion lay having sailed from a young age.

 

Over the past decade Simon has worked on some of the most high profile sailing campaigns in the UK. He spent 4 years central to the Mike Golding yacht racing team under the Ecover sponsorship, following which he serviced contracts for Pindar and Hellomoto.

In 2006/7, 1 week into the race, Simon took on the campaign management role for Sir Robin Knox Johnston competing in the Velux 5 Oceans Solo round the world yacht race. Sir Robin, with Simon's support, completed the Velux 5 Oceans becoming the oldest competitor to finish a solo round the world yacht race in his second solo circumnavigation at the age of 68.

Simon then secured the position of skipper of the Open 60, Artemis Ocean Racing 1. He was awarded the RORC class championship for the 2008/9 season as well as being involved as skipper in several high profile media events, notably BBC's "Three men in more than 1 boat" and "Eighty Days around the world".

Having been central to the success of high profile sponsored campaigns and having managed yachts for private owners Simon brings to Whitecap a wealth of both practical and commercial experience within the yachting industry.

 

Joff Brown studied Yacht Manufacturing Management in Southampton, graduating in 1998.

 

Enjoying success preparing inshore racing boats early in his career, for the last 12 years Joff has specialised in the management of IMOCA 60s for single-handed offshore racing. Joff has managed  campaigns for Mike Golding, Conrad Humphreys and Dee Caffari, totalling 4 round the world races and 6 transatlantics, with 100% of races finished successfully.

Between these projects,  Joff has focussed on building experience in other arenas acting as  build project manager for Green Marine and Neville Hutton Boat Builders on a variety of projects including IMS, IMOCA and TP52s. 

Joff has extensive experience in new build, refit and campaign management and is currently studying for a diploma in Yacht Surveying.  He is a student member of IIMS and active Associate Member of the IMOCA class.