Jamie Lea

• Office Phone: +44 1329 443430
• Mobile Phone: +44 7967 451871
• Email Address: jamie.lea@northsails.com

Jamie grew up in Exmouth on the river Exe and at the age of six. He had the opportunity to crew in an International Cadet, which gave him the ‘bug’ -and by the age of 10 Jamie was helming his own boat. He was a member of Exe sailing club and at the time was blessed with having the benefit and expertise of several world class sailors, boatbuilders, and designers amongst the club members.

As he progressed he was taught that consistency is one of the keys to winning Championships. This advice helped him win back- to- back National Championships in the International Cadet, representing his country four times to win Silver and Gold medals at World Championships in 1988 (India) and 1990 (Poland). In 1991 as reigning Cadet World Champion, Jamie won the Endeavour trophy at the UK’s premier dinghy event where National and World Champions from the major dinghy classes race to find the Champion of Champions.  In the 470, he won the National title and finished 3rd in the trials for the 1996 Olympic Games.

By the late 90s, Jamie was working with North Sails One Design in Southampton and it was here that he learned the rudiments of sail making, both in manufacture and design. His role at North Sails was to promote certain classes, which meant much of his time was spent sailing at a semi-professional capacity. Jamie finished 2nd to the eventual Olympic Gold medalist at the UK trials.

In 2005 with the  success he had achieved, particularly in the Melges 24 class, it encouraged Jamie to make the step into becoming a full time professional sailor. Now Jamie races one design keelboats, mainly the Melges 24, Melges 32, International Dragon and International J/80.  Jamie has developed and refined his sailing skills in order to offer his current and prospective clients everything they need to get around the race course. Most recently his team Fever placed third overall at the International Dragon World Championship in Fremantle.