[This is getting a bit old now - I'm more active on my Sports Training Blog and Tweets]

Michael has been sailing since he was 8, at first in 10 ft wooden dinghy which tried to sink at its first outing.

He largely grew up in Canberra, sailing on Lake Burley Griffin among weed and carp and there learnt to sail in shifty and gusty winds.

He got his first Laser, a 15 year old boat at the time, in 1988.  A few years later he saved enough for a new Laser and drove it and himself to Brisbane to study for a PhD in sports science.

The wider expanses of Moreton Bay allowed Michael to develop his skills in high winds and waves.  There, he gained the skills to be selected to represent Australia at the 1996 Olympics.

A tantalizing two points away from an Olympic medal at the Atlanta Games provided drive for Michael to be on the winning dais at the Sydney Olympics.  He ended up on the dais, securing the Bronze medal for Australia in the Laser class. 

In 2001 he switched to the 49er class, sailing for a time with Chris Nicholson, a past world Champ. 

In August 2002 Michael returned to the Laser class in a bid for further Olympic action.  He won his first 4 Laser regattas of 2003 and continued his good form through to 2004, reaching No.1 in the world rankings and selection to the Australian Olympic Team for the Athens Games where he finished a disappointing 9th.

In early 2005 Michael sailed across Bass Strait in a Laser in a record 13 hours, producing a DVD of the crossing, Bass Strait Laser.

After 12 years of trying, Michael won the Laser World Championship in 2006, aged 36.

He has done some big boat sailing as well, including three Sydney Hobart races and was Tactician aboard a Sydney 38 state and national Champion.

Michael has previously worked as Program Manager for the New South Wales Institute of Sport Sailing Program and wrote and published the book Sail Fitter: Sailing Fitness and Training.

He is currently training for selection for the Beijing Olympics.

Michael is a coach of the Australian Sailing Team which is supported by:

Australian Institute of Sport

Australian Olympic Committee

Australian Sports Foundation

Yachting Australia

Highlights

2007 Kiel Week regatta 1st

2007 Hyeres regatta 1st

2007, '04, '01, '99, '98, '97 Laser National Champion

2006 Laser World Champion

2006 Sydney 38 State Champion - Estate Master

2006 Sydney 38 National Champion - Estate Master

2005 Crossed Bass Strait in a Laser

2004 Finished year ranked No. 1

2004 Laser Worlds 3rd

2004 Laser Radial Worlds 1st

2003-04 Ranked World No.1, October-April

2003 Laser Worlds 3rd

2000 Olympics 3rd

2000 Laser Worlds 2nd

1999 Laser Worlds 4th

1998 ISAF Worlds 2nd

1996 Olympics 4th

Michael uses

Ronstan's new

Orbit block