AST and B&G extend high-performing partnership
by Lisa Darmanin / Australian Sailing Team 2 Jul 2025 07:55 BST
Olympic Coach and Silver Medallist Darren Bundock and AST High Performance Director Iain Brambell © Beau Outteridge
The Australian Sailing Team (AST) has announced the renewal of its long-term partnership with B&G, the world's leading sailing navigation and instrument specialists, continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team over the past eight years.
The four-year extension will see the partnership through until at least the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and reaffirms a shared commitment to innovation, performance, and excellence on the global stage. More than just a supply agreement, the partnership provides AST coach boats with state-of-the-art B&G electronics and technical support—often delivered under tight timelines ahead of major international regattas.
Australian Sailing's High Performance Director, Iain Brambell, emphasised the importance of reliable, accurate data in competitive sailing.
"Sailing is an incredibly complex sport, shaped by constantly changing environmental factors. Having real-time and historical data is vital for understanding these variables and supports our sailors to make smart decisions on the water," Brambell said.
"B&G equipment enables us to capture and analyse environmental conditions seamlessly, giving our coaches and athletes a clearer picture of performance and opportunity."
The relationship has been a fruitful one for both parties, producing a long list of World Championship and Olympic medals throughout the partnership, all whilst providing valuable feedback to the team at B&G to further advance product development.
"B&G has been a trusted partner of the AST since 2016, supporting high-performance sailing with purpose-built technology," said Brad Verkerk, Navico Group's Marketing Manager.
"We're proud to be the only brand designing electronics specifically for sailing and are committed to contributing not only to elite racing, but also to youth development, cruising, and broader community initiatives."
Every AST coach boat is equipped with a B&G multifunction display and advanced sensors that track wind, weather, and sea conditions in real time—providing consistent data and insights no matter where the team is competing around the world.
Michael Blackburn, Olympic bronze medallist and Australian Sailing Technical Director, echoed the value of the partnership.
"Our coaches rely on robust, high-performance equipment that works under pressure, in all conditions. B&G has delivered that time and again. Their systems help us monitor wind strength and direction with high precision.
"Having these tools onboard is a game-changer, and we're thrilled to continue this partnership through the next Olympic cycle and beyond."