Five Years of the Performance Academy: Building Pathways, People, and Progress

Five Years of the Performance Academy © Andrew Simpson Foundation

Over the past five years, the Performance Academy has grown into a globally recognised hub for sailing development. What began as an organic collaboration between coaches has evolved into a structured, internationally active programme supporting sailors and coaches at every stage of their journey.

From grassroots development to elite performance, the Performance Academy's focus has remained consistent: enabling success at every level.

Where It Began

Our roots lie within the Andrew Simpson Centres network, where a strong group of youth and junior coaches were delivering seasonal and class-based programmes. While the coaching was high quality, it became clear there were gaps in development pathways, particularly at key transition points between classes and performance levels.

The solution was simple yet ambitious; bring experienced coaches together under one framework and open access to structured, class-specific training. Early programmes supported sailors in classes such as Bic Techno, Optimist and ILCA, operating initially under the Andrew Simpson Centres banner.

Just before Covid, the decision was made to establish Performance Academy as a standalone entity. Shaun Priestley, the Andrew Simpson Foundation Development Manager at the time, was the driving force behind the early initiatives. Although the pandemic paused on-water delivery, it provided valuable time to define our purpose, values and long-term vision, all setting the foundations for sustainable growth.

In the first year, it was just Shaun and James Parker-Mowbray (known to most people as JPM). When Shaun moved on to a new role at the Royal Hospital School, James Hadden joined the team, bringing a wealth of experience coaching senior sailors and at international competitions. His addition allowed the Performance Academy to expand its reach and build credibility internationally. Later, Juliette Kemp joined as Programme Coordinator, and Rory Wilson came on board as Head Coach. This period marked a major phase of growth for the Performance Academy, setting the foundations for the high-quality coaching and programmes we deliver today, and in their time with us they all played a key part in getting us to where we are today.

The Evolving Vision

Performance Academy was founded to complement, not compete with, class associations and RYA programmes. Its role was to fill gaps, add consistency, and provide targeted support where sailors needed it most.

Five years on, and here we are delivering our own structured training blocks and international camps, while maintaining strong partnerships across multiple classes and organisations. Sailors now engage with us from across the UK and around the world.

Central to everything is the belief that success looks different for everyone. It might mean a confident transition between classes, consistent national results, or performing on the international stage. We exist to support each sailor's next step.

The Team Behind the Programme

As we have grown, so has our team. Early expansion brought additional expertise and international experience, helping to establish credibility across youth, U21 and senior pathways.

Today, we operate with Charlie Linsell as Head Coach, bringing great experience of coaching the international ILCA fleet from youth to senior level, Emma Labourne leading our Windsurfing Pathway, and Jaz Boote as Programme Coordinator forming the core full-time team with manager JPM, which is supported by a network of freelance specialists, including strength and conditioning coaches, technical class experts and pathway-focused coaches.

Culture That Drives Development

Culture sits at the heart of the Performance Academy. It is built on collaboration, ownership and genuine care. Coaching is personal, honest and athlete-centred, shaped through conversations both on and off the water.

The team works across locations, programmes and time zones, yet remains united by a shared purpose: to provide meaningful support and long-term development, not short-term results alone.

Moments That Matter

Across the five years, there have been countless moments that reflect the Performance Academy's impact. We've coached at 27 venues around the world and supported sailors at over 40 National and International events. We've had more than 2,500 bookings and awarded 16 Performance Academy Sailing Scholarships - totalling £36,000 of support to help progress sailors to the next level. Our coaching time both on and off the water equates to more than 4,400 hours.

Looking Ahead

The next five years will focus on growth with intent. We're aiming to expand the range of classes we support, grow our international athlete base, and establish regular training hubs across Europe.

Strengthening our partnerships will remain a priority, alongside contributing to broader performance environments. Supporting coaches, as well as sailors, will be a key part of this evolution.

Succeeding at Every Level

The Performance Academy has always been about people and progress. With a committed team, clear pathways and a long-term vision, we are well positioned to continue making a meaningful impact helping sailors and programmes succeed at every level.