TESTIMONIALS FROM MY CLIENTS
Boat Build Manager:
"Wade was a passionate and committed build manager for the 11th Hour Racing Team. He did a great job managing our global project, during a global pandemic. Whether it was making himself available at any hour of the day or night, or accommodating our ever-changing construction landscape, Wade always went the extra mile. He was great at liaising with the design team, and the sailing team, on everything from structure to the smallest ergonomic detail. His experience and pragmatic approach helped us achieve a finished product that we're all very proud of. On another note, it was rewarding to see that you can teach an old dog new tricks; knowing it was important to us and our team ethos, Wade took on, and in the end thoroughly enjoyed, the sustainability aspects of our campaign, everything from experimenting with alternative materials, to tracking and minimizing waste. Wade puts his heart into all his projects, and it really showed with this one!"
Charlie Enright – 11th Hour Racing Team Skipper and Co-Founder
Project Manager:
"From 2013 through 2017, Steve and I retained Wade Morgan to be project manager and team manager of our professional offshore and inshore sailboat racing program for our custom designed IRC racing yacht called “Black Baza.”
Without question, Wade is one of the most exceptional, capable and experienced professional racing sailboat project managers and team managers in the international sailing community. He has a unique combination of experience and skill that was critical to the success of our program.
Wade’s involvement was crucial at every stage of the design, build and racing program. Wade played a key role in selecting and training team members, preparing the boat, maintaining the boat and supervising the team throughout each race. The boat won the Asia Grand Prix race circuit (10 regattas in 9 countries around Asia each year) in 2016 and 2017. Only one boat out of several hundred win this challenging prize each year. Winning this prize two years in a row is extraordinary. The boat won every offshore race in Asia. It is the only boat in history to hold all offshore 1st overall trophies in the four bi-annual offshore races run out of Hong Kong.
Many of the top professional racers and designers in the world reviewed our boat and visited our boat. Without exception, they characterised the quality of the boat’s design and condition as extraordinary and attributed those characteristics to the role that Wade played at every level of the program.
Both Steve and I firmly believe that there isn’t any other person in the international sailing community who encapsulates so much knowledge, experience and skills as Wade. There are some who may be good in one respect or another. But none – absolutely none – offer the total package that Wade brings to a racing program. Without a doubt, our program would not have achieved its success without Wade.
He is unique, invaluable and irreplaceable."
Anthony Root and Steve Manning: Co-Owners of Black Baza custom built 42’ Ker IRC racer, Hong Kong
Professional Sailor / Athlete:
"Wade has always proved to be motivated, dependable, trustworthy and a very strong athlete. He has extensive experience in both project management and in leadership positions but has always worked well in a team environment where he adapted quickly to any change required for the benefit of the team’s results.
I certainly consider him a top level professional in the world of sailing and of the America’s Cup."
Max Sirena - Luna Rossa Team Director and Skipper
Project Manager:
"During the Fall of 2017 and Winter of 2018, I had the pleasure of working with Wade Morgan as Project Manager for the build of my 2018 Ker46+ Denali 3 at McConaghy Boat Ltd’s China facility. Wade came recommended to me from North Sails (my sail maker on my previous Carkeek 40 Denali 2). Having recently built my Carkeek 40 at McConaghy, I knew the value and need of having a skilled project manager. That said, after a couple of Skype calls with Wade, I knew that he was in a different league than my prior Project Manager. Once the Ker was delivered in the spring of 2018, my view that Wade was the right Project Manager was immediately apparent.
By way of background, when my Carkeek arrived, there was significant work that needed to be done, including structural carbon work that wasn’t completed correctly nor built to designer specifications. Additionally, the sailing systems had to have significant modifications in order withstand actual racing “pressures”. In addition to these issues, there was limited interface with my Project Manager as to how we planned on racing the boat and what could or should be done to achieve these goals. In the end I received a boat that was a good race boat but didn’t meet my objectives.
Fast forward to the summer of 2017 when I first Skyped with Wade, it was a completely different experience. Specifically, Wade worked with me to identify our team’s needs, wants and desires and then worked with the Ker Design Team, Southern Spars, North Sails and McConaghy to deliver a truly custom package that exceeded all our expectations and needs. To name a few truly custom and innovative ideas that Wade drove:
A unique custom MHG Package combining a sail and rig package that allowed us to meet our needs of a boat which would excel in typical Great Lakes conditions of upwind light air. Thanks to his vison we went away from a true MHG and went for a higher than typical fractional MHG which allowed us to carry higher head stay loads without typical mast and main distortion. This system also allowed rapid sail changes form MHG to LRH on robust rock-back system.
A unique water filtration and storage system that allowed us to filter and store Great Lakes water without the use of a reverse osmosis system
The items noted above are a couple of the specialised needs our Team wanted, but there were so many ideas, modifications and builds that were incorporated that are too numerous to name. What we received when the boat showed up in the US was a boat that was ready to race within a week of its arrival. More importantly the equipment was race ready and robust. The boat was incredibly well built and ergonomically laid out. His work with the rig and sail designers delivered a set of sails that were perfect out of the bag, fit the geometry of the rig and delivered the performance we wanted.
In summation, having a Project Manager that can translate a sailing team’s vison and interface with all the designers and manufacturers is immeasurable. Wade brings practical around the world sailing experience along with a technical capability that I have not experienced in any sailing professional. Wade is commensurate professional that can take a good design and turn it into a great boat…or a great design that can become a world beater."
William McKinley: Owner of Denali 3 Ker 46+, Harbor Springs Michigan
Sailor and Boat Captain:
"Ever since Wade joined our team in the 2011 Volvo Ocean Race he was totally committed and was a valued team member. He never complained at being asked to sail outside of his normal role onboard and he also took his duties as boat captain very seriously. Wade is a versatile crew member and this versatility, and his physical strength were a real asset on the Volvo 70s. Wade could always be counted on when needed which in the Volvo Ocean race is fairly often!"
Ian Walker – Americas Cup Skipper, Volvo Ocean Race Skipper and Olympic Medalist
Boat Build Manager:
"I am pleased to have this opportunity to write this letter of recommendation for Wade Morgan who worked for 11th Hour Racing from 2020 until late 2021 as the Boat Build Manager for our teams new IMOCA 60 which was built in Brittany, France. Wade joined the team in early 2020 to manage the construction of our new IMOCA 60 to be built in Brittany. The project required him to relocate to France in order to follow the project full time. Despite the challenges that came from the Global pandemic, Wade was able to see the project to its successful completion. The team is extremely satisfied with the quality of the final project Wade was able to achieve on our behalf.
In addition to his solid performance in managing the build of a performance yacht, Wade’s commitment to pioneering the use of sustainable building materials while maintaining the highest performance level was of huge benefit to our team. When Wade’s tenure with the team was completed in late 2021, he had effected a fundamental change in the French boat building philosophy related to the use of alternative materials. The testing and implementation of alternative materials used during our build appear to have impressed the local industry we have left in our wake.
I highly recommend Wade Morgan; he will make a positive contribution to any yachting project looking to build a boat to the highest level of quality."
Bill Erkelens - COO 11th Hour Racing Team
Bowman and All Rounder:
"If you need someone who’s highly skilled, fearless and a 110% hard worker then ask for Wade (Bubs) Morgan! I sailed with Bubs on the good ship “Loyal”, and I can happily confirm that he is a one man army on the foredeck and up the rig.
If you want someone who’s a non stop worker with a sense of humour thrown in, then Bubs is your man!"
Mike Quilter - Round the World Navigator and Legend
Onboard Coach:
"I greatly respect Wade Morgan's ability as an elite professional sailor and very effective sailing coach. I've felt so fortunate for Wade's coaching and sailing with me in my Etchells, Odyssey AUS 1254. It made a very positive difference to my sailing ability, my enjoyment of racing Etchells, and to our results. Wade also coached me to sail a Laser, which was great fun and helped improve my helming of the Etchells.
Wade coached me on all aspects of a sailing development program including guidance on the program, sailing fitness, boat preparation, regatta preparation, sailing skills, as well as doing tactics and the mid role on-water He even helped me learn how to tow the Etchells. I quickly developed absolute trust in Wade and his guidance. I also greatly appreciated Wade's help in finding and managing other sailors who joined our team for various regattas.
I really enjoyed sailing with Wade, and was delighted with the progress he helped me make in one of the most competitive one-design sailing classes."
Jill Connell - Odyssey AUS 1254
Public Speaker:
"Wade’s ability to engage a crowd and take them on some of his wonderful sailing adventures is first class. His ability to explain the challenges of operating in the most inhospitable and challenging environments on earth, maintaining focus during adversity, managing complex projects and assisting his team mates in both the good times and the bad is a credit to his professionalism.
Wade’s absorbing communication style allows him to express his passion for sailing and competitive streak. The themes conveyed when Wade talks about his sailing career are relevant to both business and to our broader lives and the entertainment factor makes learning about Wade’s past, current and future projects a delight!"
Richard Howard - Chief Executive Officer - Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
Wade Morgan “The Complete Package"
"Wade Morgan is the complete package from Purchase to Results. Chris and I decided in 2017 to venture into the world of Offshore Racing and we were lucky to be introduced to Wade Morgan who has been with Gweilo Racing from day one. Wade is a superior athlete in the world of sailing; a trusted, honest advisor and world class sailor. After listening to our brief and dreams, Wade orchestrated the purchase of Gweilo. He project managed the structural changes needed, was pivotal in the design and sail selection. He also provided first class coaching and mentoring as well as vessel maintenance and management.
The world of competitive sailing comes with many pitfalls and obstacles. Chris and I have always felt Wade has executed to the highest level of professionalism, integrity, safety and that our best interests were at the forefront.
Wade's knowledge and reach within the complex world of sailing goes beyond your wildest dreams."