Will Howden CV

Will Howden, 31, is currently Britain’s top Tornado crew and is ranked sixth in the world, with helm Leigh McMillan. With nine years experience in the class, and a number of top ten finishes in Grade One events, Will is one of Britain’s top multihull sailors. Having teamed up with McMillan after the Athens 2004 Olympics, Howden has his eyes firmly set on fulfilling his dream of being on the podium at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.
Will began sailing aged ten, with his father at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire.
It was here in his Optimist dinghy that he developed a real passion for sailing. After a few years sailing monohull dinghies, Will expressed a desire to try out catamaran sailing. From the moment he started sailing multihulls, he knew that this was the type of sailing he wanted to build a career in.

Howden has spent nine years competing in the Tornado class and has made a name for himself as a world class crew. He joined up with helmsman Leigh McMillan, in the hope of building a relationship that would take them to the 2008 Olympic Games in China. Since joining forces in early 2005 Howden and McMillan have put together a string of good results, including a Gold medal at last year’s Sail For Gold Regatta in Weymouth. In 2007 year they have had a number of top ten finishes, the highlight being a silver medal at the Rolex Olympic Classes Regatta in Miami. In spite of a disappointing 2008 World Championship, Will and Leigh have had an otherwise solid start to their Olympic year, with silver and bronze medals won at major events in the southern hemisphere.

Facts and Figures:
Olympic Class: Tornado
World Ranking: 6th (as of 5th March 2008)
Position: Crew
DOB: 14th February 1977
Born: Enfield, North London
Currently living: Southampton, Hampshire
Started sailing: Aged 10
Duration in current class: Since 1998
Name of sailing partner: Leigh McMillan
Greatest strengths in sailing: Being able to do everything
Greatest weakness in sailing: Being able to do everything
Biggest goal: To win an Olympic Gold Medal
Who is your hero: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Other interests away from sailing: Mountain Biking and Water Skiing