The Gurnard Nipper

John Greenland meets Guy Salter, British bowman on board Team Tyco

At the age of 29 Guy Salter has chosen to sail at the pointy end of Kevin Shoebridge's Team Tyco. John Greenland caught up with the man they still call 'The Gurnard Nipper', younger brother of GBR Challenge afterguard's Jules Salter, amidst last minute preparation for the race.

After a short spell in dinghies Salter progressed up to the J/24, doing bow for some of the top helmsmen in the class. Competing in the Hamble series during his spare time while at Derby University, studying Biology with Film and Photography, led to the international circuit. "We did a couple of regattas in the States, including the J24 Europeans and Worlds. It was a good start, and we managed to get a few good results."

It didn't take the Nipper long to realise his love for sailing, taking a job in Hong Kong as a yacht broker and importer soon after graduating from University. "I worked on the racing side for the Asian circuits." Working hard to combine as much sailing as possible with his job Salter's talents were soon recognised. It wasn't long before Salter was presented with his first job to enter the professional sailing world. "I ended up with the Hong Kong Admiral's Cup team."

Having successfully launched himself into the professional yachting world Salter was faced with many opportunities to compete in both the UK and abroad. However, wherever possible he opted to sail with a combination of his brother, GBR Challenge's Adrian Stead, and Team Tyco team mate Tim Powell. "I went on to run the Farr 40 Gem over in the States. We had finished second overall in the American circuit, when Adrian Stead approached me to get involved with the Barlow Plastics project."

From this point on the Nipper's sailing career blossomed, juggling sailing Ado's Mumm 36 with further Admirals Cup campaigns. During the quiet times Salter took on jobs running and competing in Maxis and any additional boat projects he could find. However, it didn't take much persuasion to take Salter away from the filler jobs when any of the Barlow Plastics crew looked to be regrouping, "Whenever a big project came up with Ado I'd always be involved with it. It was Tim Powell who initially got me involved, which is how I got involved with the Team Tyco project really."

The position of bow is often assumed by the younger generation, and is usually a means of getting into the yachting fraternity. Where most take the first opportunity they get to escape from the front of the boat, Salter has chosen to stay, and to his credit he does a particularly fine job of it.