SA Coaches

Meet the Coaches

More to be added soon

Brady Lowe - Lead Coach

Brady Lowe is a multiple World Championships, World Cup and Australian Champion Medal winning Coach, with success across the 49er (which he currently works with as Australian Sailing’s Futures Squad coach) Foiling Moth, ILCA 6, 29er, IQ Foil, 29er and Nacra 15.  When he’s not in the coach boat he brings his coaching focus on Race Strategy to the Navigators chair, or his love of open learning to playing on the Wing Foil.

Luke Allison - Lead Coach

Luke Allison is currently the Australian Sailing Performance Pathway Coach in South Australia, as well as the Head Youth Coach at CYCSA, working with the Elliott 7 fleet. A former Opti and International Cadet sailor in his youth, he went on to compete internationally in Fireballs, Sharpies, and keelboats. He has recently returned from Shanghai, where he competed in the Fareast 23 International Elite Regatta, with the team finishing second overall.

Ben Hinks - 420 Coach

Ben Hinks is currently pursuing an Olympic Campaign in the 470. A highlight of his sailing so far would be racing in the Sailing Grand Slam Series. He brings his experience from racing on the international sailing circuit to his coaching, where he has worked with sailors in the Optimist, ILCA and 420. 

Sophie McIntosh - 420 Coach

Sophie is from NSW and she started sailing at the age of 5 in a timber 2-up sabot, winning the nationals at age 11. She went on to compete in the Flying Eleven and then the 420 Class, winning states, female national titles and representing Australia at the Youth Worlds. She then transitioned into the 470 Class as part of the Australian Sailing Squad and Futures Program. Sophie has a Masters degree in Applied Sport Science and is looking forward to coaching at Youth Sail. 

Jonas Barrett - Optimist Coach

Nick Neale - Int. Cadet Coach

Nick Neale is Australian Sailing's National Participation Officer, Senior Sailing Coach and Current Australian Assistant Coach for the International Cadet Class. I'm very excited to get on the water with the great young talent we have in SA in the Int Cadet Class and share the learnings from the World Championships in Italy. I'm a former Holdfast Trainer, Int Cadet, Int Fireball, RS Aero & J70 sailor. These days you'll find me playing in Sharpies and a Heron! I've been fortunate to work with great coaches and work with some incredible sailors. Coaching Holdies, Optis, Cadets, 125's, 420, 470's, ILCA's, 29ers, J70 and Elliot 7's. 

Carter Baker - Optimist Coach

Hey, I’m Carter! I started sailing in the Optimist class at Largs Bay Sailing Club and have been hooked on the sport ever since.
I’ve had the opportunity to compete at some amazing events, including winning the 2022 National Championship in the International 420 Class Australian Championships and being part of the Australian Sailing Youth Team representing Australia at the World Sailing Youth World Championships. Along the way, I’ve raced in a variety of boats from match racing in Elliott 7s to jumping on the iQFoil.
These days I’m sailing the Australian Sharpie and working towards taking on the 49er class this season. When not racing you’ll find me out kiting and enjoying everything that comes with being around sailing.
I love helping sailors improve, build confidence, and have fun on the water, whether just starting out or chasing their next big goal.

Simon Small - ILCA Coach

Simon Small is an accomplished Australian sailing coach, strategist, and ILCA champion based at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly, Queensland. A World Champion sailor and Queensland Male Sailor of the Year, Simon combines elite racing experience with a direct, high-performance coaching style focused on boat speed, tactical decision-making, and athlete accountability. He works with youth, masters, and para-sailing athletes, helping sailors develop the technical precision, resilience, and racecourse strategy required to perform at their highest level.  

Max Sturman - ILCA 4

Max Sturman is from Port Lincoln, SA, and actively campaigns in the ILCA 7 nationally and internationally. He brings experience across a wide range of classes, from club racing through to State, National and International competition in the International Cadet and ILCA dinghy. Max currently coaches the local SA ILCA sailors and looks forward to coaching at Youth Sail.