Jon Waite

Jon Waite joined the team in early 2005 and has been a prominent part ever
 since. He started off as the bowman aboard Chimera, during the teams 3-sail 
events, placing 2nd at the NOOD Regatta in St Pete's 2005 and taking the
 win in 2007. He is now one of the full-time shore crew, although he is
 only joining us for part of the tour, as like Dan, he is also taking
 time out to finish his Degree. Jon helped the team towards both 
their World Titles, and gained the title of ‘Assistant to Coach of the Year’ 
in 2006.

Joe Erskine

Joe Erskine first joined the team in 2006 as a trimmer on board Riposte. He 
has been a very committed member of the team, and is joining the Tour crew
 for the first time this year.

Jack Kilburn

Jack Kilburn is the latest addition to the team. He has been selected from a
 very talented group of young sailors and he brings great enthusiasm to the 
team. From Whitstable Yacht Club, on the North Kent coast, his overwhelming determination and drive has led him to many successes at club level. His incredible commitment even extends to an agreed two hours extra every night after school, until he finishes in June, in compensation for the time he is taking to assist the team!

Jack's ambitions include competing at the 2012 Olympics and eventually 
becoming a tactician on the British entry for the Americas Cup.
 Jack sails the Laser Radial and competes in national competitions throughout
 the UK. He aims to progress to the Laser Standard rig after the 2008 RYA 
Youth Nationals. Currently he is in the Laser Radial National Youth Squad
 and Laser Radial South East Youth Squad.


Abi Stodel

Abi Stodel, the younger sister of Hannah, has sailing clearly in her blood. She 
joins the team this year and will be working with them full time in the 
build up to the games. She will be steering the tune up boat, Riposte, 
taking over from Dan Parsons as he finishes his engineering degree at Loughborough.
 Abi started off in Optimists, working her way through the Mirror and Laser 
Radial classes as well as a little bit in the 29er with Hannah.
 Abi's highlights include a very credible 6th at the Europeans with 200 boats
, as well as winning the coveted Eric Twinane trophy on one of first outings
 as a helm. 
She is currently studying Veterinary Nursing at Otley College with a view to
 becoming a vet. 


Paul Davis

Paul Davis first joined the Sonar team in 2001 at the Sonar Europeans and has 
been working on and off ever since, taking time out to Study at Sunderland
 University. He joins the crew as a mainsheet trimmer on Riposte for the start
 of the tour, moving onto the bow in the later stages.
 Paul began sailing competitively when he was 10 years old in a Mirror,
 followed shortly by a Topper then the Laser through the various rigs, MPS,
49er and currently the RS300. Along the way he gained experience in a wide 
variety of boats including the 405, 29er, Beneteau 25, Cherub, Sonata,
 Formula 28 cat, Sonar and Fireball sailing at club, National and 
International levels. His highlights have included time in the RYA Topper
 National Squad, finishing 5th in the BUSA Nationals in the Musto Performance Skiff, being the 
highest placed under 25 helm at this years Sonata Nationals and being
 awarded the North East ‘Young Sailor of the Year’ two years ago.
 He has also been involved with sail-making and boat-building for several
 years, with Storrar Marine and Trident UK, both of which have had
 considerable success with their sails and the development of the composite 
Mirror Dinghies respectively.

Tom Pygall

Tom has been sailing with Team Oyster for just under a year, doing bow and jib on Riposte. Originally from Kent, Tom now lives in London. He studied History at Nottingham University before going on to do the Law Conversion Course and Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School. As part of his gap year, he is helping the team on their quest for Paralympic glory in 2008 before starting his job at London law firm Linklaters in September 2007.

Tom has sailed dinghies from early age. After having sailed at the top end of the Topper fleet as a youth, Tom moved into high-performance sailing skiffs, starting in the 29er and then moving into the B14. He has achieved considerable success in the B14 both at domestic and international level, winning the UK Travellers Series twice and the prestigious Holt Tide Ride in October 2006.

Currently taking time out from the B14 class, given his adrenaline-junkie tendencies, he’ll no doubt be back in a skiff before too long!