Faster Forward
Faster Forward – Sydney 38 – RYCV – Matt Fahey
I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Matt Fahey through sailing and the wider sailing community, with our connection really beginning after finishing the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster aboard Rushour, the 50-foot racing catamaran. At the conclusion of that race, I was warmly welcomed into the Faster Forward group and very much adopted into the team in a social sense over the week that followed.
That time was less about clocking up miles and more about becoming part of the crew culture—sharing crew dinners, spending time together off the water, and celebrating New Year’s Eve as a group. It was a great example of how inclusive and connected the sailing community can be, particularly around a well-established program like Faster Forward.
The yacht itself, a Sydney 38, is one of the most recognisable and respected one-design racing boats in Australia, appearing regularly across major regattas. Its reputation for close racing and strong crew dynamics is well earned, and being around the boat and its team offered valuable insight into how successful programs operate both on and off the water.
Since that initial introduction, I’ve continued to stay connected with Matt and the Faster Forward group, with sailing forming part of a broader relationship built around shared events, conversations, and mutual involvement in the sport. In his role as Rear Commodore of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Matt later engaged Media Strategy to assist as the communications team for the Lipton Cup Regatta, further reinforcing the overlap between my professional work and the sailing world.
This experience reinforced for me that sailing isn’t defined solely by time spent racing. The friendships, trust, and sense of belonging that develop around a boat are just as important, and often form the foundation for future opportunities on the water.
Blogs
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