Mark "leading the Contender fleet" at Lake Garda, Italy

Dinghy Sports was established in 1979 to cater for an emerging gap created in the youth sailing market.  This niche primarily arose in response to the social changes which began in the 1960's and 70's.  No longer did large numbers of dads build wooden racing dinghies each weekend in their garage, as the kids pitched in excitedly.  The age of outsourcing had begun and with improvements in fibreglassing technologies, a market began to develop for well designed and locally manufatured junior racing dinghies. 

Mark was the first builder in Australia to use foam sandwich techniques in production sail boats, in order to achieve a light weight and stiff high performance racing dinghy.

Mark grew up on the shores of Sydney's Pittwater and by the time he entered university, he had developed a distinguished and rewarding sailing resume.

Until he established Dinghy Sports, Mark had various careers in architectural design, boatbuilding and restoration in the UK.  Unable to withstand the cold winters of Northern Europe, Mark returned to Australia determined to turn his passion for competitive sailing into a life long career.  After employment as Sales Manager of Performance Sail Craft Australia, Mark resigned in order to fully devote himself to the establishment of Dinghy Sports Australia Pty Limited.

Armed with the latest technologies and construction techniques acquired from his restoration and boat building business in the UK,  Mark set out to provide a fleet of superior racing dinghies to the junior Australian market.  The businesss has developed over the last 30 years into a well respected
outfit. 
In addition to catering to the youth racing market, Dinghy Sports has developed a sail training boat, the Envy 4.3, which has been sold extensively to the Navy Cadets, the Sea Scouts and to sail training programs all over Australia.

As competition from China has encroached on the youth sailing market, the developement of the sail training dinghy, restoration, repairs and rigging aspects of the business have filled the breach.

Mark is a highly skilled and expereienced technician.  He is one of the last remaining boat builders operating in the Sydney metropolitan area, of which he is very proud.  After successfully operating for over 30 years, Mark and the Dinghy Sports team are well placed to meet all your sailing needs.

1968/9    Mirror Dinghy NSW Junior Champion
1969/70  First Place Mirror Dinghy Australian  Junior Champion
1972/3    Fireball NSW Junior State Champion
1974/5    Laser NSW Junior  Champion 5th in open Aust Champs
1977/8    Laser NSW Champion and 6th in Laser European    
                Championships and qualified for Laser worlds in Brazil
1980        Olympic trial list (470 class) Moscow Games
1992        Olympic trial List (Soiling)  Barcelona Games
1993        Third Apprentice Laser World Masters Championships
                (USA)
 1994       Second Apprentice Laser World Masters Championships
                 (Greece)
1997        Competed in Sydney to Hobart on Terra Firma
1998        Competed in Sydney to Hobart on Terra Firma
1997        NSW International Contender Champion
1998        NSW International Contender Champion
1999        NSW International Contender Champion
2002        World International Contender Masters Champion
2005        First International 5.5 World Championships 
                Evolution Division (crew)
2008        Ninth Laser World Masters
2009        Third Grand Master Laser World Masters Games Sydney
2010        Third Place Mirror Nationals (Hugh Phillips Crew)
2010        First NSW Laser Grand Master
2010        Third National Laser Grand Masters
2010/11   Thirteenth Mirror World Championships (Hugh Phillips 
                Crew)