Dr Gavin LeSueur

Gavin LeSueur built his first multihull, a 16ft Mosquito catamaran, while at high school. After graduating from Melbourne University in Medicine, he purchased and moved aboard a 35' Hedley Nicol 'Wanderer' trimaran.

To learn as much about multihull sailing he decided to compete in the two-handed Bicentennial Around Australia Yacht Race. For this adventure he attained the then fastest offshore racing catamaran in Australia - a 37ft Crowther Super Shockwave named D Flawless.

As preparation he raced D Flawless in many Southern Ocean races and eventually to New Zealand in the Two-handed Trans Tasman Challenge. During this 1000 nautical mile race D Flawless, LeSueur and his 21 year old crew Catherine Reed, survived a hammering from Cyclone Bola, sailing though the eye to complete the race and gain the 'best competitors' trophy.

En route back to Australia two months later D Flawless struck a whale while surfing downwind at night. The subsequent liferaft story, and his earlier adventures at sea and on land are detailed in LeSueur's first book 'Windswept'.

Within days of rescue Gavin and Catherine were fortunate enough to be offered the use of another catamaran, a Crowther 40ft shorthanded racer named 'John West'. Aboard John West, Gavin and Catherine competed in the two-handed Around Australia Yacht Race. This marathon, hailed as the toughest coastal race in the world, encompassed more than eight thousand miles of hazards.

Swirling tidal currents around tropical reefs in blistering conditions contrasted further down the track with sleet, snow and blinding storms in the notorious roaring forties of the Southern Ocean. Gavin's story of the Around Australia Race and the drama behind the multihulls that both capsized and survived, is told in his second book, 'The Line'.

Since the Around Australia Race, Gavin LeSueur has continued the multihull experience. He continued to race and cruise 'John West' (re-named 'Windswept') for seven years. After this he lived aboard 'Magic Happens' (12m Hitchiker Catamaran) and cruised the South Pacific with his growing family.

After returning to Australia the Le Sueur family upgraded to a 14m Catana Catamaran 'Chaotic Harmony' and returned to the Pacific for three years. Back in Australia they raced 'Chaotic Harmony' and saw the enthusiasm in their children.

After selling the Catana Gavin bought 'Top Gun' (15m Crowther racing catamaran) in the Phillippines, sailing her to Australia Two-Handed.

The plan was to campaign Top Gun in preparation for the next around Australia race. This race did not eventuate and after four years of North Queensland racing - including a capsize in the Magnetic Island Race week - Top Gun (aka eDoc.net) was sold.

While looking for his next cruising catamaran Gavin and Catherine took over 'Auberge' (their daughters' boat) - a beach Marine Macro 25 catamaran. A nifty coastal cruiser, she fulfilled the need to be at sea until they bought a Crowther 43 catamaran 'Whim'.This is their current home and ticket to multihull adventures at sea.

When not cruising and offshore exploring aboard 'Whim', LeSueur races off the beach catamarans, kitesurfs and kitefoils.

He takes every opportunity to sail aboard other multihulls and his experience ranges from cruising on the latest trailer tri to Three peaks racing on large offshore catamarans.

A blog of the family adventures and multihull projects can be found at www.multihullbooks.com/news/. Gavin Le Sueur also has a youtube and facebook site.

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