Like his partner, he is from Ulster and stared his sailing in Ballyholme Bay. From Belfast, the 28-year-old helmsman and Matt McGovern also sailed in London 2012 where they finished 14th. He qualified for Rio by finishing inside the top 10 at the World Championships in Santander. His father introduced him to boats, and his heroes are British multiple Olympic gold medal winners in rowing and sailing, James Cracknell and Ben Anslie. With McGovern, he earned six top 10 finishes in London with a fourth and a second place in the first four races.