Nic Asher

From dinghy sailor to pro navigator, ANDI ROBERTSON discovers how Nic Asher made the switch.

- Andi Robertson

The 52 Super Series represents some of the highest level grand prix monohull racing in the world. The appeal to owners and top pro crews shows no sign of waning. There is enough talk of new boats for next season and the line that separates a podium finish and disappointment becomes finer at each event. It is little wonder, then, that the tacticians and strategists in each of the top teams are among the very best in the world: Terry Hutchinson, Vasco Vascotto, Adrian Stead, John Kostecki, Jordi Calafat, Ed Baird, Tony Rey, Morgan Larson are among those holding down the hot seats and consistently delivering results. 

As a younger tactician, even one armed with world titles or Olympic medals, getting an opportunity to sail at this level is extremely rare. Few owners – especially those spending north of £1.5m a year – are given to trying out new, young blood.

Britain’s double 470 world champion turned 49er and Moth helm, Nic Asher, is really the one and only younger generation British sailor to have been given a break. He started out as strategist, complementing tactician Adrian Stead on the Anglo-centric Swedish flagged Rán Racing of Niklas and Catherine Zennström. Asher, 30, was then picked up by Andy Soriano’s Alegre after the Rán owners took a hiatus the following year. With Alegre things clicked initially and he guided them to second place in the first regatta of 2016, Scarlino, Italy, complimented warmly by winning tactician Terry Hutchinson for his guile and maturity.