Since taking possession of Origami from this year’s Race Director Keri Harris, Dean was diagnosed with an Aortic Aneurysm, which to some extent can be life changing. For a period there was a some doubt as to whether Dean would be able to compete in this years Mini Transat until he could be signed off as fit to race by his cardiologist. After considering the implications of sailing across single handed it’s fantastic to be able to announce that Origami will be competing not as a solo entry, but as the first Class Globe 5.80 to compete as a pair. The 5.80’s were designed to be sailed dual handed but to date no major crossings have been undertaken in this format. Another first for the Alma Class Globe 5.80s.  

Dean will be sailing with one of his Atlantic rowing partners, Lee McCarthy (aka, Mac). Mac is an ex British Army officer who spent 33 years in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers. He has been sailing on and off since being a teenager, qualifying as a skipper whilst in the Army in order to introduce young soldiers to the joy of sailing and general adventure pursuits. Although retired, he’s still a member of the REME sailing association and has significant inshore and offshore sailing experience. Having already made one Atlantic crossing together whilst rowing it’s only fitting that the pair go across again as the first 5.80 sailing pair.

The clear drawback is that Origami will be carrying a lot more weight than the other entrants, the extra water and food alone will add a 130kg. However, this said, both Mac and Dean are keen to be the trailblazers for the dual handed 5.80s and aim to put up a good show against their single handed team mates.

Sailing Experience

Dean has been sailing for 20 years but did come to it later in life, in his early thirties. He holds all Sailing RYA qualifications, both shore based and practical up to Yacht Master Coastal. He also hold a Power Boat2 qualification and all his sailing medical courses are current and will not expire before the 2026 G580T race completes.

He attended a shore-based theory course for Ocean Master with Peter Woodall in 2023 which he passed whilst carrying out an extended celestial navigation course.

He has crossed the Atlantic twice, sailing on a Beneteau 40.7 and as crew on a Volvo 65 in 2023. He also skippered a four-man ocean going rowing boat across in 2021.