Chris Draper (born 20 March 1978) is a British

sailor A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship. The profession of the s ...

who has won multiple World and European championships and a bronze medal at the Sailing at the 2004 Olympic competing in the mixed 49er. He has been a winner of the

Extreme Sailing Series The Extreme Sailing Series (ESS) (formerly the iShares Cup) was an annual global racing series, organised by OC Sport, which ran from 2007 to 2018. The series started in 2007 with its main attraction being the stadium racing which puts the race ...

and was helmsman for Luna Rossa, Italy's

America's cup The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one f ...

challenger 2011 to 2015. In the 34th Americas cup he became the first Britain to helm in the Louis Vuitton cup final. For the ACWS & 35th

America's Cup The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one f ...

between 2015 and the Cup event in Bermuda in June 2017 he held the position of Sailing Team Manager / Tactician and Wing trimmer for Softbank Team Japan. In 2019 he became CEO and Wing trimmer for the Great Britain team racing in the newly formed

SailGP SailGP is an international sailing (sport), sailing competition using high performance F50 (catamaran), F50 Sailing hydrofoil, foiling catamarans, where teams compete across a season of multiple grands prix around the world. Its reigning champio ...

, racing the F50 hydro foiling catamarans in a global racing circuit. In 2021 he joined the Japanese

team as a Wing Trimmer. winning multiple events during the 2021/2022

season and finishing runners up overall. His current home town is Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, UK. He is married, with two children. He started sailing aged 7 in an Optimist and describes his father and Jim Saltonstall (former RYA Youth Program Leader and Coach) as the key to his current career. Other interests outside of sailing include Surfing and Mountain biking.

Sailing career

2022

Wing Trimmer for the Canadian SailGP team

2021

Wing Trimmer for the Japan SailGP team. The team won events in the Italian and French legs of the world circuit finishing overall runners up for the season

2019

CEO and Wing Trimmer for the Great Britain SailGP team

2017

Tactician and Wing trimmer on Softbank Team Japan America's Cup catamaran for 35th AC in Bermuda. In semi final for Challenger selection.

2016

ACWS Softbank Team Japan

2015

Helm for Luna Rossa until team withdrew from 35th Americas Cup Joined Softbank Team Japan as Sailing Team Manager, Tactician and Wing Trimmer for ACWS

2014

Helm for Luna Rossa

2013

, on Luna Rossa 72' AC Catamaran. Louis Vuitton Cup finalist, Helmsman *2nd Overall Americas Cup World Series 2012 - 2013

2012

He won, on Luna Rossa Piranha, the first ACWS fleet racing event in Naples. 2nd Place ACWS match racing in Venice. Winner ACWS Fleet racing and 3rd place match racing ACWS Newport. Second Place ACWS fleet racing San Francisco.

2011

He was a member of the Team Korea America Cup challenge helming all the events in the AC45 World Series in 2011 before leaving the team. The team were in a highly creditable 4th place at the time.

2010

*49er World Championships - 6th *49er European Championships – 1st Gold Medal *Princess Sophia Trophy – 2nd Silver medal 49er

2009

*49er World Championships - 6th *

(then the iShares Cup) (Helm) - 1st

2008

(then the iShares Cup) (Helm) - 4th

2007

*49er World Championships - 9th * Semaine Olympique Francaise - 1st 49er

2006

*49er World Championships – 1st Gold Medal *49er Olympic test event – 1st Gold Medal * Mumm 30 World Championship - 3rd *Mumm 30 Spi Ouest - 1st

2004

*Olympic Regatta, Athens – Bronze Medal 49er *49er European Championship – 1st Gold Medal *49er World Championship – 2nd Silver Medal

2003

ISAF Sailing World Championships The Sailing World Championships (formerly ISAF Sailing World Championships) are World championships in sailing for the 10 events contested at the Summer Olympics, organized by World Sailing (formerly ISAF) and held every four years since 2003. In ...

– 1st Gold Medal 49er *49er European Championship – 2nd Silver Medal *

Kiel Week The Kiel Week (german: Kieler Woche) or Kiel Regatta is an annual sailing event in Kiel, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the largest sailing event in Europe, and also one of the largest Volksfeste in Germany, attracting ...

Regatta, Germany – 1st Gold Medal 49er *SPA Olympic Class Regatta, Holland – 1st Gold Medal 49er *Olympic Class Week, Barcelona – 1st Gold Medal 49er *Cadiz Test Event – 2nd Silver Medal 49er

2002

*Olympic Test Event 2002 – 3rd Bronze Medal 49er *49er European Championship – 2nd Silver Medal *49er World Championship – 2nd Silver Medal

1996

ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships The ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships was first held in Sweden in 1971 and it has been held every year since. It is one of the key events of the federation to help promote top-level youth participation. Editions Equipment Gender Guide ...

– 420 Silver Medal

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Draper, Chris Living people Olympic sailors of Great Britain British male sailors (sport) Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain Sailors at the 2004 Summer Olympics – 49er Olympic medalists in sailing Team Korea sailors 1978 births Luna Rossa Challenge sailors Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics Extreme Sailing Series sailors 49er class world champions 2017 America's Cup sailors 2013 America's Cup sailors World champions in sailing for Great Britain