Our staff

At Mackay Boats we are all keen sailors having competed at numerous World championship and Olympic events ourselves. Therefore we understand the importance of having the best possible equipment and we know what makes a fast boat. We get great satisfaction from seeing our boats winning, and are committed to keep Mackay Boats at the front of the fleet.

Owen Mackay

Owen is the master of GRP boatbuilding and moulding techniques. He has been building GRP boats from his own factory for 17 years and there is not much he doesn't know about how to produce the perfect boat.Owen sailed the traditional 'P' class in his youth and has been involved with the sea ever since. He was with NZ Olympic team in 1984 as a boat builder, and has managed several NZ surfboat teams competing internationally. He knows the requirements of high performance.

Dave Mackay

Dave is well known to Olympic sailors around the world and is often seen at major events talking with and helping sailors. He has sailed competitively in 470s and Flying Dutchman and socially in 49ers. Highlights have been a 3rd in the 470 Worlds, winning the ISAF double handed Youth Worlds and pre-Olympics (470) and competing in the 1984 Olympics in the FD. Dave has travelled to many of the major 470 regattas around the world in recent years and has his finger firmly on the pulse of developments in the class.

John Clinton

John has a long background working with teams and individuals helping them to go fast. Initially as a sail designer and Sail Program manager for a number of Americas Cup campaigns, then setting up his own North Sails One Design loft before moving onto Southern Spars where he designed and developed the new carbon 49er rig. During this time John also coached the NZL 470 sailors for the 1996 & 2000 Olympics as well as sailing a Tornado for a number of years. Coaching highlight was working with Simon Cooke & Pete Nicholas to win the 2002 470 World Championship. He is currently coaching the Finn towards London 2012.

David McDiarmid

“Young” Dave runs the assembly and fit-out team. He has a strong background in skiff sailing having campaigned a 49er and is now skippering an 18ft skiff most weekends on Auckland harbour as well as Kite Surfing in his spare time.

Damion LeGrice

Damien first started working for us in 2001 and now runs the polyester boat building team, building our 470’s and 420’s. He is focused on the quality and consistency of each boat and runs a team who have together built hundreds of these boats. Damien is a qualified tradesman having completed his apprenticeship while working for Mackay Boats.

Lisa Nola

Lisa manages our office and is first point of contact for any account enquiries. Lisa has worked for Mackay Boats since 2002 and liaises with customers regularly to get the details needed to complete their boats on time and customised to their requirements.