America's Cup too much for Whiting-Williams to resist

Carl Whiting-Williams was in Sweden working on a Volvo 60 campaign for the 2001/2002 round-the-world race when he got a call offering him a position at Team New Zealand.

"Cameron Appleton, who I have known all my life, gave me a call and said there were some opportunities and would I be keen to come down.

"It took me about a month to decide - it was a matter of weighing up whether to leave the Ocean Race where a lot of people were already hyped-up or come home and represent my country."

He joined Team New Zealand in October 2000 and now works as mastman, backing up the bowman at sail-change time or helping gybe.

The youngest member of Team New Zealand, Whiting-Williams is the son of sailing identity Penny Whiting and grandson of designer Darcy Whiting.

"Sailing is in my blood," he says. "I have been sailing since the day I was born."

He was also a national age-group swimmer and waterpolo player before joining the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's youth sailing programme, which led to a job with Team New Zealand.

"I left school in the sixth form and through Sir Peter Blake did some work at Team New Zealand in 1999.

"It's great to be back and be part of the team."

CARL WHITING-WILLIAMS - mastman

Nickname: Tiny, Darcy

Age: 21

Place of Birth: Auckland

Career highlights

1999: Gotlund Rundt (1st), Skandia Team and Fastnet Race (2nd).

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