Jono Macbeth

Jonathan "Jono" Macbeth (born 26 March 1973) is a New Zealand professional yachtsman who is best known for his participation in multiple America's Cup campaigns.

Macbeth was born in Castor Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, but also holds British Citizenship. He was educated at Rangitoto College, where he was Deputy Head Boy and Senior Athletics Champion. He is married to British solicitor Teressa and they have two children, twins Olivia and William. Prior to his involvement in the America's Cup, Macbeth was an endurance athlete competing at national level duathlon and multisport events. Macbeth placed 5th in the individual two day Coast to Coast event in 1996. Macbeth's professional sailing career got an unusual start, a meeting with Peter Blake during a summer holiday job led to an invitation to trial with Team New Zealand following their successful challenge in San Diego 1995. He became a permanent member of the Team New Zealand cup 2000 defence in 1997.[1][2]

Team New Zealand successfully defended the 2000 America's Cup 5-0 and Macbeth remained with them for their 2003 and 2007 campaigns. Team New Zealand were unsuccessful in their defence of 2003 America's Cup held in Auckland, beaten by the Swiss Challenger Alinghi 5–0. The team was subsequently renamed Emirates Team New Zealand and was one of the challengers for the 2007 Valencia America's Cup. The quest to reclaim the Cup back for New Zealand in Valencia saw Emirates Team New Zealand win the challenger's 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup - where they beat the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge 5–0 in the final following their successful elimination of the other 9 challengers in that series. It was the first time that the Louis Vuitton Cup had ever seen a clean sweep result of 5-0 by a challenging team. Winning the 2007 Challenger's Series saw Emirates Team New Zealand compete against Alinghi for the 32nd America's Cup. While the racing was close, Alinghi successfully defended their crown 5–2. [3]

Macbeth departed Emirates Team New Zealand at the end of 2007, joining the Russell Coutts led American syndicate BMW Oracle Racing for the 33rd edition of the America's Cup. Following extensive court action, BMW Oracle Racing was declared Challenger of Record under the Deed of Gift and sailed against the Swiss defender Alinghi in Valencia, February 2010. The competing boats used were 90ft multihulls, a departure from the monohulls in the previous event. BMW Oracle Racing won the America's Cup on February 14, 2010 beating Alinghi 2–0 in a best of three series. They were the first American syndicate to win the Cup since 1992. Macbeth remained with BMW Oracle Racing, renamed Oracle Team USA, for the defence of the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco. He was part of the successful 2011-2013 Oracle Team USA World Series Crew. Oracle Team USA successfully defended the 34th edition of the America's Cup, competing in state of the art 72ft wing-sail catamarans on September 25, 2013. Oracle Team USA were 7 points down and one point away from defeat before completing what The Wall Street Journal called "one of the greatest comebacks in sports history." Macbeth departed from Oracle Team USA following their successful defence to join Ben Ainslie with his formation of the LandRover BAR team in January 2014. LandRover BAR became a challenger for the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda in 2015. He joined Ben Ainslie Racing as the sailing team manager and participated as a grinder during their 2017 America's Cup campaign.[3][4][5] In the build up to the 35th America's Cup LandRover BAR won the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, topping the leader board and entering the 35th America's Cup Challengers Qualifying Series with a two point advantage. LandRover BAR competed in the hydrofoiling AC50 AC class boats against Swedish, French, Japanese and New Zealand teams, but were eliminated in Bermuda on June 9, 2017. Emirates Team New Zealand went on to win the 2017 Louis Vuitton Challengers Series and reclaimed the 35th America's Cup defeating Oracle Team USA on June 26, 2017. Macbeth remained with LandRover BAR (renamed Ineos Team UK) following their defeat in Bermuda but departed from the team in August 2019.

In addition to his America's Cup participation, Macbeth's sailing career includes a number of line honors and world titles through a series of sailing events and classes including the Fastnet, Sydney to Hobart, TP52 Super Series, Maxi and Mini World Series.

Summary of Sailing Career
  • 2000: America's Cup Defender with Team New Zealand (won 5-0 over Team Prada)
  • 2003: America's Cup Defender with Team New Zealand (beaten 0-5 by Swiss challenger Alinghi)
  • 2003: Rolex Fastnet Race with Alfa Romeo (Line Honors)
  • 2003: Giraglia Rolex Cup with Alfa Romeo (Winner)
  • 2004: Newport Bermuda Race with Morning Glory (Winner)
  • 2006: Malta Rolex Middle Sea Race with Alfa Romeo (Winner)
  • 2006: Breitling Trophy TP52 class with Mean Machine (Winner)
  • 2007: The Barcolana Race with Alfa Romeo (Winner and Race Record Holder)
  • 2007: Louis Vuitton Cup winner and America' Cup Challenger (beaten 5-2 by Swiss Challenger Alinghi)
  • 2007: Maxi Yacht Race Sardinia with Alfa Romeo (Line Honors)
  • 2010: Deed of gift Challenger with BMW Oracle Racing (Winner)
  • 2011: Oracle Team USA World Series (Winners)
  • 2013: America's Cup with Oracle Team USA (Winner)
  • 2016: Louis Vuitton Cup World Series with Landrover BAR (Winners)
  • 2017: America's Cup with Landrover BAR (Challenger)

References
  1. "America's Cup: which sailors have been drafted in from other sports and why?".
  2. "Ben Ainslie: Why Jono Macbeth is crucial to America's Cup bid". Boat International.
  3. Racing, Ben Ainslie. "Jonathan 'Jono' Macbeth – Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing". land-rover-bar.americascup.com.
  4. "Jono Macbeth – Team 11th Hour Racing". www.team11thhourracing.com.
  5. "Kiwi 'Bear' Jono Macbeth helps Ben Ainslie Racing claw their way back at America's Cup". Stuff.
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