Our Skippers
Ruaraidh Plummer
Ruaraidh (pronounced like Brewery without the B) is an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and keen racer. He grew up in SW London but was taught how to sail on his Grandad’s wooden Fireball (Pyrosphere) in the Fal Estuary. He and his dad raced an RS400 at various locations around the South & West of England. After a sailing holiday to Wildwind in Greece, it was game over. Ruaraidh got a job out there, did his instructor’s course and taught dinghy sailing through his university summers (possibly a few extra).
After several years of honing his dinghy sailing, Ruaraidh moved up to yachts, starting off as a deckhand on an 82ft maxi racer. After acquiring his Yachtmasters Offshore in the Solent he turned to yacht racing and had the opportunity to work with the Abu Dhabi Volvo Ocean Race team where the “deep end” took on a new meaning.
He has now been instructing and race-coaching on the Solent for over 12 years and gets kicks from getting people over their fears as well as training up crews to become competitive racing ninjas!
QUALIFICATIONS:
RYA / MCA Yachtmaster Instructor (Sail) • VHF/SRC Radio Instructor • RYA Theory Instructor • Charter agent
RACE HISTORY:
ROLEX FASTNET RACE; 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025 • RORC CARIBBEAN 600; 2023, 2024 • ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE; 2019, 2024 • ARC TRANSAT; 2020 • RORC TRANSATLANTIC RACE; 2023
James Bathurst
James became a skipper for LSS last year, having previously sailed as a first mate in the Mediterranean and completed the Rolex Middle Sea Race with Sail Racing Academy.
Having grown up sailing and racing in the Solent, James brings a lifelong love of the water to his work. He’s passionate about instructing and takes pride in balancing real skill development with a good dose of fun on board.
QUALIFICATIONS:
RYA / MCA Yachtmaster Instructor (Sail) • VHF/SRC Radio Instructor • RYA Theory Instructor • Charter agent
RACE HISTORY:
ROLEX FASTNET RACE 2025 • ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE; 2024