World Etchells 2025: son of a gun sailor Max Jameson, 12, making waves with Aussie crew

He might only be 12 but this young gun is holding his own in a fleet boasting America’s Cup stars, Paris Olympians and some of Australia’s leading sailors - up to seven times his age.

Young sailor Max Jameson is just 12 but sailing with Olympians and America's Cup heroes. Picture: Nic Douglass

He might only be 12 but this young sailing gun is holding his own in a world championship fleet boasting America’s Cup and Sydney to Hobart winners and Paris Olympic gold medallists - some up to six times his age.

Max Jameson has even tasted victory at the world Etchells championships being raced on Port Phillip Bay with his Sydney skipper Jeanne-Claude Strong and crewmates - with the team beating a fleet boasting the likes of America’s Cup winning skipper John Bertrand and Paris Olympic ILCA 7 gold medallist Matt Wearn to win an early race.

Max, racing Strong’s Flying Higher boat alongside crewmates Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton from the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, is competing in his second world championships due to his light weight.

“It’s so cool,’’ said the youngster whose father Phil Jameson is a renown ocean racer and professional now based in New Zealand with Sydney to Hobarts and round the world race victories to his name.

“I like the big waves and stuff and being part of a crew and Im learning heaps.

“I trim and stuff round the top mark and do the mainsheet downwind sometimes.

“I love it. I don’t really like steering.’’

“The most fun thing so far has been winning.’’

Young sailor Max Jameson with his crewmates at the world Etchells championships. Picture: Nic Douglass

Max, who weights 35 kilo, was bough aboard to maximise the crew weight allowance of 285 kilos per boat at the Etchells world titles, said he loves sailing with the crew which incudes Seve Jarvin, a six-time JJ Giltinan World 18-foot skiff champion and Sydney to Hobart winner and Sam Newton, an America’s Cup veteran who is also part of the highly successful Australian SailGP team.

The quartet made their presence known early at the regatta with a win in race two.

“Max was awesome. He hikes harder than anyone in the fleet and never whinges,” said skipper Strong said.

Jarvin said Max is also big on crew motivation and shouts encouragement.

“(He says) come on you guys put in, put in,” Jarvin said.

Jameson’s father said he keeps a close eye on Max’s nutrition and fatigue levels.

“He is really keen to sail around the world one day and for the Grand Prix circuit in Europe. He’s been well and truly bitten by the sailing bug,’’ Jamesons said.

Hydration and eating is a really big deal. I have to be very careful of how we manage it. We don’t want him to get cooked and have a bad experience.

Max started racing Sabots at age eight but said they were too slow for his liking.

He now races one-up skiffs when he is at home in Napier, New Zealand.

MORE FROM AMANDA LULHAM HERE

Originally published as World Etchells 2025: son of a gun sailor Max Jameson, 12, making waves with Aussie crew