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A Profile of SmartBoating owner David Biddle 
What made you decide to take up sailing? Well it wasn't exactly a conscious decision! My Dad competed at international level in dinghy racing. So I was around boats before I could even walk! I spent many days in my pram watching the boats and as I grew up we enjoyed all our family holidays at sailing meetings. Where was your a sailing base in those early days? I virtually 'lived' at the sailing club on Hayling Island on English south coast. As a teenager I followed in my Dad's footsteps and we both raced an exciting radically designed dinghy called an International 10 Sq Metre Canoe. This picture is actually of him on his way to victory in the European Championships. When did you make the transition into yachts? I was very lucky. My Grandparents always had yachts so I spent many weekends and holidays sailing in the Solent, the Channel islands and North and South Brittany. As an adult I've continued my passion for yacht sailing. I married Christine in 1992 and we've chartered in Greece, the Windward islands, the Leeward Islands, St Lucia / Grenada and the Whitsundays. And of course our two children Phoebe and Isaac were also introduced to sailing at a very tender age. What brought you to Australia?  In the UK I owned and operated an event production company. But Christine and I realised that Australia has more to offer a growing family than the UK. We made the big move in 2004. And once we discovered the beauty of Pittwater... we knew we'd found our new home. We're based in Bayview. It's close to work and an idyllic place to raise our family. And of course I now have a world class waterway on my doorstep to race and cruise on!And how did SmartBoating come into being? When I arrived in Australia I worked in boat syndication for a while and realised it was a smart idea! I took the opportunity to combine business with pleasure by purchasing Pittwater Yacht charter in 2006. We rebranded the business as the SmartBoating Group to include boat share, learn to sail courses and corporate sailing in addition to yacht charter. And 4 years on? I have the ultimate sailing lifestyle job on one of the best waterways in Australia... and of course I prefer the warm blue waters of Pittwater to the cold grey ones of the UK! Oh yes... and my job is certainly more varied these days! Contact David Copyright Smart Boating |