James Grummett / Rhos Hawes

James Grummett learned to sail aged eight at Burwain Sailing Club and made an early mark as 29er National Champion in 2015.

Now a British Sailing Team skipper, he teamed up with crew Rhos Hawes at the start of 2024 and the partnership clicked almost instantly: just three months together, they finished a sensational fourth at the 2024 World Championship in Lanzarote.

The pair have since shown they relish the toughest conditions, winning both qualifying heats in 25-knot breeze at the 2026 Worlds in Quiberon, and they took second at the 2025 Long Beach Olympic Sailing Grand Slam on future Olympic waters.

Hailing from Cirencester, Rhos Hawes crews for James Grummett on the British Sailing Team's leading 49er.

Despite only forming the partnership in early 2024, the pair announced themselves with a fourth place at that year's World Championship in Lanzarote, three months after first sailing together.

A strong heavy-air sailor, Hawes helped power the boat to a double race win in 25-knot winds at the 2026 Worlds and to runner-up spot at the 2025 Long Beach Grand Slam, as the British duo build toward a Los Angeles 2028 campaign.