Alex Barone (JH 14-19) was previously featured in New of OTs in the OT Magazine 2022, when he was competing in the Moth World Championships on Lake Garda. Now back in the UK following a successful summer with the Northstar team, which saw them crowned Maxi GP World Champions in Porto Cervo, Alex takes us through his journey into professional sailing and how he got there.

After graduating from Cardiff University in 2024 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Alex decided to dedicate more time to developing his sailing career. His final week at university was particularly memorable, as he won the Junior title at the International Moth UK National Championship for the second time just one week before graduating.

Following university, Alex spent much of his time gaining experience across a variety of yacht racing classes and programmes. One of his main commitments was the RORC Griffin project a youth offshore racing programme. Having been selected during a trials weekend, he joined the team as one of its skippers and also took on responsibilities as a boat captain, helping to maintain and prepare the yacht. The programme involved an intensive training schedule and a series of offshore races, providing valuable experience of leading a crew and competing over longer distances.

Alongside Griffin, Alex continued to broaden his experience across the yacht racing circuit. He raced in the J70 class onboard Lightfoot, finishing as the top youth boat for the season and achieving third place in the J70 fleet at the Round the Island Race. He also competed in the Cape 31 fleet onboard Flying Jenny, winning the National Championship. Further offshore experience included the Rolex Middle Sea Race, as well as double-handed sailing in the Channel Race and the Figaro 3 Il Veloce qualifier.

A breakthrough came in the spring of 2025, when Alex secured an opportunity to join the Northstar team as shore crew. Having contacted the boat captain, he was offered the chance to join the team for a delivery from Sorrento to Marseille. This developed into supporting a professional racing campaign centred around a 72-foot Maxi GP yacht competing on the Mediterranean circuit. His responsibilities included the preparation, maintenance and delivery of the yacht, giving him an insight into the demands of operating at the highest level of the sport.

Following this initial season, Alex was invited back for the full 2026 campaign. This time, the team had an exciting new project ahead, with a brand-new yacht due to be commissioned in time for the season's major regattas.

Northstar III is a 76-foot Maxi GP design featuring a canting keel, and Alex was involved throughout the commissioning process. His work began while the yacht was still in the yard in northern Italy, before moving on to commissioning and launching. The team then carried out sea trials and further preparation at their home port in the south of France, getting the yacht ready for its first season.

Alongside the yacht's day-to-day maintenance, Alex has helped prepare for training blocks, regattas and has sailed onboard during some of the sea trials and training sessions. As the season progressed, the focus turned towards the Maxi GP World Championship in Porto Cervo. Alex was involved in delivering Northstar III to the event and in the intensive preparation in the lead-up to the championship. Long days and hard work from the entire team ensured the yacht was ready to compete.

The team's efforts paid off, with Northstar III winning the Maxi GP World Championship in Porto Cervo in September 2026.

Working with Northstar has been a hugely rewarding experience. Although Alex is not yet a regular member of the racing crew, he has already had opportunities to sail with the team in competitive races, and they are encouraging him to continue developing his sailing and progress within the programme. Being surrounded by such knowledgeable and experienced people has provided an invaluable opportunity to learn from people operating at the highest level of the sport.

The work is demanding, with long hours and considerable responsibility, but Alex feels well supported by the team and thoroughly enjoys the challenge. Having spent years pursuing sailing alongside his studies, he is now building a career in the sport he has loved since his school days. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue developing within the Northstar programme, gaining more experience on the water and working towards a greater role in the racing crew. His longer-term ambition is to establish himself as a professional sailor, continuing to learn from experienced teams and competing at the highest level of the sport.