Phil Ross takes the reins at Cruising Helmsman magazine

Yaffa Publishing is pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Ross as editor of Cruising Helmsman magazine. Phil replaces long-time editor Caroline Strainig who has resigned to pursue other interests.

Phil is an active sailor and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position. Over a ten-year period he made his living on the open seas, delivering yachts and racing in regattas, and he feels this will give him an empathy with cruising sailors who are doing the same, or who would like to in the future.

"Delivering boats from regatta to regatta," says Phil, "I realised my good fortune in seeing both the joys and horrors being alone with the sea readily offers. The people you meet and sights, never to be replicated, deliver lasting memories."

Phil began his sailing career at the age of ten sailing 12ft Cadet dinghies out of the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Victoria, after being shanghaied by his brother who needed lightweight crew. Seeking speed he progressed into 470s, and competed in the class's first Olympic trials for the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Seeking adventure he then moved onto keelboats. He lays claim to state titles (J24), a national title (Half Ton) and a world title (Maxi boats), alongside three Melbourne to Hobarts, four Sydney to Hobarts, two Hawaiian Clipper Cups and one Great Circle Race. Plus he cheekily claims a "second place" in the 1987 America's Cup, working for the Kookaburra Syndicate as a reserve bowman.

While Phil Ross is no relation to Bob Ross, the founding editor of Australian Sailing magazine, there is sailing heritage in his family. One brother owned Hood Sails Tasmania for many years and the other brother is a rigger/repairer in Hobart.

Phil is also (now) an experienced journalist. However, he wryly tells the story of how, on returning to Australia after years at sea, he wrote an article about his experiences and submitted it to Bob Ross. "Who, quite rightly, rejected it," Phil says.

Never a quitter, this has spurred him ever since to finally prove the Great Man wrong. He began writing professionally as a trade reporter for an industry magazine in 1991 and joined Yaffa Publishing as a trade editor in 2009.

Phil says he is looking forward to the challenge of editing Cruising Helmsman and welcomes feedback, suggestions and contributions from the magazine's loyal readers. You can contact Phil by email to PhilRoss@yaffa.com.au.