About Our Team

Will Jackson - Director / Rigging Manager 

“The lessons learnt, the clients gained and my wide and varied experience are what I bring to this partnership.”
Will has worked his entire working life in the marine industry and claims to be of no use in the civilian world...

Having started sailing at a young age and spending his summers working in local marinas, Will decided the sailing industry was for him. He moved to Falmouth to study Marine Engineering before heading back to Portsmouth where he started working for Sunsail. After his time at Sunsail, and gaining experience in rigging, Will joined Alex Thomson Racing as corporate crew. Will spent over a decade working with Alex and the team across four Vendée Globe campaigns, leading him to the role of Boat Captain for Alex’s IMOCA 60.
In 2017, Will launched Racetec Rigging, one of the premier race boat rigging companies in the UK, working on a wide-range of boats from superyachts to cruisers.

Chris Noble - Director / Rigging Manager

“There’s never a boring day, it’s an industry that’s always challenging in unexpected ways. Every project has new people to engage, new ideas and new problems to tackle!”

Growing up competing in youth classes back home in Scotland, the desire to pursue a career in sailing was there from an early age. Going on to study Naval Architecture was a natural transition, whilst working as a Bosun at Sunsail in Largs to fund tuition, and commuting south to train and race on Bear of Britain. Eventually, the desire to pursue a career in the professional side of the sport became too strong and Chris committed to relocating to Southampton.

Chris’ first foray into ‘working’ in the yachting industry came in the guise of the voluntary boat captain role for the now British Keelboat TP52 ‘John Merricks II’. Off the back of that came an opportunity that led to almost ten years with Team Aqua’s RC44, seven of those as Boat Captain. In between RC44 fixtures, Chris continued to build on his inshore and grand prix expertise providing rigging services in several classes, notably Quantum Racing in the 52 Super Series.

In January 2016 Chris signed with Land Rover BAR as Head of Rigging and Test-Boat Captain. Off the back of this, between the 35th and 36th America’s Cup cycles; under BAR Technologies, Chris was responsible for the formation of BAR Rigging - a first taste and experience of starting and operating a viable commercial rigging outlet. Offering the highest levels of craftsmanship and sustainable manufacturing techniques, BAR Rigging saw immediate uptake and acceptance as a fresh-faced offering in the market.

2018, Chris signed for another campaign with INEOS Team UK for the 36th challenge as Rig Manager. An ultimately rewarding role helping develop new systems and solutions to new and unseen problems.

Leaving the Cup arena in 2020 to start a family with wife, Sara, Chris formed Rigging Works, offering innovative and sustainable solutions to a growing market demand.

Sara Noble Lumholdt - Operations Manager

“I’m excited for this next chapter, a fresh challenge with an enthusiastic team!”

Arguably the most demanding role at Marine Rigging Services, Sara works hard to ensure projects are well resourced, delivered on time and with a fully operating and efficient team.

Sara brings with her a uniquely diverse background. Born and raised in Stockholm, Sara started her professional career at 14 with hit teen-pop band ‘A-Teens’. The fast paced, logistically challenging touring lifestyle is comparable with the resource and project planning challenges faced in her role at MRS.

Following that, Sara pursued a passion for accounting and company structuring, consulting for a wide-range of companies and organisations, including the annual Match Cup Marstrand. In 2012, Sara launched her own dance and fitness chain, growing to four schools across Sweden. After a short spell in Bermuda in 2017 for the America’s Cup, she relocated to Portsmouth. In 2019, Sarah joined the RYA working as an Event Officer. She was responsible for planning and executing the RYA’s annual calendar of events, from youth classes to Olympic ranking regattas.

A stickler for detail and a strong passion for organisation and process based systems, Sara’s well suited for the unpredictable nature of our industry!

Toby Price - General Manager

“I am thoroughly looking forward to my new challenge here at MRS and am very excited for where the company passion and direction will take it.”

 

Having spent all his life on or around the water from Oppi's to race yachts and currently owning a Hunter 707 that he races in the Solent when time allows.

Toby joins MRS after spending the last 10 years at Lewmar. Starting as a Technical Support Engineer and working his way up to Customer Services Manager over the years. Along the way, he also got to lead an international team of engineers and provide support for some of the biggest OEM races and regattas out there. This experience has given him great insight into the industry and what incredible service looks like.

Prior to this, he worked at Southerly Yachts gaining a Marine Engineering Apprenticeship. Here he gained many of the practical skills that have carried him forward through his career.

Matt Elvin - Sales & Marketing Executive

"Im really excited about the opportunity to join the crew at MRS and I cant wait to experience the new challenges and use my knowledge and skillset on future projects"

Growing up around the water. Matt started his journey working at Marinas around the south coast at 17. During this time he had the opportunity to take on roles in all aspects of the Marine industry from administration/sales to specialised boat lifting, where he first fell in love with the world of yacht racing and the grand prix level that goes on behind the scenes.

 

Having a background in graphic design and marketing Matt knew that he wanted to join the two passions of digital media and the sailing industry. After working alongside the MRS team helping with yard operations during rigging and lifting some of the IMOCA fleet, the chance to join the team full time was an opportunity he could not miss out on.

 

Jack Wilson - Rigging Technician

“I’m really excited to be part of this new chapter with Chris and Will and to have the opportunity to continue to learn and develop my skills.”

 

Jack grew fond of sailing at the age of seven after joining the cadet class where he competed in multiple world championships during his 10 years in the class. This followed with three years racing Etchells in the Solent as well spending time working at David Heritage Racing Yachts building Etchells.

Rather than taking the University route, Jack joined IDEA - the charter race boat - to enhance his experience in the yachting world. From here, Jack developed a particular interest in rigging. He also gained a three-months’ work experience in New Zealand, working at Southern Spars which inspired him to learn the fundamentals of rigging, which he then took on at Performance Rigging, based in Hamble, UK.

Jack put his new skills to use by joining the TP52 ‘Conviction’, as first mate and team rigger. After two seasons spent in the Caribbean growing his network, developing his rigging skills and racing with various professional teams, an opportunity to work at Alex Thomson Racing presented itself. Jack took on the role as Will's Assistant Rigger during the testing and developing stage in the build-up to the 2020 Vendée Globe. This followed with Jack taking on the role of Team Rigger for Hugo Boss’ final corporate tour. Jack now works for Marine Rigging Services as a Rigging Technician.

Owen Colbern - Junior Design Engineer

"It’s rare to get so much exposure in the Grand Prix sailing world and have the opportunity to work on some really exciting projects. There’s lots to learn from all of Chris and Will’s experience and I’m looking forward to furthering my skillset with a talented and growing team at MRS."

Owen is a local lad who started sailing from a young age out of Gosport. He quickly moved onto keelboats after snapping more laser top sections than his parents could afford to replace.

 

Owen attended the University of Surrey where he studied Mechanical Engineering. During his studies, he continued to commute on weekends to go racing in the Solent. He then joined the British Keelboat Academy, where through networking he was introduced to Chris and Will, and completed some day work with Marine Rigging Services working on the RC44 Blackstar refit.

 

Owen continues his racing, sailing with programs such as the RORC Griffin Initiative and the Royal London Etchells youth Academy. Once graduated from University, Owen joined MRS full time as Junior Design Engineer. His responsibilities include modification, development, and manufacturing of custom rigging components. Owen oversees initial concepts and testing, through to drawing distribution and procurement.

Will Homewood - Junior Technician

“Excited to take on this interesting role at MRS, with some super cool projects both current and in the pipeline”