Conrad Colman unveils an all-Kiwi, forward looking team

On September 1st, Conrad Colman will set off on the first-ever edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic, a new crewed IMOCA race linking New York to Lorient. Aboard MSIG Europe, the New Zealand skipper will be joined by three rising talents from the New Zealand sailing scene: Megan Thomson, Anna Merchant, and Aaron Hume-Merry. The crew’s gender-balance reflects the race’s new format, but also reflects a bigger ambition: handing down offshore racing experience to New Zealand’s next generations of sailors.

Organized by The Ocean Race, this new transatlantic will bring 6 IMOCAs together, setting off from New York on September 1st and arriving in Lorient between September 8th and 10th. For this first edition, each team needs to include two women and two men, a first for this IMOCA class. The race will also feature an On Board Reporter to bring the adventure closer to the public.

Shaping the next generation of New Zealand sailors.

For Conrad Colman, this race marks an important milestone in the development of Aotearoa Ocean Racing, a project he leads in hopes to reconnect New Zealand with IMOCA offshore sailing.
During a trip to New Zealand last February, Conrad met Anna Merchant and Aaron Hume-Merry through the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, a partner of Aotearoa Ocean Racing. Quickly convinced by their talents, he invited them to join the project. They’ll be joined by Megan Thomson, one of the most talented sailors of New Zealand’s new generation.

The three of them already have a strong track-record in offshore racing, but with the Ocean Race Atlantic, they’re now discovering the demanding world of IMOCA offshore racing alongside one of the most experienced sailors in their country.

Beyond the sport, this participation is a part of a genuine effort to pass on knowledge and experience. As the only daggerboard IMOCA in a fleet made up entirely of the latest generation foiling boats, MSIG Europe will take on this race with humility, but also with the drive to gain valuable experience for the challenges ahead.
Early training sessions have already confirmed the crew’s strong bond and the enthusiasm of the young sailors, who are highly invested in preparing the boat.

 

The MSIG Europe crew members

CONRAD COLMAN - skipper
Conrad Colman was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to an American father and a New Zealand mother. He spent the first months of his life at sea while his parents sailed the Pacific.

Often referred to as the “Crazy Kiwi” for his fiery and passionate nature, Conrad is a determined sailor who stays true to his values. His passion for the sea and pushing himself to the limit has enabled him to complete four circumnavigations of the globe, including two Vendée Globe without using fossil fuels, a cause close to his heart. Ahead of aiming for another Vendée Globe in 2028, his current goal is to compete in the next ‘The Ocean Race’, a crewed round-the-world race with New Zealand sailors, in 2027, having co-founded the new team Aotearoa Ocean Racing

 

MEGAN THOMSON

Megan Thomson is a New Zealand sailor and helm of 2.0 Racing, one of the world’s leading women’s match racing teams. In 2023, she made history as the first female helm to reach the podium at the Open Match Racing World Championship, finishing third. She is also a two-time Women’s Match Racing World Championship silver medallist and was named 2025 Yachting New Zealand Female Sailor of the Year. Alongside her sailing, Megan works in partnerships and sponsorship, helping purpose-driven organisations build meaningful connections.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Aotearoa Ocean Racing and be part of a project with such a bold vision for New Zealand sailing. The opportunity to step into offshore racing, learn from an experienced team and help build a pathway towards The Ocean Race is something I’m hugely motivated by. It’s a privilege to represent Aotearoa.”

 

ANNA MERCHANT

Anna Merchant is a multidisciplinary sailor from New Zealand, with a background spanning high-performance inshore, offshore and foiling disciplines. She has competed at the highest level during two double-handed offshore World Championships, achieved multiple medals at the Women’s World Match Racing Championships, and raced in numerous fully crewed offshore campaigns and one-design fleets, including multiple podium finishes in the IC37 class. She has also achieved several national titles, and set new race records aboard keelboats and foiling multihulls including the GC32. Anna is excited to take the next step in her sailing career into the IMOCA class as part of the Aotearoa Ocean Racing campaign aboard MSIG Europe, joining a world-class fleet and competing alongside some of the most experienced offshore sailors in the world.

"Joining Aotearoa Ocean Racing and the MSIG Europe campaign is an incredibly exciting next step in my sailing career. Conrad’s experience, knowledge and achievements in ocean racing are truly inspiring, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside him and learn from one of the best in the sport. I’m looking forward to contributing to the team, embracing the challenges of the IMOCA class, and continuing to develop within the highest level of offshore racing.”

  

AARON HUME-MERRY

Aaron Hume-Merry is a New Zealand high-performance sailor with over a decade of experience across Olympic classes, foiling, inshore, and offshore racing. A national champion and New Zealand representative at World Championship level, he has built a diverse sailing background spanning elite inshore competition through to offshore endurance racing. Aaron brings resilience, competitiveness, and a strong team mentality, forged through a lifetime of performing in high-pressure sporting environments across multiple disciplines.

"The Ocean Race represents a pinnacle of our sport, combining endurance, teamwork, innovation, and resilience at the highest level. Having spent my life competing in high-performance sport and pushing myself in demanding environments, the opportunity to join Conrad Colman and Aotearoa Ocean Racing is incredibly exciting. Conrad's vision and commitment to pushing the boundaries of the sport, particularly through sustainability and innovation, are inspiring. I'm motivated by the opportunity to contribute to a world-class campaign, continue developing as an offshore sailor, and help showcase New Zealand talent on the global stage."

  

GEORGIA SCHOFIELD - On Board Reporter

Georgia Schofield has sailed since she was seven years old and competed at the Youth Worlds twice in the RS:X windsurfer class. She has worked as a photographer/videographer for 14 years after she started taking pictures whilst travelling for her own sailing competitions. She worked for the windsurfing and SUP company Starboard from 2016 to 2019 before returning home to New Zealand to work with the New Zealand Ocean Racing Volvo 65 campaign.

Georgia was the On Board Reporter with Team Holcim-PRB during the 2022-23 Ocean Race. After the introduction to the French offshore sailing world she moved full time to Europe to work with a variety of IMOCA teams and other classes. She was part of Team Be Water Positive for the 2025 Ocean Race Europe and is now happy to join Conrad and fellow kiwis on MSIG Europe for the Ocean Race Atlantic.

"I'm stoked to return to the Ocean Raca again, this time around with a kiwi team! Honoured to race with this crew and share their story"