Southern Spars appoint Rob Salthouse as Project Manager
by Josh Impey on 3 Jun 2014
Rob Salthouse gives the thumbs up to the bowman during a sail change CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Sanya, China to Auckland, New Zealand. Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race
Southern Spars has welcomed Rob Salthouse to their team in his preliminary role as Project Manager and assisting Project Manager Kevin Batten with his multiple projects.
As part of his new role Salthouse will primarily help Kevin look after the Volvo 65 fleet for the upcoming 2014/2015 edition. 'My main goals are to help facilitate a seamless flow of my projects through the factory and on to the boats, producing the highest quality masts,' he says.
prolific sailor, Salthouse is eminently qualified for the position and is a huge asset to the Southern Spars team. Over his 28 year racing career he has taken part in many big name regattas and offshore races, including three Volvo Ocean Race campaigns, five Americas Cups for New Zealand and five Admiral’s Cups.
As part of New Zealand’s well-known Salthouse family, sailing is in Rob’s blood and he grew up immersed in the world of yachting. 'Sailing is everything for me, it’s my passion,' he says. Having begun as a sailmaker, working for Tony Bouzaid at Hood Sails, Salthouse later made the move into professional racing as a trimmer and driver and rig specialist. This combined rig and sail expertise, together with a strong work ethic, is what he says will help him drive the role.
Salthouse credits influential figures in his life for helping him get to where he is today: 'My biggest influence without doubt is my father who has given me the passion for sailing and the drive to aim high in everything I do: his motto is ‘a job worth doing is a job worth doing properly’ and this is something that I really believe in.' Always aiming for the top, it was Southern Spars’ values and ambition to be at their top of their field that attracted Salthouse to join the company. 'Since I have started at Southern Spars the thing that has impressed me most is the team; from the shop floor to the top, everyone is very proud of what they have achieved and are doing. I am looking forward to the future and seeing Southern Spars continuing to break new ground with composite masts and rigging.'
About Southern Spars:
Southern Spars specialises in the design and construction of carbon fibre spars and components, rigging, and rig servicing.
As the industry pioneer, Southern Spars built its first carbon spar in 1990. Since then the company has pursued a passion for delivering world class cruising and racing spars, carbon rigging and service.
Its operation extends to all corners of the world with centres in the USA, Denmark, Spain, Sri Lanka and South Africa, and headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand. Southern Spars employs more than 350 staff worldwide.
Southern Spars is backed by the international North Technology Group, a company renowned for investing in leading technology companies. www.southernspars.com
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