MRS Team
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!
James Hart - Sales Manager
My personal hobbies have always been based around water sport lending itself to spend my early work life in the leisure marine sector. Moving into this position I'm looking to learn from the team's expertise and apply previous experiences into this dynamic and developing company. I look forward to being involved with the great products and people we get to work with.
Alex Grant - Rigging Technician
“It’s an exciting prospect to continue to work with Chris and Will, as we launch Marine Rigging Services. I’m really looking forward to working on some exciting projects.”
Alex grew up in Hong Kong before moving to the UK for University. He started sailing from an early age and was selected to join the British Keelboat Academy, sailing on the squad's J80s and Farr 45. Through the Academy, Alex was offered a job to work for Chris as a nipper with the RC44 Team Aqua during the 2012 season, culminating in the team winning the overall points competition.Alex brings five years of knowledge and experience in big boat sailing to the team, including racing superyachts where he worked onboard the 220ft carbon ketch Hetairos and the 100ft racer/cruiser Inoui.
Alex joined Racetec Rigging in 2019 working with Will to launch the new IMOCA 60 Hugo Boss, as well as providing performance improvements and racing with the Finnish XP44 Xtra Staerk and Tulikettu Racing.
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.