Profile – Recreation, Family, Business

Darren’s sporting passion is boating. After sailing competitively for many years, he now prefers the ease of power boats, although he still sails occasionally.

One of his most significant sporting accomplishments was receiving “Australian Yachtsman of the Year” from Sir James Hardy at Sydney Yacht Squadron. He has also represented Australia in the laser class throughout Europe, culminating in the World Championships in Denmark in 1988.

He sailed 505 Class to win three world titles and five Australian titles with his brother, Chris.

He sailed an 18-foot Hobie Cat from Sydney to Brisbane nonstop in 47 hours, and later competed in the Hogs Breath Coral Sea 1000 from Southport to Cairns in a Hobie 18 on two separate occasions.

Darren is a qualified scuba diver, an essential requirement for offshore power boat racing, which he has recently taken up.

With partner Ricci and Chris, he won the Club Championship in a 16 foot skill at Belmont 16 Footers.

Darren was also in the crew of Grundig when it took second place in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. He has also raced in the Thundercat series around Australia. Thunder cats are catamarans with an inflatable hull and also a 50 hp outboard. They are capable of reaching 100 km in the surf.

He has also raced in Cowes Week in England just for the fun of it with a crew of English sailors who were once competitors.

For really hard work, he has rowed in three surf carnival boat crews.

Darren also pursues some land sports. He has competed in several 100 kl plus mountain bike races with some success.

He loves his Cobra car, which he built in 2006 with lots of help from his sailing mate and legend, David Porter, who was building his own Cobra at the same time. They have both raced around the Wakefield Racetrack.

He also had an interest in soccer as a youngster and played competitively from age 6 to 17 then refereed for three years.

Darren's grandfather, Keith Corner, started Scouting in Belmont and Darren took up Scouting and was eventually presented with his Queens Scout Award by Sir Roden Cutler.

Darren is a member of the following sporting and recreational clubs: Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, Belmont 16-Footers, the Australian Cobra Club and the Austral Power Boat Club.