Dante Olivieri - DeckHardware Ambassador

My name is Dante Olivieri and I'm from Wollongong, NSW. I am an avid and passionate sailor that loves every aspect that relates to the sport of sailing. I started sailing at the age of 5 with my dad on a Windrush 14 and competed in my first event at the age of 7. At age 8, I joined the local junior sailing program from where I sailed on a Manly Junior for 2 seasons followed by 4 seasons on a Flying Ant including winning the nationals in my final year. I then jumped into a 420 for another 4 years and represented Australia at the 420 Worlds in 2013.

I'm currently on the helm on a 16ft Skiff and main-trim/tactics for Tom Grimes as part of the CYCA youth sailing academy in match racing. When I aged out of the youth circuit, I started instructing and coaching at local yacht clubs and it was at the Manly Junior nationals where Mel Yeomans (DeckHardware) and Erica Kirby introduced me to umpiring. Since then I have umpired/ judged many national and international match, teams and fleet racing events. Umpiring really opens another world in the sport and I really love the intensity. When I am not sailing or umpiring, I am windsurfing.