After becoming New Zealand’s match racing champion two years in a row, Ray returned to offshore racing for the 2000-2001 Volvo Ocean Race and was helmsman on Illbruck; winning the Volvo Ocean Race in style.

Ray has been part of Peter de Ridder’s Mean Machine team since 1999, bringing in a haul of trophies including The Admiral’s Cup and the Mumm 30 European Championship, and, most recently, the highly competitive, Transpac 52 MedCup overall. Inshore successes include the Maxi Worlds and the Kenwood Cup as helmsman.

He continued his passion for the Volvo Ocean Race as skipper of Mean Machine, Peter de Ridder’s entry, for the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race.