Nathan Outteridge OAM and Iain Jensen OAM
"Two of Australia’s most decorated sailors, lifelong friends, and 49er Olympic champions. Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen’s partnership has defined a generation of high-performance sailing, from World Championships to Olympic glory and America’s Cup campaigns." - Australian Sailing Hall of Fame Assessment Panel
Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen grew up on the waters of Wangi Wangi, New South Wales. Iain first stepped into a dinghy at the age of five, learning the basics while racing on Lake Macquarie. Nathan, just a few years older, quickly showed his natural talent, winning his first regattas, including a national championship in 2000 in the Sabot class and together with Iain winning the Flying 11 national champions that same summer. Their friendship and shared passion for the sport laid the foundation for a lifelong sailing partnership.
Iain tasted international success at just 16, winning the ISAF Youth World Championship in the 420 class with Nathan. Nathan had also already secured two consecutive ISAF Youth World Championships in 2002 and 2003 across the 29er and 420 classes, adding the third championship with Iain in 2004. These early experiences shaped both sailors, teaching resilience, precision, and the importance of teamwork.
Their partnership in the 49er class began in 2009, after Nathan narrowly missed a medal at the Beijing Olympics. The impact of the new partnership was immediate, winning the 49er World Championship in only their second regatta together. Over the next four years they dominated the class internationally. They won four World Championship medals in as many years — gold in 2009, silver in 2010, and back-to-back titles in 2011 and 12, as well as multiple European and ISAF World Cup titles and the London Olympic Test Event. Their consistency, speed, and tactical mastery made them one of the most formidable teams in international sailing.
At the 2012 London Games on the waters off Weymouth, they converted that dominance into Olympic Gold. Outteridge and Jensen took the lead after the third race and never looked back, securing the gold medal before the medal race. Across 16 races, they finished outside the top six only three times and were first past the line five times—a reflection of their skill, teamwork, and resilience under pressure.
For their efforts they won Australian Sailing’s Male Sailor of the Year Award that year.
Following London, the pair turned their attention to the America’s Cup, joining Artemis Racing challenging for the 2013 America’s Cup. The duo juggled their Rio 2016 Olympic campaign while being heavily involved with Artemis’ challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup, where with Jensen as the trusted wing-trimmer to skipper and helmsman Outteridge they made the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
At the Rio 2016 Olympics, they added a silver medal to their collection, beaten by their New Zealand training partners and rivals.
Beyond Olympic sailing, both have excelled across multiple classes. Outteridgewon the 2011 and 2014 Moth World Championships, With Jensen claiming Bronze in 2017. Outteridge also tried his hand in the Nacra 17 class with his sister Haylee claiming World Championships silver medals in 2018 and 2020 before co-helming Emirates Team New Zealand to an America’s Cup victory in 2024. Together, Outteridge & Jensen competed in SailGPfor the Japanese team, with Nathan helming them to second place finishes in Season 1 and 2, once again with his trusted wingman.
The physicality and technical skill required to compete at the top of 49er sailing, combined with their sustained dominance at World Championships for multiple years, is a testament to their dedication and mastery of the sport.
Beyond their incredible achievements, both Nathan and Iain are admired for their integrity, sportsmanship, and ability to inspire young sailors across Australia.
