Illawarra real estate agent, Wollongong’s Ty Oxley and owner of One Agency Oxley Property Group will be part of the Perpetual Loyal crew for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race this Boxing Day.
A former professional sailor, Ty has sailed and competed in ten Sydney to Hobart yacht races and has been on the winning crew twice, once on Perpetual Loyal in 2011.
“I left Wollongong when I was 16 years old, and followed my dream of sailing career on the race circuit in Italy and France,” he says. “Ocean racing is in my blood, there’s nothing better than flying down the coast in the middle of the night, surfing down waves and hoping not to get wiped out! The thrill is amazing.”
It’s a busy time of year for Ty, who opened his real estate business earlier this year (2015) but he’s hoping to have most of his work done by the time the starting cannon fires in Sydney Harbour on December 26th.
As an engineer for Sydney to Hobart line honours contender Perpetual Loyal, the Illawarra real estate agent will make sure that all the systems are in place, trouble-shoot any issues, as well as helping set the 100-foot maxi on the right course.
A team environment is key to a successful sail, we have to pull together, and remain focused and committed to the end goal.
As part of the Loyal Foundation Sydney to Hobart team, he’s keen for a third Sydney to Hobart success, after previously winning on Nicorette in 2004 and Investec Loyal in 2011 and coming in second in 2010 and 2013. Last year, with the wind in their sails taking them briefly to first position ahead of their competitors, their yacht sustained damage to the hull and was forced to withdraw.
Former Australian Test cricket captain Michael Clarke joins the celebrity element of the crew this year, and South Coast surfer Sally Fitzgibbons braved the challenge last year, while AFL, rugby league and rugby union talent have been part of the crew previously.
Celebrity star power plays a vital role in the charitable fund-raising by Perpetual Loyal and they’ve raised more than $4 million for children’s charity the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.
The opportunity to raise funds at the same time as getting back out in the ocean swell, tempted him back to ocean racing, after taking time out to focus on other career pursuits.
Oxley also spent seven years serving in the armed forces, starting as an apprentice diesel mechanic, he became a dedicated skipper to the army yacht ‘The Gun Runner’. The skills he gained in leadership and teamwork are proving invaluable in his role as a director of One Agency Oxley Property Group. He’s a licensed real estate agent who has returned to his home turf of the Illawarra, bringing a wealth of experience from his life on the high seas.
“A team environment is key to a successful sail, we have to pull together, and remain focused and committed to the end goal. The same thing goes for real estate sales. It’s surprising how many sailing and military skills I can draw on to help me in my work as a Real Estate Agent,” he said.
“If I’ve done my job properly, most of my work is done by the time we get to the start line,” he said. “It’s the same with property. Preparation for market prior to the first open for inspection is a bit like running a Formula One car, having all the systems and instruments ready to take off to win the race. With a property, once the vendors and the home are prepared and ready to show, with a well planned marketing campaign in place, I’ll do plenty of navigating and steering to guide us to negotiating the best price.”
Why would you choose anyone else to navigate the high seas and unexpected weather of the property market for you? We wish Ty and the crew of the Perpetual Loyal, the best of luck in bringing in a third victory this year.
If you’re an Illawarra local, then head down to Flagstaff Point, where you should have a good vantage point of the passing yachts on Boxing Day, and cheer them on to a win!
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