Maggie Adamson

Coming from the Shetland Islands, Maggie has a seafaring and musical heritage. She started sailing at age 3 with her uncle and joined the Lerwick Boating Club at 11. Initially in Mirror’s, moving on to Lasers and Fireballs.

In high school she competed in national Laser events and joined RYA Scotland’s Laser Squad. She represented Scotland in the 2008 youth world championships in Croatia and the 2010 Laser Radial Youth World Championship in Largs while studying violin at the Scottish Conservatoire.

Her musical journey started at age 8. Maggie was a member of the Scottish Children’s Orchestra and Youth Orchestra as well as Scottish Fiddle Champion. She participated in the Fireball European and world championships in 2013 and 2014.

After earning her B.Mus in violin performance in 2015, Maggie volunteered on Shetland’s heritage sail training ship, the Swan - a 120-year-old, locally built wooden ketch. She worked her way up to skipper over 7 seasons. In 2020, she achieved the level of Ocean Yachtmaster, and in 2022, she was awarded Sail Trainer of the Year at the Tall Ships International Awards.

In 2019, Double handed mixed offshore racing was proposed for the 2024 Olympics. Responding to the RYA’s appeal for interest led to online coaching with Hugh Styles, and an introduction to Gavin Howe, Tigris and RORC.

Gavin and Maggie sailed in the RORC series -the Fastnet 2021, Round Britain and Ireland 2022. Most recently receiving the RORC Transatlantic double handed trophy in 2024. Maggie also enjoys crewed events notably the middle sea race and the Caribbean 600.

Maggie competed in the Nastro Rosa Figaro series in Italy. In 2021 sailing with Gavin in the Mixed Double handed Offshore Worlds and Europeans. In 2022 Maggie and Calanach teamed up to compete at the Nastro Rosa Veloce and were placed 1st mixed boat. Returning to Italy in 2023 they were placed 3rd in the world championships.

Alongside sailing, she continues to perform and teach fiddle locally, nationally, and internationally, and has been a crew member of the RNLI Lerwick Lifeboat since 2019.