David Witt (sailor)

David Neil Witt (born 5 March 1971) is an Australian sailor who has competed in multiple Volvo Ocean Races.

Witt attended Newington College from 1984 until 1989. ^[1]

Sailing career

Born in Sydney, Witt sailed on Innovation Kvaerner during the 1997–98 Whitbread Round the World Race.

Winner of Multiple (unspecified) World Sailing Titles ^[2]

He has appeared in over 20 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races. ^[3] He is the skipper of Scallywag , a 100 ft super maxi which he helped to design. ^[4]

He is the skipper of Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag in the 2017–18 Volvo Ocean Race. ^{[5] [6]}

In 2025 race SHK Scallywag placed third in line honours ^[7] with Witt commenting "I reckon I'm done. [...] That's it for me” after his 27th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

References

1. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 219
2. "Daily Live – Tuesday 16 January - Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18". www.volvooceanrace.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018.
3. "David Witt - Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18". www.volvooceanrace.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017.
4. "Interview of David Witt". www.fragrantharbour.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017.
5. "David Witt to take on the Volvo Ocean Race |". 22 February 2016.
6. "David Witt: Preparing for the Pinnacle >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News". 9 July 2017.
7. "Fast, fleeting and unforgiving: a Hobart decided in hours". 28 December 2025.