Formed in 2002 by Norman Wijker and Mark Bishop, Team Invictus is a Bristol-based team comprising a number of talented professionals from the aerospace and sailing worlds, who share a common vision to produce a highly efficient, exceptional and original craft to win in the next Little America’s Cup Challenge. The team has grown in capacity following Airbus UK's sponsorship with the help of both experienced and graduate aerospace engineers, and with that growth has come the expansion of skills and knowledge. Within the team, there is now a whole range of specialities from project management to expertise in aero/hydrodynamics and stress engineering
Norman Wijker and Mark Bishop
Norman Wijker and Mark Bishop are the main force behind Invictus. They lead the team in design and manufacture of Invictus II. They have extensive experience as stress engineers and have been working for many years for the leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus on projects such as A340 and the new Superjumbo A380. Both Mark and Norman are keen sailors.
John Downey
John Downey is a pivotal member of the team. A Concorde pilot and retired captain for British Airways, John is also a keen sailor. He has successfully sailed Tornado Catamarans at Olympic level and led the British challenge for the 1987 Little America's Cup with his catamaran The Hinge.
Paul Larsen and Helena Darvelid
Paul Larsen and Helena Darvelid are the team's professional sailors. Paul is a leading sailor on the world circuit, he has won the Transatlantic Jacques Varbes Race in 2002 and has recently participated in the Around-the-world ORYX Quest race. Helena had sailed with Tracy Edwards in a global race series and holds several sailing records as well as having been voted Swedish Yachtswoman of the year. Paul and Helena are heading a project, SailRocket, to compete in the Outright World speed sailing record.
