SHORT FACTS

Age: 34
Born: Fremantle, Western Australia
Lives in: Malmö, Sweden
Nationality: Australian

Biography

Simon Pattullo isn’t much of a mobile phone fan these days. “I can’t even be bothered to send an SMS most times,” he laughs. But he’s on the verge of a career change, and he’s expecting to use communication anytime, anywhere, and any way as soon as he becomes a property and real estate agent.

Pattullo has been building more boats than it seems his 34 years should allow. But he got his start right after high school, urged on by his father. “My father was in the Navy so through his contacts, I got an apprenticeship in Perth, Australia.”

He started on crews building luxury yachts and thus says the sailing bug never got to him, but the craftsmanship of creating a winning racing boat is fulfilling.

The boat-building career has taken him from Australia to Spain, Denmark and Sweden, where he has lived since 2001. He has a wife, a 15-year old stepson, a one-year old daughter and another child expected in July.

“We’ve been busy,” he admits with a grin. When he’s not laminating, building plugs, making molds or painting the Ericsson 4, Pattullo likes to go go-carting or to the laserdome with the family.

Family is clearly a directional force in Pattullo’s life. Again, it’s the hand of his father guiding him to the next step in his life. “My family has been in real estate in Australia for many years. When my father died, my brother inherited the company and now he’s retiring, so it’s my turn,” explains Pattullo.

And after the Ericsson 4 is completed and launched and he’s back in Australia, he’ll have a new perspective about mobile connectivity. “The mobile phone will probably be my most important tool, but I still won’t SMS,” he vows. “I’d rather talk.”

PREVIOUS PROJECTS

Two Victory Challenge boats for America’s Cup (2005-2007)
Swedish Match 40s: 16 boats and 1 prototype
Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4.