The Cutting Edge team have been racing together since 1999. Initially focussed on offshore racing, the team was a mix of experienced sailors and novices who met on a sailing school boat competing in the 1999 Fastnet. 

The young Rob Lutener & Martin Elwood on the 1999 Fastnet 

The first Cutting Edge, a Mills 36, was raced from 2000 with an offshore bias to the program.  Results improved every year culminating in being RORC class 1 champion in 2004.  It was while beating across the Bay of Biscay in 35 knots in the RORC Falmouth to Cascais race that owners Rob Lutener and Martin Elwood decided that it was time for a larger boat!

In 2005 Cutting Edge became a Farr 45 and the emphasis moved from offshore to inshore racing.  Results steadily improved through the 2006 season with the team winning races in the competitive Farr 45 fleet from mid season onwards.

Henri Lloyd started to sponsor the team in 2007 and a great years racing culminated in winning the IRM class at Cowes Week.  However the sight of the TP52s racing in the Solent proved irresistible and the new Cutting Edge for 2008 is an IRC modified TP52, racing with the newest and fastest fleet in the UK. 

The team have also sailed together in other events in other boats including three times in the prestigious Copa del Rey regatta in Palma, Mallorca and the Newport to Bermuda race. A RORC campaign in 2006 on Cutting Edge on Venom, a Volvo 60 saw a first and two seconds in cross channel races leaving the team well placed in the series going into the Round Britain and Ireland race, however a damaged mainsail forced retirement.

Members of the team have also raced in many major offshore races including the Transpac, ARC and Rolex Transatlantic.  In 2006 Cutting Edge’s Mike Lawson was navigator on the winning boat in the Centennial Newport to Bermuda race.