Born on 11 July 1974, Jonny Malbon graduated from Greenwich University. A sailing, kayak and windsurf instructor, he worked alongside Chay Blyth on the Global Challenge, where he was in charge of crew training.
He spent many years as a boat captain for Mike Golding, Ellen MacArthur, Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson, which gave him a deep knowledge of IMOCA 60s. In 2005 he sailed the Oryx Quest as crew with Brian Thompson aboard the catamaran Doha 2006.
He then became skipper of the IMOCA Artemis Ocean Racing and started the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe aboard Artemis Ocean Racing II, designed by Simon Rodger. After hitting a whale, he retired near New Zealand because of severe mainsail damage.
