He is also a 49er sailor. Together with Teague Czislowski, he came second in that class at the 1999 World Championships to Chris Nicholson and Editor Smyth. Nicholson and Phillips eventually finished sixth.
He was injured in April 2007 while with Emirates Team New Zealand, and was replaced by Mark Mendelblatt.
He is from a sailing family. His father Ken Beashel is a sailor and boat builder in Sydney.
He and Lanee have two young sons, born in 2008 and 2009.
He is best known for being part of Team New Zealand at the 2003 America"s Cup and strategist for Emirates Team New Zealand at the 2007 America"s Cup. He and Czislowski won the national selection process for the 2000 Olympics in the 49er class, but the Australian Yachting Federation instead nominated Nicholson and Daniel Phillips for the sole spot at the Olympics as they were considered better possibilities for a medal. His brother Colin is an Olympic medal winning sailor who crewed on Australia II in 1983.
