Savouring the Trend: Inaugural Edition — Latitude 30, Coffs Harbour
In this first edition of Savouring the Trend, Adam Havryliv and Richard Brennan sit down at Latitude 30 in Coffs Harbour to reflect on the origins of Aussie Turtles and the philosophy behind trend following—over a leisurely lunch of fresh seafood, fine wine, and good conversation.
The Concept
At Aussie Turtles, we’ve always believed the best conversations about markets don’t happen in meeting rooms—they unfold across a table, with good food and, on occasion, some bold wine.
Inspired by Lunch with the FT, Savouring the Trend is our new publication, where we share long-form conversations with systematic trend followers over an enjoyable meal. No pitches. No charts. Just conviction, curiosity, and cuisine.
For our inaugural edition, we turned the lens inward. Rather than interviewing a guest, we—Adam Havryliv and Richard Brennan, co founders of Aussie Turtles—sat down to reflect on what we’ve built, what lies ahead, and why trend following still fires us up.
We met in Coffs Harbour, halfway between our homes in Sydney and Brisbane, for lunch at the aptly named Latitude 30.
The Setting
Overlooking the marina and the Pacific, Latitude 30 is known for its relaxed energy, quality seafood, and a wine list that balances local and European classics. The venue reflects the kind of environment we value in trend following—calm, focused, and quietly world-class.
The Meal
ENTRÉE
Adam: Seared Scallops with celeriac purée, roasted grape salsa, and pistachio dukkah — Bright and well-balanced. The scallops are caramelised just enough to contrast with the sweetness of the grape and the nuttiness of the dukkah.
Richard: Fried Squid with lime–chilli salt — A signature dish, light and crisp, with a touch of citrus and spice that makes the wine sparkle.
Shared: Natural Oysters (6) — Fresh, briny, and cold—served simply on ice. A pure start.
To drink: 2 glasses of Sauvignon Blanc
MAIN
Adam: Whole Baked Snapper — Perfectly cooked, flaky and moist. Served with seasonal greens, it reflects the kind of focus we love in markets—no fuss, just quality and clarity.
Richard: Riverina Rib-Eye Fillet — Juicy, charred, and deeply savoury. Accompanied by roasted root vegetables and a generous pour of red wine jus.
To drink: A glass of Chardonnay for Adam, A glass of Shiraz for Richard
DESSERT
Adam: Mandarin Cheesecake — Zesty and smooth with a nutty biscuit base—bright and unexpectedly refined.
Richard: Salted Caramel & White Chocolate Crème Brûlée — Perfect crack on top, silky centre beneath. Indulgent without being heavy.
To drink: 2 espressos
The Conversation
1. What inspired to you launch Aussie Turtles?
Adam: We launched Aussie Turtles to bring the legendary Turtle trading story into the modern conversation—especially here in Australia, where systematic trading is still underrepresented. Our focus was never nostalgia. It was about taking a rules-based approach, proven in the 1980s, and showing how it still matters today, even amidst all the noise and quant abstraction.
Richard: The results so far have exceeded our expectations. We kicked off with a bang—hosting a Sydney event with original Turtle Jerry Parker, co-hosted by Michael Covel. That set the tone: serious guests, strong conviction, and open access. Since then, the Turtle Talk Podcast has grown into a real platform. We’ve had thoughtful, international guests—from traditional trend followers to newer voices. We also launched the ClassicTrendIndex.com, a curated benchmark for classical trend-following strategies, and track its monthly progress in our Battle of the Indexes feature on aussieturtles.com. The momentum is real.
2. Why publish Savouring the Trend?
Richard: Because the best insights often come over a long lunch—not in a webinar. Savouring the Trend is our way of peeling back the layers and showing the personalities, philosophies, and struggles behind the systems. We want to dig deeper into how managers stay convicted, adapt their rules, and view uncertainty not as a bug—but a feature.
Adam: We’ve both found that real ideas emerge when people aren’t on the clock or tied to a format. No slides, no data decks—just open conversation. During our travels as Aussie Turtles, we’ll sit down with someone who’s had a genuine impact on the space, whether they manage billions or trade
solo. The format lets us step away from performance and talk about process, philosophy, and the emotional side of being systematic.
3. What brought each of the Aussie Turtles into the trend following space?
Richard: I’ve been trading since the late 1980s, but for a long time, consistent profitability felt elusive. That changed when I started digging into the track records of traders who had survived—and thrived—through multiple market regimes. Names like Jerry Parker, Bill Dreiss, and Bill Dunn stood out. Their longevity wasn’t luck. It was process. That’s when I stopped trying to reinvent the wheel and instead chose to stand on the shoulders of giants. I went deep into understanding the philosophy, techniques, and mindset behind those enduring track records. From that point forward, there was no looking back. Trend following gave me the clarity I’d been searching for.
Adam: I’ve spent most of my career searching for an investment approach that could endure across time, volatility, and uncertainty. After stints at Goldman Sachs, Citi, and a global macro hedge fund, I kept coming back to one question: what actually works in the long run? That search led me to trend following. The more I studied it, the more sense it made—not just technically, but psychologically. Along the way, I became fascinated with behavioural finance and even completed postgraduate studies in psychology. Trend following clicked because it respects human nature—it works with it, not against it. In a world obsessed with prediction, it was refreshing to find a strategy built on discipline, humility, and letting the market lead.
4. Who do you hope to have lunch with next?
Adam: The Aussie Turtles are about to head off on their annual migration. Our next stops: Ho Chi Minh City, Zurich, and New York. We’ve lined up meetings with trend followers, quants, and capital allocators in each city. No name drops just yet—but the calibre is high.
Richard: We’re hoping to highlight how systematic trading isn’t just a Western story. From Southeast Asia to Europe to Wall Street, the principles of trend following are being applied in really diverse contexts. That’s something we want to capture—and share.
5. What’s next for Aussie Turtles?
Adam: We’ve just finished writing our first book. It’s not a dry textbook—it’s a story-driven guide to trend following, designed to be accessible but rigorous. It will launch soon on Amazon. We’ve tried to balance the legacy of the Turtles with what’s happening now in global markets.
Richard: We’re also exploring an international trend-following conference. Something intimate and high-conviction—no hedge fund hype, just meaningful dialogue. Ideally hosted in a venue that encourages open thinking (and maybe good wine). We’re scouting now, and we’ll share more soon.
The Final Bill
