Andrew Simpson > Biography
I was born in India during the Second World War. After the family was repatriated to the UK six years later, I was launched on a somewhat eccentric educational path that, in 1953, landed me on the deck of the training ship Mercury, then moored on the Hamble River. A few weeks short of my seventeenth birthday, I was off to sea in the Merchant Navy – a career I pursued with considerable enjoyment until 1962.
First married in 1968, with son Angus making his surprise appearance, I started designing and building boats. In 1974, after the miners' strike that did so much damage to emerging businesses like my own, my then wife and I sailed our trimaran Whisky Jack to the United States with the children (now including Claire) following by air. We lived and worked in Texas, during which time I was a contributor to various American yachting magazines. In 1978 I was divorced and, some months later, met Chele who has been my wife, friend, and most agreeable sailing companion ever since. Shortly afterwards, we sailed to the West Indies where we dallied for nearly a year.
Chele had never been to Europe, which seemed a good enough reason to return to the UK in 1979. We settled on the South Coast where we're still based when not cruising European waters. Angus has since taken over the boat building business while I continue to write and design. For six years I was Associate Editor of Practical Boat Owner – Britain's most widely read sailing magazine. I have also written a number of books and radio plays – the latter under the nom-de-plume Andrew Lind.
During our travels, our 39' cutter Shindig is both our floating home and working base. To follow our travels, hit the News button above or the email link below.