Despite being London born and Hertfordshire bred the family ties and a seafaring ancestry of professional seamen were strong enough calls to draw Andy to all forms of boating.  Supported by his family, friends and the Scouting Association he was never away from the water for long.

With a first Channel crossing at 10 years and an early introduction to the delights of moules et frites it was a foregone conclusion that cruising would be a great attraction despite the resulting explosion of horror from his father after using the seawater tap to make early morning tea whilst moored in St Peter Port fish dock.

After School he shipped on as crew with Peter Haward’s Yacht delivery company and took off for a year delivering yachts. Many adventures were had. Some great, some frightening, but all enhancing.

A feeling of guilt drove Andy to look for a proper job and he joined Brighton Marina in 1977 as it was being constructed. Benefiting from it’s desire to allow their marina trainees to experience all facets of the marine industry from marina management to boatyard work and brokerage. Even demonstrating the NEW Westerly Centaur!

Brighton Marina had some growing pains to experience and with the impatience of youth he set off to join the National Sailing Centre (now UKSA), which was then one of the nation’s Centres of Sporting Excellence managed by many now exulted sailing figures. The experience, fun, friends and freedom that he enjoyed there have stood him in good stead ever since.

Racing inevitably reared its competitive head and Andy enjoyed sailing with many experienced and successful skippers on well respected and regarded yachts, from J’s, Sigma’s, Solings, 101’s , Ton cup raters and many more.
One of the highest points was being handed the keys to the 40’ Silver Apple for a Solent season and told to get on with it. Declining to say whether he covered himself with glory he had a whale of a time. Having passed the apprenticeship and worked his way aft from foredeck to cockpit as age and girth have increased.  He now finds himself drifting towards the companionway!

In addition to the above, he participated in the renovation of, lived onboard and skippered a 1908 Whitstable Oyster smack, he worked as a self employed yacht demonstrator and rigger as well as being employed by the then J. Boats Ltd. This provided the fastest of learning curves, with plenty of variety and experience in a very short time.

Having enjoyed a varied but rather unfocused career, Andy took himself off to Southampton to attend the Yacht and Boatyard Management course.

In 1983 he joined up with Peter Poland at Hunter Boats. Andy progressed to Sales Manager dealing with the Hunter, Landau, and the Van de Stadt, Dehler range. All well found and highly regarded boats.

The death of Peter’s business partner saw Hunter Boats join with Cornish Crabbers to form the Select Yacht Group. With a long  held interest and membership of the Old Gaffers Association Andy welcomed the opportunity to work with these respected craft.

In due course Andy moved on to develop other business interests before joining Michael Schmidt & Partner International Yacht Brokers as Manager at Hamble Point Marina.