Gordon Percy

I have been involved in boats since the age of 11, when I first learnt to sail. I started to race dinghies, and having completed my RYA Instructors certificate at 16, taught sailing at a local sailing school during the school holidays. I first got involved in ‘real’ yachting in 1985, when I joined as a deckhand – a 35m, gaff rigged, top-mast schooner, which was having a refit in Singapore. We were a crew of 14, as the only power assistance we had was the anchor windless; changed days!

During this span of 20 years I have sailed in all types of yachts from small to big, power to sail, and slow and fast. I have no idea how many tens of thousands of miles I have sailed in this time, but feel fortunate in having had the opportunity to see so many wonderful and diverse places.

There is no doubt that a yacht is by far the best way to travel, and no doubt it can be one of the most interesting and challenging careers that one can find.