In "real life" Simon is a Chaplain in the Royal Navy, currently serving at HMS RALEIGH, the Royal Navy's new entry training establishment. His previous job was as Chaplain to 40 Commando Royal Marines, a job that took him half way round the world. Simon's wife Carol is a Canadian by birth, and they have three children: paul (15), Sarah (13) and Mary (8).

Simon says that his next job will be at sea probably -he hopes for a ship that goes over the Atlantic so he can get in his first trip to the USA.

The Tiger Moon, the Jeanneau 34.2 is owned by his brother and Simon and they charter out of Plymouth (UK) - she is berthed just a few hundred yards from the Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrim Fathers began their voyage to the New World.

Simon's favorite sailing area is the Helford River, just south of Falmouth. Simon says that it is relatively unspoiled notwithstanding the many moorings in the lower reaches (the upper sections of the river are free of moorings and anchorages due to the extensive oyster beds). Simon recounts how he had a happy couple of days there earlier this year (2000), and they were delighted to share the river with a couple of dolphins which played around the boat as they left. Magic!

Simon offers his top safety tip: "Check your auto or semi-auto lifejackets. I now use a combined harness and life jacket more and more often when sailing - perhaps it's age creeping up on me - and use a safety line more often than not , especially when sailing with inexperienced crews, after all I know I can get them back on board if they fall over the side; but what if I fall over? By the way, over the past 12 months I have test inflated (i.e. by mouth) 35 jackets of various types and found that: one had no gas cylinder; two had a loose cylinder; three would not stay inflated. This gives an approximately one in six chance of a life jacket working - still confident in your kit?"

Simon in South Africa in 1997 (with beard)

There are more pictures of Tiger Moon at www.springnuts.freeserve.co.uk/thumbs.htm