Ben Lowings

I'm Ben, born in Yorkshire, brought up in Devon, with a can-do spirit forged by Radio New Zealand's Pacific broadcasting and honed through years of duty at the BBC World Service. I'm a commercially-endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and Cruising Instructor who began sailing dinghies off Exmouth at an early age. Since then I've raced small boats in 'Windy Wellington' - the Kiwi capital - and delivered yachts all around Europe, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. I'm passionate about sailing and have introduced many people to the sport by teaching Day Skipper and Competent Crew courses for Hamble School of Yachting, as well as instructing for Clipper Race Training in Gosport. In my many articles for the UK and US boating press, I've tried to convey some of my enthusiasm for voyaging under sail, and to investigate some of the wonderful stories of adventure that sailors have created with their lives. I'm a firm believer that although the sea is arguably the most supremely powerful thing humans can experience, there's one thing that's even more mighty: the written word. Wield it with care...