Having been a dinghy sailor since his early years and transferred to yachts on joining the Royal Navy in 1971, James became a professional yacht skipper in 2004 after taking early retirement from the service in the rank of Commander in 2001 and running a business for a few years.

Qualified as both a Yachtmaster Ocean and a Yachtmaster Instructor, James has undertaken a broad mix of tasks that range from school-based Instruction (ashore and on the water) to Trans Ocean Delivery and has logged more than 50,000 miles in yachts over his lifetime.

As a professional, he has undertaken 4 Caribbean seasons involving instruction, deliveries, charters and project management, completed 5 Atlantic crossings and 3 circumnavigations of the British Isles interspersed with a mix of other services provided that have taken him across the Mediterranean and up to Scandinavia.

Most recently James has been the full time skipper of NIMROD of DARTMOUTH, a Dehler 47 and has logged nearly 20,000 miles in her alone. During this employment, he delivered a Fastnet campaign incorporating three RORC qualifying races as well as the main event.

James is a mature and intelligent individual with a ready smile and a happy tolerant nature. He likes to operate a 'no blame culture' and encourages his clients to be involved in all aspects of managing and sailing a boat so that they get the maximum benefit from his services.