Nick Ward

Born in Hamble, on the South Coast of England, sailing and all things to do with yachts and boats is in my blood. I enjoyed a 40 year career in the Marine Trade and have worked in or managed six of the marine chandleries on the River Hamble. This work interspersed with yacht delivery, Boat Shows and racing yachts and dinghies of most types, both in inshore waters and offshore. My life (apart from family, was defined by two life changing events, The first a brain haemorrhage aged 15, and then at the age of 23 I participated in the disastrous and infamous Fastnet Race of 1979, a race which was a sea change in yacht design and safety equipment. I was the last living person plucked from the Cetic sea at 21:15 on 14th August 1979, the race claimed many lives including those of my skipper and a cremate. I did not talk of the visceral happenings of that day, until 25 years later, in 2004 I was approached by Sinead O'Brien and together we had published ' Left for Dead.' First by Adlard Coles Nautical,’Part of the Bloomsbury group of publishing house. The book is available in all formats here at Amazon, includes Kindle & Audible versions. It is available in six other languages too. I was overwhelmed by the reaction to Left For Dead, as the book won several awards, including The Sunday Times Sports Book of the year in 2008 & runner up in The William Hill Sports Book of the year, also in 2008. I was fortunate enough to participate in, and Finish another Fastnet Race in 2009, 30 years after my first attempt, this closed the loop and with the book were cathartic experiences. Lately, having retired, I have taken to writing fiction and you will see two of these books here too. I hope that you enjoy reading both Left For Dead and my other titles. Nick, July, 2020 Videos from l to r Finally after 30 years I get to finish a Fastnet Race! Extremely emotional but cathartic too the book was republished with a new and final chapter. Series of videos produced for Bloomsbury this one the very first ‘to camera’ I’d done Video of Grimalkin competing in a Round the Island Race in 2007 as you’ll see she is competitive still. Then An interview with Steve Sleight after a day’s racing during ‘Cowes Week’ Steve was very understanding and sadly I have to report his death, he’s missed, RIP Steve. Also you will see a German language version for ‘Allein mit dem Tod’-Eineverschwiegene Tragodie vom Fastnet Race 1975 an imprint and translation by Delius Klasing My Second Marine fiction novel ‘Let The Games Begin(book 2) has been published and is available in both paperback & Kindle versions.BK1&2 are available together, in one volume. Nick 26/12/2020