Andy Lock
What do you do? I am a freelance skipper/instructor on sailing & motor yachts. As a sailing instructor I work for Devon Sailing, Dart Harbour Sea School & Devon Yacht Charters. I deliver brand new Princess and Sunseeker luxury motor yachts from Plymouth and Poole to ports around Europe for onward shipping on container ships to owners all over the world. I also deliver new sailing yachts of all sizes to the Med and Caribbean for a company called Professional Yacht Deliveries Worldwide.
Are you a local? Yes, I am a born and bred Dartmothian. I went to Primary School here and Secondary School in Torquay.
When did you start sailing? I started sailing at the age of seven with the Dartmouth Yacht Club juniors and moved into dinghy racing with the Royal Dart Yacht Club.
In my teens I worked for Chay Blyth who had his base on a barge in the middle of the River Dart, and I helped maintain yachts such as British Steel 2, GB III and GBIV and Naomi Jame’s Express Crusader. I also worked at the Gunfield Hotel as a dinghy sailing instructor for a few summers.
Have you always lived in Dartmouth? No, I moved away to college in London and became a Management Accountant. I then passed selection for the Special Forces branch of the Army, travelling all over the world. After that, I joined British Telecom as Regional Manager for the South West & South Wales, based in Bristol. Last year an opportunity arose to leave BT and I decided to turn my sailing hobby into a career and move back to Dartmouth.
What do you like best about your job? I love being outdoors and being on the water. I get to meet people from all walks of life and introduce them to a great recreational activity and improve the skills of leisure users on the water.
What do you do in your spare time? For the last six years I have been a volunteer Fireman and Driver on the steam trains running on the South Devon Railway which runs from Buckfastleigh to Totnes alongside the River Dart. I also enjoy lots of sports like running, tennis, kayaking, mountain climbing and snow boarding.
Dartmouth Sailing Horizons: Tel: 07515 505950
First Published September 2008 By The Dart