Preparing an item for the Voyaging column in Yachting World Magazine, on Starship, anchored in Traitor's Bay, Hiva Oa, 1993.

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Much of my writing springs from personal interest and practical experience in amateur boatbuilding and cruising, combined with my background in professional engineering, amateur radio,  and now (2006) 25 years experience as a technical writer. My first decade of writing  involved quite a deal of field testing and reviewing of boats and gear, working as technical editor for a magazine group in Sydney (Australian Boating, and Cruising Skipper magazines among others), but I became completely freelance before we set off on our circumnavigation in Starship. My "Practicalities" series of articles (initially commissioned by Yachting World magazine) is now in its 12th year and includes over 100 articles delving into technology and innovation in yachting gear and equipment, worldwide. Articles from this series have been published in many countries, and some even translated into French, German, and Italian (see list ). Closer to home for the past decade my growing interest in electronics has spun off into writing the Electronics Column for Modern Boating magazine.

Acknowledgement

I 'm very grateful to the many sailing friends, acquaintances, and even complete strangers who have, and still do share their practical experiences with me, and in many instances permit me to photograph details of their boats to illustrate my articles. It's not often  possible in magazine articles to include direct references to when and where a particular photo was taken, or to credit folk who have contributed ideas to my research. There are many others who have helped in similar ways over the years,  but  I would particularly like to acknowledge the contributions over many years  of Max and Sandy on Volo, Ruth and Jenno on Heckau, Jim and Anne on Insatiable II, Steve and Linda on Beowulf, Tony on Freedom, John and De on Innisfree (now on Sotalia), Raud on Little Wing, Peter and Joan on Downunder, Jon and Roxanna on Xaxero, John and Jenny on Burramys, Mike and Di on Pangolin, Frank on Swagman, Keith Thiele on Spitfire, and  Ley and  Niel on Crystal Blues .Thank you all.

*I adopted the  "Aussie" nickname  to distinguish myself from the editor of Yachting World magazine, who is also an Andrew Bray. This began as practical measure  when I started writing regularly for that magazine in 1992 (initially as their voyaging columnist and then contributing a practical article most months until 1998) and has stuck since.   Sometimes my work appears under the pseudonym " Aubrey Gowen"  -  which were my father's  given names.

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