Old Sea Dogs grew from Michael's lifelong love of boating culture: the people, vessels, ports, clubs, yards, and sea stories that make the marine world so endlessly interesting.
Around Cowes and the Solent, Michael is often found at the Island Sailing Club, Island Harbour Sailing Club, or out on the water in his Ribeye RIB. His boating life began in 1997 with a Sunseeker Martinique on the Hamble, close to the Jolly Sailor, and it has carried him through years of cruising, learning, writing, and meeting good people around the waterfront.
He holds RYA Practical Day Skipper, Shorebased Day Skipper for Sail and Power Craft, and Powerboat Level 2 qualifications, and is also a certified PADI diver. Those practical experiences shape the tone of Old Sea Dogs: knowledgeable, curious, direct, and written for people who love boats whether they are already afloat or still dreaming from shore.
Michael has sailed the Ionian many times, aboard both monohulls and multihulls, and continues to follow the stories that connect sailors, owners, builders, crews, clubs, and ports across the wider boating world.