Born in Exeter and bought up on the River Exe, Mark Fishwick began sailing at an early age and soon ventured further to explore the rivers, creeks and harbours of the West country in his parent's 18ft 6 in Alacrity sloop vallette. He moved to Cornwall in 1973 soon after buying his present boat, the 34ft 1910 gaff yawl Temptress, and since then has enjoyed a varied nautical life encompassing commercial fishing, charter skippering in the West Indies, yacht delivery, boatyard work, writing, photography and just occasionally sailing for fun! He has now returned to his roots and lives within sight of the River Exe, close to Lympstone.