George was born in Scotland in 1942. His father was away at the war and his mother was staying with her mother at 'Angraflat' near Kelso. It was an old hospital, unused since the infroduction of penicillin and the family lived in the lodge near the gate. The old buildings and grounds were a paradise for the young George, and it never bothered him being left on his own. Schooling was at Kelso High School, and he was moderately successful gaining the Higher leaving Certificate in the 6th year. After school he went to the Ferranti company in Edinburgh as a student apprentice but soon discovered that large factories cut off from the outside world were not for him and he started looking for a way out. One of his friends (Archie Howie) started talking about immigrating to Australia and before long they were both applying for assisted passages to Sydney. On an early trip on Sydney harbour George was amazed at the number of yachts enjoying their Sunday sail. A seed was sown that day that matured in a few years' time. 'Dorado', a 35' steel sloop was Georges first yacht, and the next few years were spent learning how to sail and navigate. Short trips became longer voyages, and finally a circumnavigation via the trade wind route. George loved all of that and wanted to keep going, not the same thing again, but a new challenge, the Southern Ocean and Cape Horn. George spent 3 years preparing before setting off on what should have been the achievement of his sailing career. Sadly, bad weather and exhaustion intervened, and 'Dorado' was shipwrecked on Cape Horn Island. Somehow, with a bit of luck and some help from the Chilean Navy George survived this disaster, and now tells the story.
