Nic Compton is a writer/photographer specialising in all things nautical. He is also an experienced sailor, having sailed thousands of miles in a variety of craft – most recently from the UK to Greece via the French canals in his own 33-footer.

After an idyllic childhood living on boats in the Mediterranean, Nic returned to the UK at age 14 to complete his formal education, including A Levels at Falmouth School and a BA in English at Exeter University. After a decade or so working as a journeyman shipwright, he studied Journalism at City University, eventually fetching up at the offices of Classic Boat magazine in land-locked Croydon. He was deputy editor and then editor of the magazine from 1996 to 2000. That was when he gave up the security of the monthly pay packet for the vagaries of freelance life.

Since then he has travelled the world as a writer/photographer, contributing to a variety of magazines, and has written 20 books, mostly about boats and the sea. In 2010 he completed an MA in Global Political Economy at Sussex University, and co-wrote two books about economics. He currently lives near Totnes in Devon and sails a 33ft Freedom cat ketch currently based in Greece.