Nick was brought up on an active Thames spritsail barge on the River Medway, Kent. Following training as an engineer officer cadet with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, he rose through the ranks until medically retired in 1999. Nick married Christobel in 1978 and they soon bought their first boat. Upon leaving the sea, Nick retrained and worked with adults with special needs. During leaves and holiday periods sailing aboard their beloved Whimbrel and walking have been jointly enjoyed. Writing about his childhood spawned a series of coastal books. Sailing and ‘living’ life are his main interests.
When Nick Ardley asked for a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, the aftershocks of a prostate cancer diagnosis were momentous. Frightened, he said he was too young to die. Petrified, he understandably broke down. But all was not lost: his family and the boat shared with his wife were soon at work...