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Overview

  • 26 references 16 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English; learning French, Pashto, Pushto, Spanish
  • 40, Male
  • Member since 2010
  • Soldier (retired), Sailor - Captain of the land and sea
  • On the battlefields of Afghanistan and in the waters of t...
  • From London
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

Occupation: Circumnavigator

ABOUT ME

I've left the Army after a very interesting and fulfilling 5 years in which I really felt I made a difference. I've done everything from taking part in the largest heliborne assault since Vietnam to opening a girls' school in Nad e Ali and seen everything in between. But after 5 years it was time to move on before I became a "lifer".

I sold my flat and most of my possessions and bought a small sailing boat on which I sailed half way around the world with friends and couchsurfers making up the crew. I then returned to Europe and got a job as a Superyacht Captain. So ironically, my job title is the same as the Army but the view from my office window is VERY different. And the food is much better and there's not so much noise.

PHILOSOPHY

Freedom of speech and expression is fundamental to my world philosophy. As Voltaire said, "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it". The irony is of course that I took this phrase almost literally and returned to a country where someone can be arrested for a "speech crime".

I don't define my personal philosophy on the political spectrum as both left and right are hypocritical disasters, at least in my country. I'm happiest living on a boat or in a motorhome (a land yacht) and I try to structure my life to have as little involvement with the system as possible. I believe in personal responsibility and personal freedom

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've hosted people on my boat in Barcelona and taken couchsurfers as crew on voyages. I've recently hired a bunch of couchsurfers as casual delivery crew onboard the Superyacht and it's worked out very well - all reliable hardworking guys who are welcome back any time. I've done CS meetups and I hope to meet local people on my travels....

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Great so far!

Interests

Quite a lot - outdoor pursuits, good food and drink, freedom, backgammon - I can usually be interested in anything if the person telling me about it is passionate enough - that's how I heard about couchsurfing!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Fought a war...sailed across an ocean...opened a school

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach sailing, backgammon, survival skills, and a few other things I've picked up a long the way...

Countries I’ve Visited

Afghanistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Old School Badges

  • 2 Vouches

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