Andrew Simpson (left) with Iain
Percy
Iain Percy has
paid tribute to his lifelong friend Andrew Simpson, who has died in a training
accident.
Simpson, 36, won gold in the
Star class with Percy at the 2008 Olympics and silver at last year's
Games.
Known as Bart, he was killed when the catamaran he was aboard capsized during
training for the America's Cup.
“The only solace I can find is that he died
doing something which he loved”
Ben Ainslie
"Yesterday I lost my closest friend of over 25 years,
the friendliest, kindest man I have ever met, I cannot believe he is no longer
with us," said Percy.
"Now all our thoughts should be with his wife and two amazing boys who meant
the world to him.
"Andrew has more friends than anyone and we will continue to support his
family with all our hearts."
Simpson was one of an 11-man crew on board the catamaran in San Francisco
Bay. He was trapped underneath when it capsized and did not respond to efforts
to revive him using CPR.
The Surrey-born sailor was preparing for this year's America's Cup with
Swedish entry Artemis Racing, where Percy is the sailing team chief.
Simpson, who had only recently joined Artemis, switched his focus to the
America's Cup, a race where multi-million pound syndicates use cutting-edge
design and technology, after the Star class
Four-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie grew up sailing with Simpson, who
became his training partner for his 2004 Athens Olympics campaign.
"This is such a tragedy," said Ainslie. "Andrew was such
a wonderful husband, father, friend and one of the nicest people you would ever
meet.
"The only solace I can find is that he died doing something which he loved. I
have such fond memories of growing up sailing together as kids and then as
adults. I will miss him so much. My thoughts and prayers are with Leah, their
two boys and their family."
Britain's Royal Yachting Association performance director John Derbyshire
also paid tribute to Simpson.
He said: "Bart was one of the top sailors. He was a really nice guy."
"It's a really big shock, totally unexpected. These are big powerful boats
but you don't associate them with fatalities. It's very sad."
Derbyshire, who coached Simpson, Percy and Ainslie as teenagers, added: "Iain
[Percy] is the boss of the sailing team and I'm sure he's absolutely devastated.
"Bart was diplomatic, softly spoken. He loved the sport, everything about it,
and had become part of our Olympic steering group and was trying to give
something back with experience so he's really going to be missed."
The capsized Artemis catamaran
Artemis Racing chief executive Paul Cayard said the team's thoughts were with
Simpson's family.
Cayard said: "Our prayers are with Andrew Simpson's family, his wife and
kids, and also the rest of my team-mates.
"It's a shocking experience to go through, and we have a lot to deal with in
the next few days in terms of assuring everybody's well being."
The British Olympic Association praised Simpson's contribution to sailing, as
well as his personality.
Their statement said: "Andrew was a treasured and accomplished member of Team
GB, both at the home Olympics in London 2012, where he won silver with childhood
friend Iain Percy in the Star class, and at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games,
where he won the gold medal also sailing alongside Iain.
"Andrew's talent and humour was an inspiration to others and he will be
sorely missed by the Olympic family."
Tim Jeffrey, a spokesman for the America's Cup, was a long-time friend of
Simpson.
Team GB sailing boss Stephen Park: "These America's Cup boats
are very high-powered, the loads on them are
huge"
He told BBC Radio 5 live: "He was the heart and soul of the British sailing
team. He lifted the spirit of a large group because he was happy.
"I remember some of the photo shoots ahead of the Olympics where the
photographer wanted the guys to look mean and moody and portray synthetic
aggression and he just couldn't do that. He was a perpetual grinner. He was
given an extra large happy gene."
Royal Yachting Association Olympic manager Stephen Park said: "Andrew was a
fantastic sailor who got the best out of everyone he sailed with.
"He was much loved and will be sorely missed by everyone in our close-knit
team."
Great Britain shooting gold medallist Peter Wilson is from the same Dorset
town as Simpson and told BBC South: "Since the Olympics we'd formed an Olympic
bond - we had shared this opportunity and incredible Olympic journey which most
people don't really know what you're going through, but Andrew did.
"He was a hero in the local area - he hoped to just inspire a few - it's
very, very sad for the world - we've lost an incredible sporting icon."
Sir Clive Woodward, British Olympic Association director of sport at London
2012, was another to "Totally
shocked to hear Olympic star Andrew 'Bart' Simpson died after Swedish America's
Cup catamaran capsizes - thoughts with his family."
Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "Saddened by death of Olympic sailor
Andrew Simpson. My thoughts are with his family and team mates at this tragic
time."
Percy & Simpson lose Star gold to Sweden
Analysis
Andrew 'Bart' Simpson was an inspirational figure within the GB sailing team, a big man with a steely determination and focus, dedicated to his sport, but hugely encouraging of team mates, and possessed of a beaming smile.
The gold medal he won at the Beijing Games with lifelong friend Iain Percy was seen as just reward for his talents and his commitment. They worked brilliantly together. Once, when stormy conditions snapped their boom in a race in 2011, bringing down the mast, the pair improvised and held the sail up at arms length, still managing to finish in the top ten.
They narrowly failed to defend their Olympic title, a massive disappointment, but they were typically gracious in settling for silver