Donald Andrew Robert McKee was born in 1954, lived on the Isle of Arran until he was four and then moved to England. He started sailing when he was 13 on various reservoirs in Derbyshire. He gained experience by sailing in a variety of small dinghies ranging from GP14s up to 505s. After moving to the Isle of Lewis in 1983, he started sailing at sea in 1984 when he acquired a Caprice Mk IV in Stornoway. Donald sailed this small boat ‘Valkyrie’ around the islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides, steadily gaining experience and confidence. Deciding that 'Valkyrie' was too small and too slow, Donald undertook the building of a 22' Wizard design catamaran, the subject of his first book. After retiring in 2004, Donald has busied himself with sailing, making stage props, the Church (where he is a Lay Reader) and cooking.