catamaran he was aboard capsized
during training for the America's Cup.
"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 was dropped from the
2016 Olympic Games in Rio
de Janeiro.
Four-time Olympic champion Ben
Ainslie grew up sailing with Simpson,
who became his training partner for
his 2004 Athens Olympics campaign.
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