Discover how and why we decided to sell everything on land and travel around the world on our 56′ sailboat. Introducing the crew of Britican.
Introducing Britican’s Crew
But before you meet the crew, are you wondering where the name Britican came from? As you’ll soon discover, Britican’s Captain is BRITish, Britican’s 1st Mate is amerICAN, and Britican’s Deck Hand is both.
Simon Brown – Britican’s Captain
Born in Kensington, London, England in 1966, Simon Brown entered the world in the same hospital that Jimmy Hendrix died in. Unfortunately, his association with the legend had no influence on his musical abilities. Being tone-deaf, Simon joined the army after school and enjoyed posts in Cyprus, Germany, and the Falkland Islands. His very first sailing experience was during his service. A superior officer asked him if he’d like to move a sailboat from Poole, England to Kiel, Germany, and his response was ‘yes’. After being storm bound twice and sailing in a Force 8, he was hooked for life.
After 6 years in the Army, Simon took a job in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England working for the HM Prison Service. Ironically, Aylesbury is the furthest town away from the English coast. While at the prison, Simon taught under 18’s physical education.
In 2010, Simon left the prison to become a full-time dad to look after his beautiful new daughter, Sienna Maddison Brown. When discussing Simon’s employment experiences he notes that ‘being a full-time dad is the hardest job I’ve ever had.’ Not long after Sienna’s birth, the Browns purchased their first yacht, a 346 Moody and their sailing expeditions took off.
Kim Brown – Britican’s 1st Mate
Starting life in 1974, Kim Brown was born in Rochester, New York. Growing up on Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence Seaway, Kim enjoyed boating and sailing from an early age. Up until the age of 14, she thought sailboats were a waste of time. She enjoyed the speed of her motorboat and the thrill of tubing, kneeboarding, and skiing. She then met a boy that liked to sail. The rest is history.
After attending SUNY Geneseo, Kim moved to San Francisco where she eventually met her British Prince at an Irish bar. One year later, she moved to Aylesbury and married Simon Brown. That was in 1998.
Aside from going on annual flotilla holidays with Sunsail, Kim and Simon didn’t get serious about sailing until they purchased Selene, a 346 Moody in 2011. Moored on the south coast of England, in Port Solent, the Browns were able to increase their sailing skills by practicing in one of the busiest waterways in the world – The Solent.
To read more about crew member, Kim Brown, read her full biography.
Sienna Maddison Brown – Deck Hand
On May the 3rd, 2010, Sienna Maddison Brown was born at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, England. Being conceived by an American mother and British father, Sienna graced this world with dual nationality. Her very first experience of boats was at the 2010 Southampton Boat show where she enjoyed the surroundings of a 57.5′ Oyster. At the time, little did the Browns know that their future included the purchase of a 56′ Oyster!
Aside from Sienna’s sailing debut on one of the classiest boats in existence, she was dragged along on most weekends for an adventure on the family boat, Selene, a 346 Moody. When she was a baby, a crew member (mom) would hold her while in the cockpit, and luckily she would go down for naps in the aft cabin. As she got older, Sienna could be found helming, eating, or playing with toys below.
The Crew
Find out what made the crew on Britican leave land and hit the seas here: Saying Screw It To My Life!