Lee Pratt

Lee Pratt was born in New York City in 1930 and grew up in Arizona and California. He served with the U. S. Army in Korea, and was granted an M.A. in Telecommunications and Film by San Diego State University.

He acquired his love of boats and sailing when, as a teen-ager, he learned to sail in Lightning class sloops on Casco Bay in Maine. As an adult living in San Diego, he purchased a Crealock 37 rigged as a cutter/yawl. He became skilled enough at handling Sea Wyf that he was able to sail her single-handed in San Diego Bay and off shore in moderate conditions.

He and his wife Connie made several voyages from San Diego to Catalina Island.

When they moved to Santa Barbara they sailed Sea Wyf to her new home port in Ventura Harbor. From there they enjoyed many voyages to Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands. After giving them many years of pleasure, Sea Wyf was sold, and is now on a round-the-world voyage with her new owner.

His novel The Yachtjacking is based in part on a delivery voyage from La Paz, Baja California to San Diego, on which he served as crew aboard a 52-foot sloop.

Lee was a founding member of Flotilla 16-1 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in San Diego. He served in the Auxiliary for five years, reaching the rank of Flotilla Vice-Commander. As Public Relations Officer, he arranged for local television coverage of an Auxiliary sailing vessel towing a disabled powerboat to port.

Before turning his hand to novel writing he was an award-winning producer of educational films.

Lee and his wife Connie live in Santa Barbara. His hobby is photography. When he is not writing, the Pratts enjoy adventure travel.