SOUTHAMPTON sailor Oli Smith has been described as a “good sailor” and a “tough young guy”.

Professional sailor Conrad Humphreys, who became the fifth British sailor to complete the Vendee Globe, sailed with Smith in Plymouth.

Smith, who studied at the University of Plymouth, is one of five Britons being held by the Iranian Navy while sailing from Bahrain to Dubai.

Humphreys said Smith had worked on boats in Plymouth for about a year before joining his team.

He described him as “a very solid guy. A good sailor. A tough young guy. Pretty skilled with the boat”.

Smith is reported to have completed a degree in ocean science and marine navigation at the University of Plymouth and sailed on the University Mens' 1st Team.

Smith, and fellow captive Olly Young, 21, sailed with Humphreys. “They’re both pretty streetwise, very bright individuals,” Humphreys said.


View

style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Detained Sailors in a larger map

He added: “If they have drifted into the territory, they may have had a problem with the boat.

"It's a fine line between being on the right side and the wrong side.

"So if they've made a small navigational error and they've been picked up on it, then it's probably a bit of bad luck and a bit of bad judgement.

“Oli Smith has been running that type of boat for a very, very long time. Olly Young is much, much younger and so probably would be less aware."

Another friend, who did not want to be named, said: “I worked with Oli for two years on a project based down in Plymouth.

“I also did a transatlantic crossing with him a few years ago.

“He’s a great sailor and a top man. He’s very relaxed and someone who would be taking all this in his stride.

“If I was going to be stuck in that situation I would want to be there with Oli.”