Weymouth and Portland in shock after Olympian's death

The 36 year old died after becoming trapped when his catamaran capsized during a training session with the Swedish Artemis team for the America's Cup in San Francisco Bay.

Andrew, whose nickname was 'Bart', was one off 11 crew members sailing with the Swedish Artemis Racing team when it overturned.

Andrew lived in west Dorset with his wife and young family but became well known at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy over many years.

Flags have been flying at half mast at the sailing academy on Portland and tributes have been paid by civic leaders as well as fellow Olympians.

Sailing academy chief executive John Tweed said: “We are in a deep shock really at this profoundly distressing news from San Francisco.

"We will remember Bart with deep affection.”

He was a really great character and a gentle giant.”

Quadruple gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie also paid tribute to his former Olympic teammate in a statement from his Oracle sailing team.

“It is a sad day for all of us in the sailing community.

“Andrew Simpson was a great person, a terrific sailor, and a good friend to all of our team.”

Double Olympic medallist Nick Dempsey, of Weymouth, also paid his respects via his Twitter page.

He said: “Going to miss you Bart.”

Deputy Weymouth and Portland mayor Ray Banham passed on his condolences on behalf of the community.

He said: “It is very sad.

“He has a young family and I really feel for them as they must be going through a terrible time.

“On behalf of the whole borough, our condolences go to all of them.”

Andrew, who lived in Sherborne, was team strategist in the Artemis Racing team preparing to challenge for the 34th America's Cup in July.

Among his team-mates was childhood friend and Olympic partner Iain Percy, who is Artemis' sailing team director and tactician.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and British Sailing Team said they were 'devastated'.

John Derbyshire, RYA's performance director: ''We're devastated by the news from San Francisco today.

''Andrew is someone I've worked closely with since the age of 16.

“He was a great talent, and a key figure in our World Class Programme over many years culminating in his well-deserved Olympic success.

''He was a huge inspiration to others, both within the British Sailing Team and across the nation and our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this terrible time.''

Stephen Park, RYA Olympic manager, added: ''Andrew was a fantastic sailor who got the best out of everyone he sailed with.

''He was much loved and will be sorely missed by everyone in our close knit team. Our thoughts today are with Andrew's family.''

Paul Cayard, Artemis' chief executive, said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Bart Simpson's family, his wife and kids, and also with the rest of the team-mates.

''It is a shocking experience to go through and we have a lot to deal with in the next few days in terms of assuring everybody's well-being.”

Flags flew at half mast at the sailing academy on Portland as tributes poured in for popular Olympian and family man Andrew Simpson.

Olympic sailors living locally spoke of their shock at Andrew’s death while messages also flooded on onto social media websites.

Sailors Sir Ben Ainslie, Nick Dempsey, Luke Patience, Lucy MacGregor, Kate MacGregor, Simon Hiscocks, Jon Emmett and John Robertson were among those to remember Andrew.

They described ‘Bart’ – Andrew’s affectionate nickname – as a larger than life character, a great competitor and a gentle giant who had a friendly word for everyone.

John Tweed, chief executive at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, also paid tribute to Andrew at the Portland centre.

He said that the whole team's condolences and sympathies went to Andrew’s wife Leah and family.

"We are in a deep shock really at this profoundly distressing news from San Francisco.

"We will remember Bart with deep affection. He was a really great character."

Mr Tweed said he had seen Star sailor Andrew and team mate Iain Percy take the gold in China, when it was 'pretty unexpected', and then watched in the home Games when the pair 'dominated' the racing all week but sadly lost out on the gold medal in the medal race.

Mr Tweed said: "Bart was a larger than life character and a gentle giant really.

"So friendly, and had a friendly word for everyone.

"And he was so proud of his wife and young family."

He added: "It's a great loss to sailing and a great loss to Dorset which was his adopted home and a great loss for his family."

Olympian Lucy MacGregor, from Poole, was also at the sailing academy where she spoke of the devastating loss.

She said: “He was such an amazing guy.

"He helped a lot of us youngsters and first-time Olympians a huge amount."

She added: "He was a huge sounding board for any thoughts and questions we had.

"He will be missed a great deal."

She added: "He was such a level-headed guy.

"He knew what was important and therefore for an Olympic campaign where there's a lot of other distractions and different areas to work on and worry about, he was a great sounding board."

Sir Ben Ainslie said through his Oracle sailing team: "It is a sad day for all of us in the sailing community.

“Andrew Simpson was a great person, a terrific sailor, and a good friend to all of our team.

"Our thoughts are with his family and the entire Artemis team. He will be dearly missed."

Sailor Luke Patience, who took silver at the London Games with Stuart Bithell, said on Twitter: "Devastated. Bart, you are a true inspiration."

Paralympic sailor John Robertson, helmsman with the Sonar team, said the whole team was left shocked and upset by the news.

John, of Portland, said: “He always had a kind word and asked you how you were doing.”

He added: “He was such a good bloke.”

He said he and team mates Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas were gutted and very sad and passed their condolences on to Andrew’s wife and family and close friends.

Sailor and coach Jon Emmett said: “He was a legend.

“Everyone will remember him very fondly.”

Jon, who was at the Dutch Masters when he heard, added: “It is devastating and really hard to take in.”

Double Olympic medal winner Simon Hiscocks, of Portland, said: “He was one of the characters in life.

“He never had a bad word to say about anyone and was always someone that you could rely on in life.”

Simon said that his thoughts were with Andrew’s family.

Olympian Kate MacGregor said on Twitter: “In complete shock.

“Such a kind, talented sailor. An inspiration to us all.”

Shooting gold medallist Peter Wilson, who also lives in north Dorset at Glanvilles Wootton, said on Twitter: “Struggling to come to terms with Andrew Simpson’s death.

“My thoughts go out to his family and friends. #ALocalHero.”

Local and national figures paid tribute to Andrew as well as neighbours in his home town.

The Olympian lived in a terraced house close to the centre of Sherborne in Dorset with his wife, Leah and their two young children.

A statement with the title ‘Sad News’ was posted on a neighbourhood noticeboard close to their home.

The tribute, from Fosters Field Residents' Association, read: ''It is with great sadness that we learned of the news of the death of Andrew Simpson in San Francisco yesterday.

''Many of us will remember him from the celebrations of his Olympic gold medal from Beijing and his silver medal from Weymouth last year and also just walking round Fosters Field with Leah and their two little boys.

''Our sympathy and heartfelt condolences go to his family.''

Other to pay tribute have included tennis star Rafael Nadal, Foregn Secretary William Hague, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson, Olympic rowers James Cracknell and Matthew Pinsent, Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Clive Woodward who was British Olympic Association director of sport at London 2012.

Nadal said: “A tragedy what happened in the Americas Cup.