The 41-year-old lives in Norwich in eastern England where he grew up, attended college locally, and was an accomplished amateur yachtsman - sailing off the nearby Norfolk coast.

Born in Bangor, Hughes was an enthusiastic yachtsman and more importantly, a successful engineer.

The California Yacht Club was started in 1922 by yachtsman from the Los Angeles Athletic Club and other yacht clubs, according to the club’s website.

On the high seas, wealthy yachtsmen seeking speed and distance records have also repeatedly required rescue when their voyages run astray.

Local news outlets reported that the most recent fatal shark attack occurred in February 2021, when a yachtsman was killed by a tiger shark.