Stuart Hill

Stuart Hill (born around 1943) is an English pensioner. He was dubbed "Captain Calamity" in 2001 after he needed to be rescued from multiple misadventures while sailing. He later moved to the Shetland Islands, where he took to protesting around constitutional matters. In 2008, he made claims relating to the formation of a micronation, which he called the Sovereign State of Forvik. His disputes led to several court appearances. He was convicted of road traffic offences and vandalism and declared bankrupt. Hill unsuccessfully stood for election to Orkney and Shetland as an independent in the 2017 United Kingdom general election where he came last.

Early life Hill was born around 1943 in Suffolk, England. He was formerly a metalworker.

Attempt to circumnavigate the British Isles In 2001, aged 58, he left Suffolk on a sailing trip. Media reports used the "Captain Calamity" epithet when Hill caused five lifeboat launches and two rescue helicopter call-outs during a failed attempt to single-handedly circumnavigate Britain in a " dinghy" during 2001. "likened to a glorified sailboard" with a sail "cannibalized" from a windsurfing board – was considered by many, including the Coastguard and RNLI, to be under-equipped and "unfit" for such a journey. He launched into the River Stour near his Manningtree home in May 2001. As he set off "someone had to chase after him with a spare centreboard". He later damaged his vessel after he crashed his ship into another, only moments after beginning his trip. and progressed less than 3 miles in three days. He got as far as Sheringham before a Lifeboat and helicopter went to his aid. Hill refused their assistance and stated he wished to carry on with his journey. and the Coastguard were unable to contact him. On his return to inshore waters the Lowestoft lifeboat in Suffolk had to put to sea to warn him he was so close to shore that he was in danger of running aground. Chris Barnes, honorary secretary of the Cromer lifeboat, said "My coxswain described it like putting someone blindfold in the middle of the M1 and telling everyone else to miss them," and that Hill should never have attempted his voyage, but the RNLI would always go to his aid. when his boat overturned but managed to contact rescuers via a satellite phone and spent around an hour in the sea clinging to the upturned vessel. Kieran Murray, helicopter winchman on Coastguard rescue helicopter Oscar Charlie, based in Shetland, said Hill was "extremely lucky" to survive. Hill felt "no guilt about taking up so much of their time". He said "If there's a service for those in peril on the sea, surely it should be used – I only really cost them the diesel."

On 21 June 2008, Hill, occasional resident of a island in Shetland called Forewick Holm (renamed Forvik Island), made a declaration of independence which he says created the Crown Dependency of Forvik, his rights to the Island of Forewick are disputed. Mark King, the island's owner, stated in March 2009 Hill had not paid for the island as agreed. Hill claims the island was not part of the United Kingdom and therefore not part of the European Union.

Further rescues On Sunday 14 September 2008 Hill had to be rescued again from the seas of Shetland after launching a "home made" plywood boat, described as "ramshackle" and a "floating wardrobe", without a radio or lifejacket in very poor weather conditions. The boat was "swamped by a heavy sea."

The coastguard helicopter and Aith lifeboat were launched and Hill was picked up by the crew of the lifeboat and taken ashore just after midnight.

Hylton Henry, coxwain of the Aith Lifeboat, said Hill was very lucky to be alive. "He didn't have a lifejacket on or a VHF radio. He had a flare but couldn't use it and by the time we got there, his mobile phone battery was flat. He was difficult to find because his boat had sunk by then and he was sitting on the surface of the water in it in the dark. The stretch of water where we found him is one of the most treacherous in Britain. If it had been a worse night, he wouldn't have survived. The description of the boat was a wardrobe on its back floating in the water – and that was pretty accurate. It's a humble thing and totally unsuitable for the conditions. Now that winter is coming, I hope he realises it is not safe to do what he is doing. He will be putting other lives at risk by going out to rescue him. If he carries on like this, he will need rescuing again, there is no doubt of that."

Stuart Hill told the Shetland Times newspaper that his reputation as a calamitous mariner was one thing he would "like to put to bed" but "it seems to follow me around."

Causing purposeful hazards to shipping On 14 April 2009 Hill wrote a letter to the Shetland News website claiming that he had installed "devices" in the waters surrounding Forewick Holm "that can hole the hull of any boat and others [devices] designed to foul propellers."

Legal issues After announcing his "independent state", Hill refused to register his vehicle or pay road tax. He was arrested in Lerwick in July 2011 and charged with road traffic offences.

In September 2011, Hill was declared bankrupt, after a civil action was brought against him by a debt agency. Having made claims against the Royal Bank of Scotland, he appeared at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in July 2012, where Judge Pentland rejected Hill's arguments.

Hill breached his community payback order and appeared in court again in September 2012. His contempt of court led to him serving a detention of sixteen days at HM Prison Peterhead.

In February 2017 Hill was fined £125 after being convicted of vandalism to a commercial property in Cunningsburgh in March 2016.

In February 2020, Hill appeared in court for failing to have declared campaign expenses and was then jailed for contempt of court, after making recordings of his own trial and refusing to delete them.

In August 2023 he was again remanded in custody for contempt of court.

In June 2025 he was sentenced to three months in prison after refusing to comply with an unpaid work order.

2017 election candidate Hill stood for election to Orkney and Shetland as an Independent in the 2017 UK general election. While he went to Orkney for the election count, a boat shed that he had built without planning permission was pulled down. In the election, Hill came last with 245 votes (1.1%). He refused to submit a return of his election expenses, which is required under UK law.