Conrad Simpson travelled to the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games as reserve Finn sailor to Bill O’Hara – the two men sharing a long association through Ballyholme Yacht Club in Bangor, Co. Down, and a shared passion for single-handed sailing.

Simpson’s selection as reserve reflected his standing among the leading Finn sailors in Ireland at the time. The Finn class at Seoul was one of the most competitive in Olympic sailing, raced at the newly built Busan Yachting Center in conditions that proved among the windiest in Olympic sailing history, with one day’s racing postponed due to excessive wind.

Simpson maintained his involvement in competitive sailing long after Seoul, competing in Laser regattas at international level well into his masters years and continuing his association with Ballyholme Yacht Club.