A yachtsman who wrote an inspirational book about his voyage through life with terminal cancer has died from the disease.

Phil Wilson, who published "Life Lines'' last year, died at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital last Wednesday after battling the disease for seven years.

He was 46.

Mr. Wilson was born in Liverpool, England, in 1953. After leaving college he began travelling around the world, working in a number of different fields including publishing, retail, accounting and management.

But he lived for sailing, a passion that he developed as a youngster when he was part of a Tall Ship crew at the age of 16.

He logged more than 100,000 miles at sea and enjoyed voyages to the Antarctic and South America.

It was sailing that brought Mr. Wilson to Bermuda in 1988, and he made the Island his home for the rest of his life.

During his time on the Island, Mr. Wilson forged a career in finance, his last job being with Mutual Risk Management.

But just four years after settling in Bermuda Mr. Wilson was diagnosed with cancer of the calf, with secondary tumours in the lungs.

Throughout the next five years he kept a journal chronicling his journey through bouts of chemotherapy and surgery and, more significantly, the friendships and offers of support that flourished during his illness. The collection of newsletters was transformed into a book -- "Life Lines'' -- last year.

Last night friend and work colleague Robert Mulderig explained how Mr. Wilson was an inspiration not only to those who he met and befriended but also those who read his book.

"We were very good friends through both sailing and the fact that we worked together,'' Mr. Mulderig said.

"Phil was a tremendous battler who put up a hard fight and was able to keep his perspective throughout. He was able to get in touch with hundreds of people throughout the world and share his feelings with them without being overly emotional.

"When he was first diagnosed seven years ago doctors gave him a very short period of time to live but he just stepped up to the plate and defied the odds.

"He had a tremendous amount of courage along with an ability to make and keep friends throughout the world.

"He wanted the book to be an inspiration to people who he had never met but who might find themselves in a similar situation. I hope that it has done that and will continue to do that.''