Storytelling comes easy for 75-year-old sailing legend Jimmy Gilpin and it is no surprise given he's lived a life to the fullest.

Now people have the chance to peer into Jimmy's world with the launch of his autobiography at the Tauranga Yacht and Boat Club today.

Tauranga sailing legend Jimmy Gilpin launches his autobiography Winners are Grinners today at Tauranga Yacht and Boat Club. Photo: Ross Brown

It took Jimmy four years to complete his tale ‘Winners and Grinners' which recounts his life at sea, on land, and everything in between.

Earlier this week Jimmy finally got his hands on the final product and his grin from ear-to-ear said it all.

'I am hugely proud of this book and I am really looking forward to the launch on Friday.

'Apparently 200 people have been invited down for the event, so that is bloody good.”

The legend of Jimmy Gilpin began at age 12 in 1951, when he won both the Tanner and Tauranga Cups three years straight.

He is the only sailor to accomplish the three-peat and was also the youngest to win both competitions.

Not bad for a local boy from 'small town Tauranga” which he reckons had a population of about 6000 people at the time.

'I don't want to come across as arrogant, but I just seemed to be a natural at the sport,” he says.

'There was something special about sailing that I could never put my finger on.

'Even now, if I had two hours to kill I'd be happy to just stand on the wharf and watch the boats.”

Jimmy says he embraced his inner writer after undergoing a knee operation in 2010.

His knee would ache so badly he could not 'get a wink of sleep” and instead spent his nights wandering about his Papamoa home.

One particular night he sat down in front of his computer and 'just began doodling”.

'I started thinking about what to write, then about all my yachting experiences.

'From there away I went.”

Jimmy passed on a few passages to local author and historian Max Avery to peruse, who suggested he turn them into an autobiography.

He ended up tapping away at the keyboard most days or 'when the spirit took me” and found the writing process an interesting experience.

'It's funny. At my age if you asked me for my phone number I'd really have to think, but I can visualise most of the races I took part in back in 1951.

'The real struggle for me was using the proper computer programmes and I made so many mistakes.”

Once completed Jannine Wilkinson, a friend of his son Drew, helped edit and format his manuscript for publication.

'We're now thick as thieves which is great, I really want to thank Jannine for all her help.”

Jimmy is excited for this today's launch, a private invite-only affair, and is looking forward to catching up with some of the 'old Tauranga faces” attending.

This includes former mayor Noel Pope – a guest speaker at the event.

It will also be a family affair with his two sons, Drew and Victor, sharing MC duties for the afternoon.

'My family are all absolutely rapt with the book and I am just absolutely delighted to be sharing this book with them and the community.”

To purchase a copy of Jimmy's autobiography Winners Are Grinners visit: www.jimmygilpin.co.nz