Adventure on the high seas for Carrick sailor Geoff

Geoff Alcorn (second from left) was presented with his sailing medallion by Mayor Harry Winthrop in the Newport Yacht Club's lounge. Pictured beside Geoff is Commodore Lauren Anton, Past Commodore Norm Bailey and Newport Mayor Harry Winthrop. INCT 33-727-CON

Geoff Alcorn won first place in the original single-handed trans-Atlantic race (‘Ostar’) after sailing from Plymouth to Newport in Rhode Island – all on a boat that he built himself.

The 65-year-old, a member of Carrick Sailing Club since 1973, stayed the course even after all other competitors in his class gave up.

“I started out on May 27 from Plymouth; there were 17 starters in the different classes,” said Geoff, an engineering consultant. “There were three other competitors in my class and I was the only one to finish. I actually took part in the same race in 2009 but then it took me 43 days; this time around the conditions were against me for most of the crossing.”

Geoff competed in the Eira class in his vessel the Wind of Lorne II, a Saltram 36 Cruiser. “I bought the fibreglass hull in 1985 and finished fixing it up in 2001,” he said. “At the moment it’s moored in Massachusetts and I’ll sail it back next spring.”

The 3000-mile voyage was not without its setbacks, with gale-force winds, damaged sails and even a close encounter with a tanker to contend with. “One day when the sailing was particularly rough, I heard the alarm on my automatic ID system go off. The AID sets up a ‘guard zone’ around the ship to alert you to any potential collisions,” Geoff said.

“It was showing up that something was coming straight at me about a mile from the boat. Initially I couldn’t see anything because of all the spray, but eventually a huge tanker came into view; I tried to radio and warn them but couldn’t reach anyone.

“At the speed it was moving it could cover a mile in about four minutes, so I sent up a red distress flare and thankfully the tanker changed course.”

Geoff finally arrived at his destination of Newport, Rhode Island on July 24. “Norm Bailey from Newport Yacht Club came out to meet me about six miles off shore. I was starving as I had to ration food while I was sailing, so I asked him to bring some sandwiches which thankfully he did!”

The determined sailor is now looking forward to a rest after his gruelling journey. “I think I’ve done enough sailing this year to last me quite some time,” he said.