“ She ’ s been finished to a fantastic condition , all in beautiful , craftsmanlike style – and we couldn ’ t have been more delighted .”
Interview
enthusiasts who turned out for the boat ’ s long-anticipated re-launch on July 13 . Cynthia went back into the water where she belonged for the first time in about 30 years – to the accompaniment of a whole lot of champagne-drinking ! Then , just a few days later , having literally only just screwed the last fittings into the deck , the proud owners sailed her to Cowes , to compete at the Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week event , organised annually by the Royal London Yacht Club where she competed in racing in Cowes waters for the first time in 55 years . The opening race was her very first outing , and although not up with the prizes , Cynthia came fifth of the 29 yachts competing , and completed all five races of the series . More than anything , for the owners , it was great fun – but they also had the thrill of seeing their efforts recognised , when they collected the regatta ’ s Classic Boat Magazine Concours d ’ Elegance award in honour of Cynthia ’ s stunning looks . According to Mike , they were understandably “ glowing with pride ”.
Who ’ s the Lady ?
During the restoration process , the four owners uncovered more fascinating information about the chequered history of their boat . One of a small and exclusive racing fleet of 11 boats designed by St Helensbased yachtsman and naval architect Alfred Westmacott , their 1922 Mermaid had originally been purchased for - and named after - her first owner Cynthia Methuen , a 16 year-old heiress whose father Alfred was an underwriter at Lloyd ’ s . Built at Woodnutts Boatyard , Bembridge , the boat was sailed every year by Cynthia until 1937 , and remained in private ownership until and throughout the Second World War . After the war , the fortunes of many of the Mermaid owners had been affected , and it was at that point that a member of Sea View Yacht Club had the brilliant idea for the club to buy the 10 boats en masse and make them available for all members to sail . He also arranged for his Regiment to charter them for their annual regatta . And the man with that bright idea ?
“ She ’ s been finished to a fantastic condition , all in beautiful , craftsmanlike style – and we couldn ’ t have been more delighted .”
It was none other than Colonel Tony Somers , father of Bob Somers , who is now one of the four co-owners of Cynthia . The result of the Colonel ’ s farsightedness is that Sea View Yacht Club now stands out among its peers for having its own fleet of one-design racing keelboats , owned and used by its members . The idea to create a fleet of identical racing boats was so that races would be an equal test of sailing
The boat coming out of the barn for transport to Bembridge , November 2016
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