1930: A Highly Esteemed Yachting Skipper Crosses the Bar

April 9, 1930

Edward Sycamore, described in the Guardian as “a well-known skipper of racing yachts,” died at his home in the English coastal town of Brightlingsea. He was 74. The next day’s edition of the Guardian noted, “He had few rivals in the art of handling and maneuvering racing craft.”

Sycamore was born on August 24, 1855, in the English city of Chelmsford. His longtime career at sea began when, at the age of 12, he became part of the crew of a fishing boat. Over the next several years, Sycamore worked in the fisheries of both the English Channel and the North Sea. He began working on board yachts instead starting in 1875.

In 1884, Sycamore assumed his first command when he became the captain of a yawl (a type of sailing vessel) named Amberwitch. From that point forward, Sycamore – nicknamed “Syc” and in later years “Old Syc” — steadily earned renown as one of England’s leading yacht skippers. By 1911, he had emerged as the winner of 372 of the 548 yacht races in which he competed — a success rate of 67.8 percent. Sycamore’s more notable wins included two Albert Cups and six Royal Cups. During World War I, Sycamore took time away from yacht races to serve as an officer in the Royal Navy; the accompanying photo of him in military uniform was taken at this point in his life.

One of the yachts that Sycamore captained in races was named Shamrock. Thomas Lipton, a merchant (and founder of the still-popular Lipton Tea), was the owner of this vessel. At the time of Sycamore’s death, Lipton praised him as “much esteemed.” Lipton also stated, “We raced together aboard the Shamrock many scores of times, and the famous green cutter will never be quite the same without the familiar bronzed and bearded face of Sycamore at the wheel.”

Photo Credit: Public Domain

For more information on Edward Sycamore, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Sycamore