John Somers PAYNE

Somers Payne came from a well-known Munster sailing family. His national and international achievements led him into Admiral’s Cup campaigns but he always returned to his beloved National 18 class, a dinghy he sailed into his 70s. Prior to the Melbourne Olympics in 1955, Payne walked from Heuston Station (then Kingsbridge) in Dublin city to Malahide for the trials, about 20 km, after missing his bus. He won the trial but the Irish Yachting Association required him to also attend a Finn event in the Netherlands (at his own expense) before nominating him for the Australian Games.