A Sailing Community Rallies for One of Their Own

Fifty-four boats participated in the second annual Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race off Marblehead, Massachusetts, on Sunday, July 23, raising funds to help a local sailor who was severely injured in a domestic violence attack.

The staggered start format offered a level playing field for one design boats up against faster, larger PHRF racers. Medium to light air conditions favored lightweight sport boats over more traditional designs, but in the end good teamwork and staying ahead of the fleet played a key role for the winners. First place went to the Summit 40 Escape Velocity II owned by Ben Chigger of Manchester, Massachusetts, with the Farr 30 Indra, owned by Tom Linkas, placing second overall. Third place went to the J/70 Locomotion owned Daan Goedkoop.

Now in its second year, the Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race is a fundraiser for Lindsay Smith, daughter of 10-time world champion and two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Jud Smith. According to news reports, Lindsay was leaving her job at Doyle One Design in Salem, Massachusetts, in November 2021 when her ex-boyfriend shot her and then killed himself. All net proceeds from the regatta go to the Fast Mermaid Fund to aid her rehabilitation and physical therapy at Project Walk in Boston.

This year, Lindsay raced in the regatta for the first time, sailing aboard the Tripp 41 Africa. The Smith family, including wife and mother Cindy Smith, who was the key pit person on Africa during Sunday’s race, are a multigenerational and dedicated sailing family from Marblehead. The couple passed down their passion for sailing to their daughters Lindsay and younger daughter, Darby. Darby is currently a competitive sailor in Florida.

“We think sailors enjoy the pursuit race format as it attracts more boats. It is ultimately one of the most popular types of racing,” Jud Smith said. “When it begins, it can be very challenging to be the last boat at the start, as we were, and also challenging to be the smallest boat at the head of the fleet. But there is always that chance that you can be the first boat to finish.”

The numbers on the line were among the biggest Marblehead has seen all summer, at a time when veteran and younger sailors alike think more could be done collectively to increase participation in yacht racing in a town with five yacht clubs. The Smith family has always contributed time, energy, and skills to the sport here.

Before the shooting, Lindsay, who is a graduate of Smith College, was working at Doyle One Design in Salem and campaigning an all-women’s Etchells team called Fast Mermaid. Her sailmaker father had fashioned a pink spinnaker for the team, and inspired by a youngsters’ love of mermaids, they fashioned what is a shapely pink mermaid logo on the sail.

Now, the Fast Mermaid logo has become an emblem of support for Lindsay and is seen on hats, shirts, and as a sticker on cars around Marblehead and in the wider sailing community. While her former Etchells teammates continue to support her recovery, they have also been inspired to work hard and improve as competitors as they continue to take part in all major sailing events including the upcoming Etchells New England championship set for October 6-8 in Marblehead.

“Lindsay and I met in 2021 when we did the Etchells Nationals and became fast friends,” said Fast Mermaid skipper Casey Williams of Belmont, Massachusetts. “We were all here to race today and to show our support for Lindsay. At the first Fast Mermaid fundraiser last year, she inspired us all when she walked up the gangway,” Williams said. “Today, at the event’s second year, she is out on Africa sailing in the race. It is an amazing accomplishment, and we are so proud and humbled by how well she has done.”

Williams noted that Lindsay’s story has raised awareness about domestic violence and resulted in a wave of interest from other women sailors who want to join the Fast Mermaid team. Rear commodore of the Boston Yacht Club and fellow sailor Kate Ferris Richardson agreed that Lindsay has often inspired other women sailors.

“I think that a pursuit race gives folks a chance to race who don’t always have a chance to do big boat or one design racing, but this is also an amazing turnout of our entire sailing community as we have really come together to show support and encouragement for Lindsay’s recovery,” Richardson said.

Sailing partner and co-owner of Africa Robert “Bump” Wilcox, a well-known yacht broker at New Wave Yachts, was a key organizer of the Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race fundraiser along with the Boston Yacht Club race committee chair Leslie Marquette. An accomplished sailor in his own right, Wilcox was the helmsman for Sunday’s race and has been a key member of the team for many years.

“Racing with Jud, whether it is in a pursuit race format or otherwise, if I am driving, I listen to what Jud tells me to do,” Wilcox said. “When you sail with Jud you know that he is processing about 20 things at once, for me I can process maybe three things. It is a game of inches and Jud is always tweaking—a little more, a little less—on the sails and rig.”

Despite sailing his whole life, Wilcox says that every time he sails with Jud, he learns something new.

“Jud is a quieter, more introverted person than people realize but he is also very down to earth. He shares his knowledge with everybody and will talk to anybody at length to help their sailing improve. I believe that he is one of the best sailors in the world,” Wilcox said.

He added that everyone in the Smith family reflects that considerate and caring nature and certainly it has been a factor that makes Lindsay’s ongoing recovery something even more inspiring.

“Lindsay is a fighter, and she has been a fighter since day one,” Wilcox said. “We love her and want to support her, and she has had several setbacks. Yet, she is beating all the odds. She is constantly getting better, and it has been a hell of a fight.”

For more information about the Fast Mermaid Pursuit race fundraiser and for results go to theclubspot.com/regatta/V68MwaQsrG.