Ian Lallow on Sailing

Tracy: Did your father sail?

Yes he did. He used to race with my mother back in the 1930s in an International 14 foot and then just after the War, father built a Dragon called ‘Blue Skies’ which was quite successful, which mother used to race with in that and then mother bought a XOD in the ‘50s which is when I started sailing with them in the ‘50s. I started sailing on a scow which mother owned.

One of the Riggers at the Yard used to do sailing lessons, I’m talking about the ‘50s now, and I remember one school summer holiday just come back with the boat from giving somebody a lesson, and I said, “George, don’t pull the boat out, I’m going for a sail.”

He said, “Does your dad know?”

I said, “No.”

Bear in mind that I’m only what 12, 13 years old, something like that, I said, “No, it will be alright, George, don’t worry” and I just went for a sail in it and that’s how it all started, it went on from there.