Lancing scouts’ yacht makes maiden voyage after years of tragedy and hard work

Last Wednesday SUPETA, a 42ft blue water yacht, was waved off by spectators lining the seafront around Sussex Yacht Club for its new life as a training vessel for local young people.

The boat was kindly donated by Janet Mockridge, who had bought it to sail to Australia with her husband, Peter, for their retirement.

Peter tragically passed away from cancer before retirement and their son, also named Peter, succumbed to the same cancer after taking on the yacht.

The ‘PETA’ in SUPETA is a tribute to Janet’s lost loved ones. She was the first person to steer the boat to the harbour mouth and let go two red roses into the water in memory of her husband and son.

Lancing scout leader Tom Smith said the yacht took some work to get it shipshape.

“The yacht sat for many years partially finished but suffering the ravages of time and weather,” he said, adding rainwater leaks had rotted the insides and even forced an engine replacement.

“After almost three years of work, SUPETA has been reborn. Completely renovated by hard working volunteers, some of which had nothing to do with the scout group including a few local companies donating parts and services, she became ready for the water.”

SUPETA will provide a safe environment for young people to undergo yacht training and will take out people who have disabilities.

It carries a Royal Navy design, harking back to the scout group’s Navy heritage, and Tom said it will act as an ambassador for the area when visiting other ports and occasionally crossing the Channel.

For now it will rest in Shoreham Port, at a discounted rate offered by the port authority, until it can be launched on its maiden voyage to greater, hopefully less distanced, fanfare.