Dorset sailor Brian Cooke honoured 50 years after his death

Members of Lilliput Sailing Club have recognised Brian Cooke as “one of the forerunners of solo sailing” and want his achievements to be remembered 50 years after his tragic death at sea.

Gavin MacLachlan, a member of Lilliput Sailing Club, said Brian played a pivotal role in Poole’s sailing history.

Brian Cooke (Image: Lilliput Sailing Club) He said: “It almost felt like for 50 years, Brian’s history was lost, so I thought now was a chance for us at the club and for local people to recognise that Brian was a significant sailor at the time and very much a Lilliput man.”

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After serving in the Merchant Navy, Brian joined Westminster Bank in 1947 and was a founding member of its sailing club.

He moved to Poole in the late 1950s, and in 1961, the Westminster Bank Sailing Club in Poole became affiliated with Lilliput Sailing Club.

Brian began racing Merlin Rockets before helping to build Opus, a 32-foot sloop in which he competed in the 1968 single-handed transatlantic race.

He later took part in the 1971 Fastnet Race and finished fourth in the 1972 transatlantic race aboard Chay Blyth’s British Steel.

In 1974, he and fellow Lilliput SC member Eric Jensen completed the Round Britain Race in the 49-foot Triple Arrow, despite capsizing off the Shetlands.

Gavin said: “Brian then planned to break the Atlantic speed record of 4,000 miles in 20 days, from West Africa to British Honduras, before competing in the 1976 single-handed transatlantic race.

"His first departure for West Africa in Triple Arrow ended with a dismasting off Portland.

"His second attempt a few weeks later was no more successful, after he fell from the mast and sustained severe back injuries, 70 miles off Cornwall.”

Still recovering, he set off on his final attempt in December 1975.

His last transmission was on December 11, around 700 miles from the Canary Islands, where he is believed to have died.

Gavin added: “Lilliput Sailing Club is rightly proud that such an accomplished sailor was part of the club during those formative years.”

Lilliput Sailing Club, located on the northern shore of Poole Harbour, promotes amateur sailing with dinghy and cruiser fleets. It is currently recruiting dinghy sailors for social sailing and racing.