A popular sailor died suddenly during a yacht race in Weymouth.

Tributes have poured in for grandfather Malcolm Terry after he collapsed at the Weymouth Sailing Club event.

His family said that he died doing what he loved and would leave a huge gap in many lives.

Mr Terry, 78, who lived at Southill, was on board the committee boat Viking II when he became ill and an emergency VHF call alerted Portland Coastguards.

He was airlifted to hospital by helicopter and racing was immediately abandoned at the club. He was later declared dead at Dorset County Hospital.

His son Nigel, a real estate broker now living in America in Raleigh, North Carolina, said that his father was devoted to his family.

He said: “The things I will remember most about my father were his passions for our family, sailing and his church.

“He instilled in all of his children, including me, my sister Sandra, and brothers Andrew and Graham, a strong sense of doing what was right and of the value of education.

“These values have been passed on to his grandchildren. He was a devoted husband to my mother, Ruth who passed away in 1995.

“The family grew up around Weymouth Sailing Club and we find great comfort in the fact that when he passed he was at sea doing what he loved with the sailing club and the people he loved and that his passing was quick.”

Friends of the well-known and long-serving club member said he would be ‘sorely missed.’ WSC commodore Mark Bugler said: “Malcolm was already an active member of the club when I first joined aged 11 in 1969 and remained so throughout his life.

“At that time he was a very successful helmsman, winning many of the club trophies in the Falcon class.

“In more recent years he regularly raced his Folkboat Phylion and was an accomplished single-handed sailor.”

Mr Bugler said Mr Terry enjoyed taking his grandchildren out in his boat at weekends and was always active behind the scenes of the club.

Mr Terry was acting as a volunteer race officer on the evening he collapsed and died.

Mr Bugler added: “Malcolm was an accomplished race officer and ran many open meetings and only recently he was assisting with the Sail for Gold regatta.

“Malcolm’s sailing career lasted his entire life and his life illustrates that seamanship and sailing skill is not just the preserve of the young.

“He’ll be sorely missed.”

Yacht Clubs of Weymouth spokesman Peter Hopford said: “Everybody knew Malcolm and liked him. He was very well-known and respected and a very good race officer.

“Weymouth Sailing Club members take it in turns to organise races and it happened to be his turn on Thursday night.

“He often helped out with YCW events and was part of Frank Newton’s race management team who helped at the sailing academy.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said they were alerted by a Pan Pan emergency call just before 7pm on Thursday.

The helicopter was scrambled after the crew of Viking II reported that the race officer aboard ‘had collapsed and was unconscious.’ The spokesman added: “He was airlifted direct to Dorchester A&E where he was met by the medical crash team. Wyke Coastguard Rescue Officers also attended.

“Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.”