Strong winds take down Old Landing Road landmark

Strong winds ripped through the Cape Region recently, and while no significant damage was reported, the winds did claim at least one victim – a sailboat named Mistress off Old Landing Road that had been a local landmark since the mid-1980s.

“It must have been one hell of a gust,” said owner Mike Collins, during an interview May 4. “The lead keel weighs six-and-a-half tons. The neighbors said they felt it shake the ground when it fell over.”

Collins said the boat was built for a Scottish lord and launched in 1935. He and his wife, Ann Jane, who died in 2010, purchased it in 1980. With stops in Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands, Venezuela, Trinidad and Grenada, the couple sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. Collins said he and his wife sailed 7,000 miles; the longest single stretch of sailing was across the Atlantic, which was 2,600 miles over 26 days.

The couple arrived in Lewes on June 5, 1983. The boat was moved to Old Landing Road in 1986, where it was put in a custom-made crib and stayed for the better part of the last four decades.

Collins was a diver for the Royal Navy. He said his wife had grown tired of hearing of his adventures at sea and wanted to make their own tales.

“She wanted a yacht, so we could have our own stories to tell. So that’s what we did,” said Collins.

Collins said Mistress was the first sailboat he ever owned. He said once they finished the trip and the boat was moved, he never really felt the desire to get back out on the open seas.

“Sailing is an expensive and uncomfortable way to travel fourth class,” said Collins.

Collins said he’s not heartbroken over the boat; he’s just disappointed the landmark is gone. He said all the bits and pieces will be salvaged and sold, with money raised going to local veterans groups.

“It won’t be too hard. Just cut a hole into the top and start disassembling it,” said Collins.