Obituary: Mary Falk – record-breaking transatlantic sailor
AFTER taking up sailing in her 20s Mary Falk went on to achieve the fastest Atlantic crossing in a 35-foot boat – a record she still held when she died recently at the age of 74.
The feat was in 1996 when Mary, from Lymington, made the sailing in 19 days, 22 hours and 57 minutes. The Royal Cruising Club awarded her their coveted Seamanship award for achieving the record.
Mary took part in her last competitive race at the age of 64. She died in Oakhaven Hospice from cancer of the oesophagus on 19th September.
Brother Andrew told how Mary enjoyed a happy childhood in Rugby where her father taught at Rugby School. At 13 she went to St Mary’s Calne, a girls’ boarding school, where she did well and became head girl, returning many years later to serve as a governor.
After leaving school, and before going to Newnham College, Cambridge, to read classics, she spent six months in Italy learning Italian. At Cambridge she enjoyed both swimming and lacrosse, winning half-blues at both.
After graduating, Mary embarked on a career in the law. She became a trainee with Farrer & Co, in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, where she later became an assistant solicitor and then a partner.
Farrer’s was well known for its work for the Royal Family and other distinguished clients. A very traditional firm, it was in those days very male-dominated and Mary was one of the
first women to be a made a partner.
It was at Farrer’s she was first introduced to sailing, a significant event in her life, and the firm was supportive of Mary’s ventures on the water. To celebrate passing her law exams she booked an extended holiday in the Alps to learn to ski.
Sadly, she broke her leg and was told she would never be able to take part in the sport again. But she went on to prove the doctors wrong, taking up skiing again as soon as she was able and going on to be awarded a Purple Plus grading by the Ski Club of Great Britain.
That determination showed through in her sailing which she started with a dinghy in 1977.
By 1981 she was crewing in the Fastnet race. Her first Round Britain and Ireland was in 1982 and her first Azores and Back (AZAB) in 1983. In 1986 she did her first transatlantic race with Kitty Van Hagen.
Mary later had her own purpose-built boat, Q11, designed for her by Mike Pocock. It was built by Steve Etheridge at Sway. She completed three further transatlantic races, all single-handed.
Mary went on to compete in every major short-handed, long-distance race in the UK including three AZABs, one Fastnet, six Round Britain and Ireland races, and numerous Petit Bateau events.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 Mary set off to raise money for the Institute of Cancer Research, taking part in a race just months after completing chemotherapy. She went onto raise over £100,000 for the charity.
Mary had retired to Lymington in 2003 where she became actively involved in charity work. She became founder trustee of the Pioneer Sailing Trust and co-chair of Community First in the New Forest.