Edward Sycamore

Edward Isaac Sycamore (1855–1930) was a British sailing skipper widely regarded as the leading British yacht skipper of his generation during 1890 to 1929. He was often referred to as Syc and later Old Syc.

Early life
Sycamore was born in on 24 August 1855 at Duke Street, Chelmsford, the first son of John Sycamore and Eliza Moss. John was a maltster and came from East Doneyland (Rowhedge) on the river Colne. Eliza's family were farmers from St Lawrence on the south bank of the Blackwater.

When Sycamore was twelve he joined the crew of a fishing boat. After several seasons fishing, he moved to yachting in 1875, working initially for the Marquis of Ailsa aboard the Lady Evelyn. Her voyages included trips to the West Indies and Mediterranean. In 1879 he went to work for H Atkins of Warrenpoint in the 20 ton cutter Louise. His first command was the Amberwitch in 1884. Following early successes in the Babe, he rose rapidly to the top of his profession, and remained there until his death on 9 April 1930.

He married Elizabeth Rosetta Paine, daughter of a licensed victualler, on 2 November 1881. The family moved to Brightlingsea in 1884 living at 34 Nelson Street and then from 1913 White Lodge.

Racing successes
In 1911 The Yachtsman produced a table showing Sycamore's successes. In 548 races he won 372 prizes, a success rate of 67.8% or a prize in every 1.47 starts. Sycamore's wins included six Royal Cups (one in Corsair and one in Carina for Admiral the Hon Victor Montagu; three in Bona in one year for the Duke of Abruzzi; one for Sir Thomas Lipton in Shamrock) and two Albert Cups, both in Bona.

War service
At the outbreak of the First World War Isabella Alexandra and the Kaiser's yacht Meteor were being towed to Cowes by a torpedo boat. When war was declared they returned to Cuxhaven where the crew of Isabella Alexandra was interned. They were released after about a week and returned to the UK via Denmark.

Sycamore joined the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant RNVR in May 1917, aged nearly 62, and was appointed in command of ML 350 operating from the RNAS seaplane base at Newlyn. In September 1917 he was appointed in command of ML 5 based at Calshot. He remained in command of her, initially at Calshot and later Dundee, until he was demobbed on 15 September 1919. With the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918 he became a Captain RAF. He is thought to have been the oldest person to have been commissioned into the Royal Navy and immediately given a command. It is also thought he may have been the oldest officer in the RAF when he left.

Death
Sycamore had been suffering from the accidental breaking of multiple ribs as he had been racing Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock on the Clyde during 1929. On 9 April 1930, he died at his home in Brightlingsea, at the age of 74.