From Weymouth to the World: WSC burgee is taken through the Panama Canal

Published 10:35 on 30 Jan 2026 by Stephen Fraser

Weymouth Sailing Club colours have officially gone global.

On 2526 January 2026, WSC member Jerry Thompson and his jointly owned Jeanneau 53, Blu completed a full transit of the Panama Canala landmark passage for any sailor and, very possibly, a first for both a WSC member and a WSC-sailed boat.

Proudly flying the Weymouth Sailing Club burgee, presented to him by Club Commodore Mike Street, Jerry carried a little piece of the club through one of the worlds great maritime gateways. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, Blu joined the steady procession of global shipping and adventurous yachts navigating the famous locksa moment that neatly links local club sailing with true blue-water cruising.

Many members will remember Jerry from closer to home. For several years he and his crew successfully campaigned his J/97 Jura in the WSC Class 3 Weekend Series, alongside regular appearances at South Coast regattas including the Poole and Dartmouth Regattas, not to mention the ever-competitive Round the Island Race. In between, Jura was a familiar sight cruising the South Coastfrom Falmouth and the Helford River eastwards to the Solent and Cherbourg.

Over the past two years, Jerrys sailing horizons have expanded dramatically. Aboard Blu, he has been cruising the Caribbean with his wife and family, exploring islands from Martinique to Tobago before heading west to Los Roques (Venezuela), on through the ABC IslandsAruba, Bonaire and Curaçaoand onward to the idyllic San Blas Islands.

The Panama Canal marks a major turning point in this adventure. After a brief return trip to Dorset in March, Jerry will rejoin Blu to begin the next epic leg: a 3,000-nautical-mile Pacific crossing to French Polynesia. Plans include cruising the spectacular Tuamotu Islands before making landfall in Tahitia dream route for many sailors.

From weekend racing in Weymouth Bay to lock chambers halfway around the world, Jerrys journey is a reminder of just how far sailing from WSC can take you. Well be following his progress with interestand keeping an eye out for that burgee in even more far-flung anchorages.

Fair winds, Blu, from everyone at Weymouth Sailing Club.
You can follow the trip across the Pacific Ocean in March on the Marine Traffic app. Search for Blu London.

Last updated 10:35 on 30 January 2026