John Somers Payne competed in the men’s Finn class sailing at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, finishing 16th of 20 competitors – carrying forward a distinguished family legacy in Irish sailing history.

His father James Payne was a pioneer of dinghy racing in Ireland who in October 1924 represented the Irish Free State in the first world dinghy championship at the Brussels Royal Yacht Club, winning the title and having the Irish tricolour displayed on the main flagstaff at the Royal Yacht Club in recognition of one of the first international sporting victories for the new state.

Payne’s selection was confirmed only by a single vote majority – the only athlete at those Games selected by that narrow margin. His preparation for Melbourne included competing in the European Championships in Holland (10th) and a visit to Lymington to sail with Richard Creagh-Osborne, the British Finn representative at Melbourne.

In the Games, the lighter-framed Payne competed at a disadvantage against heavier sailors in conditions that suited the heavier competitors. He went on to compete at the Rome 1960 Olympics.