Uffa Fox
From Free net encyclopedia
Uffa Fox (1898-1972) was an English boat designer and sailing enthusiast.
Life and works
Image:Uffafoxgrave.jpgHe was responsible for many of the developments which have contributed to the modern popularity of Dinghy sailing. He first introduced the technique of planing to dinghy racing, and was influential in the introduction of trapezing.
In about 1943 he designed a 27' lifeboat to be dropped from Vickers Warwick aircraft when rescuing downed aircrew or mariners. These boats could be released from the aeroplane's bomb-bay retarded by six 32' diameter parachutes.
Apart from having a highly successful racing, cruising and sailing career, he ran successful boat design and boatbuilding businesses in the south of England. His character is perhaps best indicated by an escapade whereby he led a group of Sea Scouts, without their parents' consent (they thought it was a weekend sailing camp), across the English Channel and up the Seine to within a few kilometres of Paris.
Image:Airborne Lifeboat - Warwick B1 BV351.jpg.
He designed many of the significant classes of boats around today, including the planing International 14, the Flying Fifteen, the National 12, the Albacore, the Firefly, the Javelin and the Day Sailer.