Introduction
Uffa Fox was an English boat designer and sailing enthusiast. He lived from 1898 to 1972.
Life and works
He 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.
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 Javelin and the Day Sailer .
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