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CoastWaterSports 2014

Jack Holt. OBE 1912-1995

by Dougal Henshall 18 Apr 2012 08:27 BST 18 April 1912
Jack Holt, with wife Iris and one of Jack's Merlin dinghies 'Fiddlesticks' © The Holt Family

Today marks the Centenary of the birth of Jack Holt, the single biggest influence on the sport of dinghy sailing. A quiet and unassuming man, Jack was far more than just a superb boatbuilder, for he was also a far sighted innovator and a designer with a practiced eye for design and practicality.

However, his biggest legacy is in the way he developed boats that would bring dinghy sailing out to a far wider public. Jack was also an early exponent of the ‘one stop shop’, as at the peak of his popularity, Jack Holt Ltd could offer the boat plus fittings, masts and sails.

Today, many of his designs retain their popularity, both here and worldwide, as will be highlighted in the number of Holt celebration events planned for this year.

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Ranelagh Holt Centenary Tideway Race
Graceful procession of wooden beauties along the Thames After a year of amazing celebratory events, the commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Jack Holt reached its conclusion with a running of the Tideway Race on the River Thames. This was hosted by Ranelagh Sailing Club. Posted on 9 Oct 2012 Ranelagh Holt Centenary Race preview
A one-off race at the venue where it all began It is probably not too much of an exaggeration to say that Jack Holt was one of the most prolific and successful dinghy designers of the 20th Century. Posted on 11 Sep 2012 Jack Holt Centennial at Warysbury Lake
1940s championship winner floats for the first time in years Despite floods, storms and torrential rain and a forecast to deter Noah from venturing out 15 boats and their owners arrived at Wraysbury Lake to celebrate Jack Holts centenary year. Boats travelled from as far afield as Yorkshire and Cornwall. Posted on 13 Jul 2012 Jack Holt Centennial this weekend!
At Wraysbury Lake Sailing Club All the planning comes to a head this weekend at Wraysbury Lake Sailing Club, when Jack Holt designed boats, old and new, will come to play. There is still time to enter, whether you sail a modern incarnation or a classic Holt boat. Posted on 2 Jul 2012 Just four weeks to go
Until the Jack Holt Centennial Regatta Just 4 weekends to go before the celebration of Jack Holts life and designs at Wraysbury Lake Sailing Club, co-organized by the CVRDA, on 7/8 July. Posted on 15 Jun 2012 Jack Holt, a designer for the sailor of today
Build up to the Centennial at Wraysbury Lake With the date of the Wraysbury Lake Sailing Club Holt Centennial just over a month away (7/8 July), I thought it was a good time to look at what Holt means to the sailing scene of today, rather than looking back at what was happening 50 years ago. Posted on 25 May 2012 Jack Holt Centenary Regatta preview
Preparations apace at Wraysbury Lake Preparations are going on apace for the Jack Holt Centenary regatta at Wraysbury Lake SC on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th July. Posted on 8 May 2012 Jack Holt Centennial Event
A fantastic celebration at Chichester In hosting the first of the events aimed at celebrating the centenary of the birth of Jack Holt, Chichester Yacht Club certainly set the standard for the other events to follow. Posted on 24 Apr 2012
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