Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard brokerage

Book review: Uffa - Yachting's eccentric genius

by Magnus Smith 3 Mar 2024 17:00 GMT
Uffa - Yachting's eccentric genius by Malcolm Turner © SunRise

Last summer (August 2023) there was a large celebration in the Solent, marking 50 years since sailor and designer Uffa Fox passed away. Many of his popular dinghies and small keelboats raced, and - in some ways - this was nothing out of the ordinary, because those fleets were still going strong today! Uffa's legacy still lives on.

Not only did he design the Flying Fifteen, Firefly, Albacore, the first National 12, some unbeatable International 14s, various yachts, and more... he also invented the Airborne Lifeboat during the second world war, wrote several books, and made a record singing sea shanties. If you think it sounds like a busy and full life, then you should read the biography to see how much more crazy it really was.

Whilst I have an interest in classic dinghies and traditional yachts, I wasn't expecting to be particularly interested in a biography just because it covered the designer of such craft. But one of the delights of reviewing books is the unexpected gem that grips you. This is one such book!

I found myself chuckling out loud at Uffa's childhood exploits, and becoming more curious about his odd mix of skills. Of particular amusement was the details of his floating workshop in Cowes: how it was made, how the old features were reused, the finishing touches his wife added, and how council tax was avoided!

I really feel the pace is kept going at all times in this book. Apparently this is what life with Uffa was actually like!

It was sad to note how badly-managed his finances were, but remarkable that he managed to hit the top heights of dinghy design and wartime innovation regardless, leaving his legacy (one of many) in the form of a small keelboat racing class still considered "high performance" today.

The book ends with Uffa's ten commandments for living, which are rather focussed on eating, drinking, and how to use the toilet. What a shame that these alone won't make me into the genius that he really was! His is a fascinating story, well worth reading.

You can read the first chapter for free at: www.upperoctave.uk/uffa-look-inside

Purchase the book (three formats) for a reduced price at: www.upperoctave.uk/uffa

The book is printed on very high quality gloss paper. Consequently the photos have more chance to shine, compared to most books of this genre.

Related Articles

The Proving Ground
Why the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS is such an important regatta The end of an Olympic quadrennial cycle often brings sailing campaigns to an end. Some partnerships in doublehanded classes split, with helm and crew going their separate ways, while others use the time to reflect on their future. Posted on 1 Apr
The most important job in sailing
How Nick Scott is delivering radical change to competitive sailing pathways in the UK I am putting forward that falls to Nick Scott and his team. Namely to secure its competitive future by addressing challenges and delivering radical change while bringing people on that journey with him. Posted on 31 Mar
Revealing the Secrets of the 'Impossible' XR 41
An out and out race yacht, but also a sporty cruiser, thanks to its modular interior The XR 41 from X-Yachts was quite a departure from what they'd been doing for the last 15 years: concentrating on high-end Performance Racing Cruisers. This is an out and out race yacht, but it's also a sporty cruiser, thanks to its modular interior. Posted on 27 Mar
Going to publish the 'F' word – Again!
Clearly, there are lots of young sailors out there looking to add a load of fun to their sailing Now we published the first one back in June last year. It did really well, thank you. Very much appreciated. Clearly, there are lots of young sailors out there looking to add a load of fun to their sailing, and are keen to get into the foiling world. Posted on 23 Mar
RYA influences MCA's changes to regulations
Interview with Niall McLeod to see how Sport and Pleasure Code of Practice affects us The RYA have been working closely with the the government to make sure that new regulations for leisure vessels are not too restrictive. It seems that any group which operates a "coded" vessel should be thankful. Posted on 18 Mar
No more excuses
2025 is all about the club sailors, the weekend warriors, the open meeting stalwarts I was wondering if things were going to slow down in sailing after the huge events of 2024, namely the Olympics, America's Cup and Vendée Globe but, if anything, they've speeded up. Posted on 17 Mar
The oldest video footage of sailing in Ireland
A look back into our video archive, from 1926 to 1980 As we prepare for St Patrick's Day tomorrow, let us direct our exploration of the video archive towards anything Irish. We have discovered several videos from Ireland, starting as early as the 1920s! Posted on 16 Mar
Two boats. Same Direction.
You know the deal… It means there's a race on. You know the deal… It means there's a race on. So, the second South Pacific Superyacht Rendezvous is set for August 26 to 29, 2025. If it is even half as much fun and interesting as the first one, then it will bolster its burgeoning reputation. Posted on 9 Mar
The 600 Sweet Spot
The world of offshore racing is booming around the world The world of offshore racing is booming around the world. Record entries, some of the world's fastest yachts and highest profile campaigns, and a plethora of Corinthian teams have the 'classics' on their bucket list. Posted on 4 Mar
Inaugural Fast Women's Switch Training Camp
Some of the best sailors in the world gathered in Thailand The first ever Fast Women's Switch Training Camp took place at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Thailand, attracting some of the best sailors in the world, fresh from competing in the Australia Sail Grand Prix. Posted on 4 Mar