Cowes to host Uffa Fox regatta

To mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Uffa Fox, one of the most highly regarded naval architects and enthusiast of all aspects of sailing, the Royal London Yacht Club, together with the Cowes Classic Boat Museum, and supported by the Atalanta Owners Association and the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, is holding a series of events in Cowes from 18th-21st August 2022.

A regatta will be held for all the Uffa Fox crafts which organisers say will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for owners of Fox designed boats.

• The Classic Boat Museum will be organising a series of events including seminars and an exhibition of Fox’s various dinghies.

• The Uffa Fox celebrations will be followed by the Flying Fifteen European championships organised by the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club from the 20th to 26th August 2022.

• Racing will be for 100% Fox designed dinghies, keelboats and classic boats.

Fox was not only a successful author and boat designer, he was also a superb sailor and instructor. In 1928, Fox gained line honours in every race he sailed in Avenger (135), an International Fourteen. Of her 57 starts she gained 52 first places including the Prince of Wales Cup, two seconds and three third places. Avenger was the first true planing dinghy with a good windward performance.

Fox even sailed her 100 miles across the Channel to Le Havre in a mere 27 hours. He then proceeded to claim a victory over the French on their home waters, then promptly turned around and sailed Avenger home in another 37 hours.

During the Second World War, Fox conceived the idea of the Airborne Lifeboat, a vessel to be carried beneath aeroplanes and dropped by parachute to survivors of ditched aircrafts.

Lightly built, with lines that blended to the shape of the planes, the airbornes had sails, an engine, survival kit, radio and instructions on how to sail. Many aircrews owed their lives to Fox’s invention. Years later, he was featured on This is Your Life where many of the airmen that had been rescued by the Airborne Lifeboat were able to thank him personally. For all his success in the field of yacht racing he maintained that this was his most fulfilling design.