UFFA: Yachting's Eccentric Genius

by Malcolm Turner

Uffa Fox was the most celebrated and successful yacht designer in the world. Much more than a sailor and boat designer, he was an irrepressible extrovert and novel thinker, as well as a singer, musician, journalist, author, painter, sportsman, campaigner, controversial businessman and friend of royalty. In the years since his death his reputation has grown rather than diminished. This new biography, the first for fifty years, celebrates a Universal Man who not only changed his sport, his Island, and the lives of his friends, but also left an unfillable void. Such people are rare, and his story deserves to be remembered.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2023

Reviews

[Kirsten Rielly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of technical sailing language, this book outlines the success Uffa Fox experienced during his lifetime's work of boat designing and building, as well as his various adventures along the way. During his life he became famous in his field as ‘the most renowned and influential yacht designer in the world’. In fact, his ideas remain influential even today, 50 years after his death.

The book begins with an opening chapter outlining Uffa Fox's royal connections. Of how he came to meet the Duke of Edinburgh at the Isle of Wight sailing club and became good friends with him over the years through their mutual love of sailing. His parents had also worked for Queen Victoria at Osborne House.

His childhood is described as being full of happy times and his unruly and riotous behaviour at school is amusing to read about. However, his love for the island is continually apparent. The sea and singing were both incredibly important to him and he was highly influenced by the Sea Scouts.

Various sailing exploits are described with precision and a light-hearted tone even though many had elements of risk attached or were in fact unauthorized. There are other amusing anecdotes about his mishaps with cars and dealings with the police. After being expelled from the Sea Scouts, and having secured a loan from his father to set up his own business, Uffa decided to focus on building small sailing boats - a fortuitous idea as he would become a very successful and influential designer of racing dinghies in his generation.

There is information about his personal life and the fact that although Uffa was a perfectionist with his boat building, he was never very good with money. There's also quite a bit of detail about Uffa’s work during World War 2. The chapter on his creation of an airborne lifeboat is particularly fascinating.

This biography is extremely well-researched, full of black and white photos of the distinguished-looking man and is a pleasure to read. I learned a great deal and would highly recommend it.

[claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a reader who has little interest in the subject of yachts and boats, I had my reservations when approaching reading this biography. However, my apprehension quickly disappeared when I got a glimpse into the multiplicity of Uffa’s character as as a singer, musician, journalist, author, painter, sportsman, campaigner etc. Not only did he become the subject of my respect as he has touched the lives of many but I loved the animated writing style that focuses on the positive aspects and nuances of Uffa’s character. I was also surprised to learn that Uffa’s influence extended far and wide, even befriending the Duke of Edinburgh.

Furthermore, a series of black and white photos accompany the text, some from Uffa’s own life and others historic photos. They accurately anchor the reader in that specific period in time whilst adding an element of excitement to the text. Moreover, the biography delves into Uffa’s childhood explaining how he grew up with wonderful anecdotes including how the learned to swim. While many people may idiolise this figure owing to his eccentric character and unique designs, the author does well to humanise the man behind the success to the reader by illustrating times in his childhood when he would prank other boys and engage in ‘tomfoolery’ and ‘practical jokes’. While at times the story delves into the technical aspects of his designs, it is easy to understand and does not overwhelm the reader.

[Danni Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Uffa Yachting Eccentric" is a captivating biography that offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a true maverick in the world of sailing. Malcolm Turner's engaging writing style, combined with his in-depth research, successfully captures the essence of Uffa Yachting's eccentricity and his remarkable contributions to the sport.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in Turner's ability to capture Uffa Yachting's larger-than-life personality. The author adeptly portrays Yachting as a restless soul, driven by an insatiable desire to push boundaries and challenge conventional thinking. The narrative successfully balances Yachting's idiosyncrasies with his undeniable charisma, making him a truly captivating protagonist

Whether you're an avid sailor or simply intrigued by larger-than-life characters, this book will undoubtedly leave you inspired and longing for your own adventures on the open sea.

[Wouter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested to learn more about Uffa Fox as a boatbuilder and designer. However, this book was somewhat, or even quite, a disappointment for me, as I expected a more technical narrative including some detailed drawings of his boats and inventions. Mr, Malcolm Turner, however gives more of an insight in the (sometimes difficult, but very versatile) character of Uffa Fox, his social life with royalty and other people in high positions, and his precarious financial position, wandering off in elaborate accounts of befriended people that do not particularly add to the biography. Claiming that Mr. Uffa Fox was the most prominent yacht/boat designer of the 20th century is for me a bit exaggerated. That does in my view do not justice to some other great designers of his time, like Olin Stephens, John Laurent Giles, Ericus Gerhardus van de Stadt, and a little later, Germán Frers. Overall, interesting read, but not fabulous.

[Malcolm Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uffa Fox was the most influential designer in yacht racing history. His ‘planing’ dinghies and keel boats were infinitely faster and more seaworthy than the older, heavier boats which had dominated the sport since the late nineteenth century. Always much more than a naval architect, he was an irrepressible extrovert and original thinker, as well as a singer, musician, journalist, author, painter, sportsman, campaigner, controversial businessman and friend of royalty. This new biography, the first for fifty years, shows how a carpenter’s son from East Cowes not only transformed his sport but also created an international legacy which thrives to this day.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exploration of Uffa Fox's extraordinary life and his groundbreaking contributions to the world of yachting. Through captivating storytelling and meticulous research, the author vividly portrays Fox's unconventional methods and innovative designs, showcasing his profound impact on the sport. While the book occasionally lacks in-depth technical explanations, it strikes a good balance between accessibility and intrigue, making it a must-read for sailing enthusiasts and those fascinated by remarkable individuals who reshape their fields.