"Born in 1898 in Cowes, Isle of Wight, Uffa Fox was an extremely successful and innovative boat designer, and many of today's classes evolved from his designs, among them the International 14, the Firefly and the Flying Fifteen. He also designed high speed power launches and developed the airborne lifeboat, which was dropped to downed pilots in the Channel during World War II. However his greatest and most remembered influence on modern boating is almost certainly his invention of the planing dinghy. Uffa was convinced that with the right hull shape and if balanced bolt upright by her crew, sailing craft could be made to plane. His theories were convincingly proven by 'Avenger', a 14 ft dinghy of his design which, in 57 starts, won 52 firsts, 2 seconds and 3 thirds. Uffa was also famous for his association with the Duke of Edinburgh, with whom he sailed regularly in the Dragon 'Bluebottle' and for whom he built 'Fairey Fox', a 24.5 ft dinghy. Uffa Fox died in 1972, but will continue to be remembered not only for his visionary designs and sailing skills, but as a larger than life character, whose work was much admired and respected by all who came in contact with it." Biography courtesy of 'The Best Of Uffa'.