This year marks 50 years since the death of well-known Cowes character, adventurous sailor and boat designer, Uffa Fox.
As part of the celebrations, the UF50 Sailing Regatta is being held next Friday and Saturday (August 19-20) in Cowes on the Isle of Wight and is being hosted by the Royal London Yacht Club.
Scroll through the gallery above to see more pictures of Uffa...
A legend in his lifetime, Uffa Fox (1898-1972) was one of the most highly regarded naval architects and an enthusiast of all aspects of sailing.
Not afraid of courting controversy or causing offence, he is remembered for his eccentric behaviour and pithy quotes, as much as for his original boat designs.
In about 1943, Uffa designed a 27-foot lifeboat to be dropped from Vickers Warwick aircraft when rescuing downed aircrew or mariners.
Uffa was also responsible for designing many types of racing yacht, including the Flying Fifteen, International 14, Albacore, Firefly, National 12, National 18, National Redwing, Pegasus, Flying 10, Jollyboat, Fox 18, Fox 24 and Atalanta.
A number of boats and paraphenalia relating to Uffa's life can be found at the Classic Boat Museum on the Isle of Wight.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Uffa Fox became friends in 1949 and raced together frequently at Cowes Week aboard Fox’s Dragon, Fresh Breeze, or the Duke’s ‘Royal’ Dragon, Bluebottle. Uffa also took the royal children sailing at Cowes.
WATCH: More about Uffa's relationship with the Royal Family here:
Uffa was also involved in the founding, in the 1950s, of the annual cricket match on Bramble Bank in the central Solent.
He was the subject of This Is Your Life in January 1963 when he was surprised by the then presenter, Eamonn Andrews.
Uffa also designed the Britannia rowboat, used by John Fairfax for the first solo-rowing expedition across the Atlantic Ocean in 1969.
As part of the regatta, an Uffa Fox 50 Exhibition about his life started on August 2 at the Commodores House in Cowes, where Uffa lived for many years. The exhibition runs until next Sunday (August 21).
During next week’s regatta, there are a number of land-based activities to enjoy, including a sailing dinghy display on The Parade from next Thursday until next Sunday.
There is also the Uffa Fox Trail from next Friday to next Sunday and children’s designing, building and making activities — see more on the regatta website: uf50.org.
Like reading about the Isle of Wight and its characters in bygone days? Click here to visit our Looking Back section for more interesting tales.
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