Eight bells for sailing journalist Bob Fisher
Bob Fisher, the larger-than-life yachtsman, journalist and raconteur, died at home in January, sparking tributes from around the globe, writes Barry Pickthall. He was 85.
Born on 20 April 1935 in Brightlingsea, Fisher became fascinated as a young boy by stories regaled by the town’s fishermen. They had crewed on the big yachts of their day, including Sir Thomas Sopwith’s two British J Class America’s Cup challengers Endeavour and Endeavour II in 1934 and ’37, and for Bob, their tales began a lifelong fascination with the Cup.
He first made a name as a top crew in the 1960s, winning seven national and world titles in the National Hornet and Fireball dinghy classes, together with the Little America’s Cup in 1967.
Controversial in word and mouth, Bob’s comments about the sport he loved invariably drew handshakes or anger in equal measure. His detractors made much of his highly publicised escapades; he was helming the maxi yacht Drum when it collided with the submarine HMS Otus in the Mull of Kintyre. The sub suffered £1m worth of damage. Bob treated all these misadventures as badges of honour. He wrote 30 books covering all aspects of sailing including his two-volume opus An Absorbing Interest a definitive history of the America’s Cup.
Bob Fisher is survived by his wife Dee, two children Alice and Carolyne, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Donations to the Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation in Bob’s memory can be made at www. sirthomasliptonfoundation.org/