RIP Bob Fisher

[matt1]

Sad to hear Bob Fisher has passed on. I vividly remember a Cowes-St Malo race in the 80's. We had left the Needles astern only to find ourselves becalmed as the mist came down and all we could hear (but not see) was the raucous Bob Fisher laugh coming from somewhere ahead on his Barracuda 45

 

[RupertW]

Well he certainly got a mention or two in the wonderful Maiden film

 

[matt1]

Remind me, was that for "all the wrong reasons?"

 

[Dan Tribe]

A great character who will be sorely missed.
He always seemed to be central to every aspect of sailing that I was interested in, from my early youth until very recently.
Thank you Bob, you made the world a brighter place.

 

[RupertW]

Remind me, was that for "all the wrong reasons?"

Well, he was not a supporter of a women only crew and was very clear that they weren’t up to it in his opinion, “a tin full of tarts”.
But he was clearly open minded and modern as after the Southern Ocean leg he called them, “ a tin full of smart, tough tarts”.

Glad his type have largely disappeared but that was just one element of his personality as he was incisive, witty and endlessly supportive of the male racing culture and a good read every time.

 

[DJE]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1354009463091580928

No hard feelings there clearly.

 

[E39mad]

He used to call Barracuda of Tarrant his "Country Cottage" - did he not "trash it" on Bembridge Ledge!!

 

[RupertW]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1354009463091580928

No hard feelings there clearly.

She is a very generous person

 

[Capt Popeye]

Well we will mourn his pasing, but rejoice in his life, the actual plus the fantasy life style; known to my family since his Essex boy days and sailing prowse; various Clubs; later on met him in a work place sittuation (will not divulge) where he was 'larger than life' plus a great mover; enjoyed his Publications plus media coverage

Thank you Bob, enjoyed your contribution to sailing and life in general in, on and off the water

 

[ditchcrawler]

From what I remember I was sailing in the RTIR that year and I thought he grounded Barracuda on the Varvassi boiler at the Needles trying to cut off the corner.

Perhaps my memory is playing tricks.

 

[Frogmogman]

Bob Fisher once described us as the unacceptable face of professionalism in sailing in his report on the 1984 Cowes-Deauville race, (in which we won our class), which rather surprised us.

Although he was something of an old dinosaur, as evidenced by his remark about Maiden, his enthusiasm for the sport was undeniable, and he was very much part of the furniture. Sad to hear of his demise.

 

[Mark-1]

End of an Era. A big name from a time when Yachting Mags were the nearest thing we had to Sailing Social Media. His book on the '79 Fastnet was superb.

Barracuda, the Country Cottage.... Nostalgia.

I'm sure his grand daughter posted about him on this forum a while back.

RIP.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Well, he was not a supporter of a women only crew and was very clear that they weren’t up to it in his opinion, “a tin full of tarts”.
But he was clearly open minded and modern as after the Southern Ocean leg he called them, “ a tin full of smart, tough tarts”.

Glad his type have largely disappeared but that was just one element of his personality as he was incisive, witty and endlessly supportive of the male racing culture and a good read every time.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1354009463091580928

No hard feelings there clearly.

She is a very generous person

Well might suggest that for those without longevity in Sailing Circles, Women Sailing Boats /Dinghys on thier own was frowned upon in them early days of Dinghy Sailing, in the 50s and 60s; at our local club an experienced Woman with a string of RYA qualifications and excellent Dinghy Sailing record giving a talk about her early days in Yacht Clubs, stated that at one event her dinghy was pushed out into the harbour by Males before the Races started so She missed the days sailing /racing caus no one (males) would fetch Her dinghy back for Her.

Yep at one time all within living memory (of some) dinghy sailing and racing was a Fellas sport

Nowadays our local Club has far more Girls /Women applying to take the training courses than boys / men; a sign of the times; a sort of natural progression evident;

Re Tracy E, suggest that She is a true Proffesional in Her approach to Sailing and the Sport so I guess at Her age She lived through those turbulant days /times and come out smelling of Roses, and all the better a person for it

 

[Lightwave395]

He was a great guy, he got me a ride on a press boat as a spectator at the 1987 Americas Cup in Freemantle

 

[TernVI]

It's possible his comments about Maiden were his opinion on that particular boat/team/operation?
It's a long time ago but ISTR he would not have been alone in this (and probably not without female company).
As it turned out, expectations were surpassed.

Bob Fisher, as well as being a journo, was a great sailor in his day, having 'done something' in Fireballs and also the Little America's Cup in C class catamarans.
Among other stuff before my time.

 

[Cantata]

Back in the 1960's he was a champion Hornet crew. My club Herne Bay SC was one of the top Hornet clubs so he was a frequent visitor, and as a teenager then I well remember the riotous evenings in the bar with him always in the middle of it all. I learnt a lot of rugby songs from him.......

 

[Vid]

Lovely to read about him - although I've been sailing and reading about sailing for 25 years or more in the UK he wasn't someone I'd heard of as far as I can recall, somewhat strangely, so great to put the record straight - he was clearly important to our sport, may he sail at rest.

 

[Alfie168]

I was aware of Bob Fisher from the 90s and the Howards Way boat and all that. There's a Bob Fisher clone in every club, and sometimes they are wonderful company and great to be around, and sometimes they are opinionated so and so's who chuck their weight about. I could be wrong, but he seemed a very south coast phenomenon to me. Anyway RIP Bob, you obviously enjoyed your sailing and thats the main thing.

 

[TernVI]

I was aware of Bob Fisher from the 90s and the Howards Way boat and all that. There's a Bob Fisher clone in every club, and sometimes they are wonderful company and great to be around, and sometimes they are opinionated so and so's who chuck their weight about. I could be wrong, but he seemed a very south coast phenomenon to me. Anyway RIP Bob, you obviously enjoyed your sailing and thats the main thing.

An Essex sailor through and through.

 

[Capt Popeye]

I was aware of Bob Fisher from the 90s and the Howards Way boat and all that. There's a Bob Fisher clone in every club, and sometimes they are wonderful company and great to be around, and sometimes they are opinionated so and so's who chuck their weight about. I could be wrong, but he seemed a very south coast phenomenon to me. Anyway RIP Bob, you obviously enjoyed your sailing and thats the main thing.

Oi South Coast be bgrd Bob was an Essex Man through and through; he won his ability and races from Essex, his early training and fellow early experiences was with the like of Keith Musto, Reg White, Ken Pearce, Prout, etc, they whipped the asses of them Softees in the Souh Coast back then ; those Dinghy Sailors held many records at the time also broke World Records along their way;