DOWN MEMORY LANE: Celebrating the life of Jack Holt in Chichester

Jack Holt, a quiet, unassuming, anti-establishment figure, was the ultimate sailing dinghy designer who lived in the Witterings for his last 20 years and was a member at Chichester Yacht Club (CYC).

Ask any dinghy sailor, have they ever heard of a Cadet, Solo, Mirror, GP14, Enterprise, Merlin Rocket, International 14, Hornet or National 12, the iconic and prolific designs of the latter half of the 20th century still maintaining their popularity around the world today.

There are a staggering 70,600 Mirror dinghies alone and 30 dinghy designs to his credit.

These were the boats that Jack built.

Embracing every dinghy sailor, children, families, racers and even those who liked to sail on the edge; his design and build portfolio catered for them all.

But it did much more.

Setbacks

A series of setbacks carved his niche in life and propelled him to sailing superstardom.

A broken leg from a motorcycle accident scuppered his cabinet making apprenticeship and spurred his first confrontation with the establishment when he could not get his leg mended properly, being in plaster for more than six months.

Disenchanted and so far behind in the apprenticeship left him with only one option – going into business himself. Inspired by his great-uncle John, he decided boat-building was the way ahead.

Finishing the hull on his first creation he realised he did not have enough money for the brass fittings to attach the mainsail to the mast, traditionally a track along the length of the mast with lots of shanks sewn on to the leading edge of the sail.

Penniless, he had to come up with an idea to circumvent the problem to finish the job and sell the boat.

That proved to be one of the greatest innovations in modern mainsail rigging.

An open slot would be rebated inside the back of the mast and a rope sewn to the leading edge of the sail, the bolt-rope and groove.

The rope would fit into the groove and be hauled up by the main halyard.

No expensive brass fittings needed.

Job done, but sneered at by established yachtsmen.

The first of what must be more than 150,000 sailing dinghies.

Celebrations

His epitaph and OBE citation is diminutive – Jack ‘brought sailing to the people’ – and yet his stature in the sailing world is immense.

It is only fitting his centenary birth year will be celebrated in style.

Deservedly stealing the limelight in the Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, several sailing clubs will host events in his memory through the year.

Chichester Yacht Club will sport a celebration centenary weekend on Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22.

Early in Jack’s career, pleasure boat or yacht ownership was really the preserve of the wealthy or connected classes.