Yachting pioneer dies

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 24

Yachting pioneer dies

Captain John Illingworth, the sailor said to have first suggested the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, has died at the age of 76.

Known as the father of post-war offshore racing, Captain Illingworth won many of the classics and served at the head of Britain’s ocean racing organ* isations.

A Yorkshireman, he had already made his name as a successful blue water yachtsman when he found himself in Australia organising repairs for the British Pacific fleet at the end of World War 11, an obituary in ‘The Times” ■said, It was his suggestion that led to the first Syd-

ney-Hobart race which he won in one of the smallest entries.' This has since become one of the great international offshore classics.

After returning to Britain fie built the “Myth of Malham,” the most advanced ocean racer of her time,, and sailed her to victory in each of the next two Fastnet races.Later He had the idea of building a small and economical yacht suitable for: offshore and bay racing, before playing a part in forming the junior offshore group (JOG) a classification since widely accepted , in Australian yachting. He was convinced that In capable hands and with 1 strict safety rules enforced by inspection, even smaller boats could be safely raced offshore. For. a time he was president of the JOG, though he was also racing the 600 ton Creole, and busy reviving sail training races for big ships. Thus was born the Sail

Training Association, of which he; was .the first chairman. His enormous influence on sailing was enlarged by his writing. His book “Offshore,” written when he was sailing across the Atlantic, was quickly established as an outstanding text. ■-. /

On leaving the Royal Navy, he set, up a 'design partnership with Angus Primrose. and for several years yachts built to their b 1 ue ‘p r,i nt s : . figured prominently , in prize lists around the world. One came /close to winning .the Bermuda race . while in another, Sir Francis Chichester sailed alone.around the globe. “The Times” said that John Illingworth’ combined an original' mind with a real pleasure in dealing with people., “He was an excellent helmsman » . a but outstandingly he was a supreme skipper, who could quietly lead each one of his crew tq give of their, very best.”