Bob Fisher 1935 - 2021

Bob Fisher, the larger-than-life yachtsman, Yachts & Yachting columnist, author and raconteur, died in January after a gallant fight against cancer, sparking tributes from around the globe. He was 85.

Bob had been a prime contributor to this magazine since the early 1970s when as a championship winning crewman in the Hornet and Fireball classes, he found writing race reports a good way to supplement his sailing. Born and bred in Brightlingsea, he developed a life-long love of the sport from the professional fishermen in the town regaling their experiences as crewmen aboard the big yachts of their day, including Shamrock, Endeavour and Endeavour II.

Bob’s own reputation grew from championship-winning crew to one of the most influential and knowledgeable names in the sport Three days before his death, Sir Ben Ainslie called from Auckland after INEOS Team UK had just won their thrilling round robins race against the Italians to dedicate their victory to him. In a later tribute Sir Ben called Fisher “the doyen of yachting correspondents and a very good yachtsman in his own