Lt. Col. H.G. "Blondie" Hasler DSO OBE (Soldier and Sailor. Died in 1987)

'Blondie' Hasler was a distinguished WWII figure responsible for many of the concepts which led to the foundation of the Special Boat Service SBS, a water born unit of the UK special forces. See: Special Broadcasting Service - Australian government-funded Radio and TV network Shaken baby syndrome Said Business School - Oxford Universitys business school. ...

At the age of 28 in 1942, Major Hasler planned and lead Operation Frankton for which he was subsequently awarded the DSO. The operation was the subject of a feature film titled The Cockleshell Heroes. There are conflicting opinions about the impact Operation Frankton had on the war effort but it was a significant morale booster and there is absolutely no doubting the bravery, courage and endeavour of all the participants. This article is about the year. ... During World War II, Operation Frankton was a British Combined Operations raid on shipping in Bordeaux harbour, France in December, 1942, by 12 men of the Boom Patrol Detachment, Royal Navy, in two-man Cockle MK II kayaks, (*the Cockleshell Heroes). ... The Cockleshell Heroes is a 1955 2nd World War film with Trevor Howard, Antony Newley and José Ferrer, who also directed. ... During World War II, Operation Frankton was a British Combined Operations raid on shipping in Bordeaux harbour, France in December, 1942, by 12 men of the Boom Patrol Detachment, Royal Navy, in two-man Cockle MK II kayaks, (*the Cockleshell Heroes). ...

'Blondie' Hasler is also well known in sailing circles as one of the father figures of single handed sailing due to his invention of the first self-steering device for yachts. The device enabled the skipper to set a course fixed as an angle to the prevailing wind enabling the single handed sailor to rest and complete other activities such as navigation, cooking, repairs and sail handling. The device consists of a wind vane secured at the stern of the yacht and connected to the tiller via a system of ropes, pulleys and servos. As the wind changes direction the settings have to be adjusted in order to keep a constant compass course. The invention revolutionised the popularity of single-handed sailing by freeing the skipper from constant steering and giving time for other essential activities particularly sleep. A yacht was originally defined as a light, fast sailing vessel used to convey important persons. ...

By 2005 self-steering gear in single handed racing was totally the domain of electric powered equipment but many ‘globe trotters’ were still using equipment based on the original principles established by 'Blondie' Hasler.

The topic of single handed sailors sleeping and hence not maintaining a 'proper watch for safe navigation' continues to be much discussed!

Blondie was also a participant in the first Solo Trans-Atlantic Race from Plymouth to New York. The first race was triggered by the famous 'half a crown' bet between Sir Francis Chichester and Blondie as to who would be first in a single handed race across the Atlantic. Eventually the race took place in 1960, was sponsored by the Observer newspaper and named the OSTAR (Observer Single-handed Transatlantic Race). From the fifty participants who sent letters of intent there were eventually five participants who all used Hasler self-steering equipment. Smeatons tower on Plymouth Hoe Plymouth is a city in the South West of England, or alternatively the Westcountry, and is situated within the traditional county of Devon. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki (R) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Sir Francis Chichester, (born September 17, 1901, Barnstaple, Devon, England – died August 26, 1972, Plymouth, Devon) was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his achievement of sailing solo around the world in only nine months and one day. ... Possible meanings: In general, an observer is any system which receives information from an object. ...

Blondie sailed in a Nordic Folkboat called Jester, one of the smallest boats in the race, and finished second taking 48 days to cross the Atlantic. The Nordic Folkboat class was designed in Scandinavia and is an extremely seaworthy long keeled 28 ft yacht. Blondie bought Jester some years prior to the first OSTAR and specified modifications such as a fully decked top with two circular holes in the cabin top set on a standard Folkboat hull. Blondie used the boat as a floating laboratory to test and modify his ideas into useable components. The name Jester came about because Blondie thought at the time that "it was such a bloody joke" Categories: Stub | Keelboats ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... Categories: Stub | Keelboats ... The Nordic Folkboat is a type of sloop and was designed in 1942 by the Scandinavian Yacht Racing Union. ...

In addition to self steering, 'Blondie' Hasler also pioneered the use of a Chinese inspired Junk rig on Jester in order to reduce the physical effort of handling a conventional rig single-handed. Safety was also increased as the Junk rig was the first rig to be used on a yacht which enabled all sail handling to be completed from the safety of the cockpit. Blondie quickly realised that he could sail Jester across the Atlantic without ever leaving the cabin. Junk is: A Chinese sailing vessel, see junk (sailing). ... Junk is: A Chinese sailing vessel, see junk (sailing). ...

The Solo Trans-Atlantic Race became established as a regular event held every four years. For the second and subsequent races Jester was sailed by Michael Ritchie. A jester or fool is a specific type of clown mostly associated with the Middle Ages. ... Michael Ritchie (November 28, 1938 - April 16, 2001) was an American film director Michael Ritchie is also the name of an English college student in East Sussex who is famous for writing three novels for teenagers about teenage life. ...