Uffa Fox lived his entire life on the Isle of Wight in the heart of England's best yachting district. He was a builder of yachts and dinghies, a designer, a noted yachtsman in his own right, a friend to royals, and an eccentric of the first water. He sailed the channel in a planing canoe, to Norway in a day racer, and at one point had his boatyard on a barge, moving it across a particular civil boundary timed to avoid the appraiser of both jurisdictions.

Between 1934 and 1938, he produced 5 exquisite volumes of what amount to sailing vessel criticism, complete with beautifully redrawn lines , interior and structural arrangements, and commentaries, many from his own experience with the subject craft. The original volumes are rare and expensive.

In the late '70's, 50 of these commentaries were collected and reprinted, with updated editor's notes, and a brief biography as the Best of Uffa. It is an absolutely fascinating introduction to his work as a designer, and as a critic of the designs of others. Many famous craft from both sides of the Atlantic are presented. The editor's notes, by Guy Coles, are a welcome addition, following up after 30 years Uffa's observations and opinions.

The only thing holding this book from a fifth star is the towering excellence of the original volumes.