Herbert Hasler
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert George "Blondie" Hasler, DSO
, OBE
(27 February 1914 – 5 May 1987) was a distinguished Royal Marines
officer in World War II
, responsible for many of the concepts which ultimately led to the post-war formation of the Special Boat Service
. After the war he became a notable yachtsman, contributing especially to developments in single-handed sailing.
, and was then sent to Narvik
in support of the French Foreign Legion
in the Norwegian campaign, for which duties he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Mentioned in Despatches, and awarded the Croix de guerre
. At the age of 28 in 1942, Major Hasler planned and personally led Operation Frankton
, for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order
. He was also recommended for the Victoria Cross
, but was not eligible, because his actions were not "in the face of the enemy" as required for that decoration. There are conflicting opinions about the impact of this costly operation on the war effort, but the courage and enterprise of the participants is not in doubt.
for yachts. This device enabled the skipper to set a course fixed in relation to the angle of the prevailing wind, and then steered the boat on that course automatically. No longer required to steer continuously, a single-handed sailor could sleep and carry out other activities such as navigation, cooking, repairs and sail handling. The device consists of a wind vane secured at the stern of the yacht, which is connected to the rudder via a system of ropes, pulleys and servos. If the wind changes direction, the self-steering must be adjusted in order to maintain a constant compass heading. In recent decades electronically controlled and electrically powered self-steering gear, which can follow a compass heading directly, has grown in popularity, but it requires a constant electrical power supply, and many sailing vessels continue to rely on wind-powered self-steering systems still substantially based on Hasler's work.
In 1960 Hasler competed in the first Observer Single-handed Transatlantic Race
(OSTAR), from Plymouth
to New York
. The race, originated solely by Hasler, did not include any "half a crown" bet as the myth suggests with Francis Chichester
the fourth of the five competitors to enter the race. Of the fifty yachtsmen who sent letters of intent to compete, only five eventually started. Only Jester was equipped with Hasler's self-steering. Hasler himself sailed one of the smallest boats in the race, his heavily modified Nordic Folkboat
Jester, and finished second in 48 days to Chichester's much larger Gipsy Moth III.
Hasler had Jester built some years prior to the first trans-Atlantic race, specifying that a fully enclosed deck, with two circular hatches in the cabin top rather than a conventional cockpit, be built on the standard hull. He used the boat as a floating laboratory to develop his self-steering system, and also pioneered the use of a Chinese-style junk rig
on a western yacht, to avoid the physical effort and potentially dangerous deck-work, required to handle a conventional rig single-handed. The junk rig allowed all sail handling to be done from the safety of the central control hatch, and Hasler claimed he could sail Jester across the Atlantic without ever leaving the cabin.
Hasler and Jester returned for the 1964 OSTAR, finishing fifth in 37 days, 22 hours. On his return Hasler, who was becoming disenchanted with what he perceived as the race's commercialisation, and the increasing size, complexity and expense of the yachts brought about by sponsorship, sold Jester to Mike Richey. Richey continued to race the boat until she was lost in an Atlantic storm during the 1988 OSTAR.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(27 February 1914 – 5 May 1987) was a distinguished Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
officer in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, responsible for many of the concepts which ultimately led to the post-war formation of the Special Boat Service
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
. After the war he became a notable yachtsman, contributing especially to developments in single-handed sailing.
World War II
In 1940 Hasler served as fleet landing officer in Scapa FlowScapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
, and was then sent to Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
in support of the French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
in the Norwegian campaign, for which duties he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Mentioned in Despatches, and awarded the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
. At the age of 28 in 1942, Major Hasler planned and personally led Operation Frankton
Operation Frankton
Operation Frankton was a commando raid on shipping in the German occupied French port of Bordeaux in the Bay of Biscay during the Second World War. The raid was carried out by a small unit of Royal Marines known as the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment , part of Combined Operations.The plan was...
, for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
. He was also recommended for the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, but was not eligible, because his actions were not "in the face of the enemy" as required for that decoration. There are conflicting opinions about the impact of this costly operation on the war effort, but the courage and enterprise of the participants is not in doubt.
Sailing
Hasler is known as one of the fathers of single-handed sailing, owing to his invention of the first practical wind-powered self-steering gearSelf-steering gear
Self-steering gear is equipment used on ships and boats to maintain a chosen course without constant human action. It is also known by several other terms, such as autopilot and autohelm...
for yachts. This device enabled the skipper to set a course fixed in relation to the angle of the prevailing wind, and then steered the boat on that course automatically. No longer required to steer continuously, a single-handed sailor could sleep and carry out other activities such as navigation, cooking, repairs and sail handling. The device consists of a wind vane secured at the stern of the yacht, which is connected to the rudder via a system of ropes, pulleys and servos. If the wind changes direction, the self-steering must be adjusted in order to maintain a constant compass heading. In recent decades electronically controlled and electrically powered self-steering gear, which can follow a compass heading directly, has grown in popularity, but it requires a constant electrical power supply, and many sailing vessels continue to rely on wind-powered self-steering systems still substantially based on Hasler's work.
In 1960 Hasler competed in the first Observer Single-handed Transatlantic Race
Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race
The Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race, or STAR, is an east-to-west yacht race across the North Atlantic. When inaugurated in 1960, it was the first single-handed ocean yacht race; it is run from Plymouth to the USA, and is held every four years....
(OSTAR), from Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The race, originated solely by Hasler, did not include any "half a crown" bet as the myth suggests with Francis Chichester
Francis Chichester
Sir Francis Charles Chichester KBE , aviator and sailor, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for becoming the first person to sail single-handed around the world by the clipper route, and the fastest circumnavigator, in nine months and one day overall.-Early life:Chichester was born in Barnstaple,...
the fourth of the five competitors to enter the race. Of the fifty yachtsmen who sent letters of intent to compete, only five eventually started. Only Jester was equipped with Hasler's self-steering. Hasler himself sailed one of the smallest boats in the race, his heavily modified Nordic Folkboat
Nordic Folkboat
The Nordic Folkboat is a small sailboat, rigged as a sloop. The design of this boat was the result of a competition held by the Scandinavian Yacht Racing Union in 1942, who were hoping to create an easily sailed and low cost boat...
Jester, and finished second in 48 days to Chichester's much larger Gipsy Moth III.
Hasler had Jester built some years prior to the first trans-Atlantic race, specifying that a fully enclosed deck, with two circular hatches in the cabin top rather than a conventional cockpit, be built on the standard hull. He used the boat as a floating laboratory to develop his self-steering system, and also pioneered the use of a Chinese-style junk rig
Junk Rig
The Junk rig, also known as the Chinese lugsail and Sampan rig, is a type of sail rig in which rigid members, called battens, span the full width of the sail and extend the sail forward of the mast....
on a western yacht, to avoid the physical effort and potentially dangerous deck-work, required to handle a conventional rig single-handed. The junk rig allowed all sail handling to be done from the safety of the central control hatch, and Hasler claimed he could sail Jester across the Atlantic without ever leaving the cabin.
Hasler and Jester returned for the 1964 OSTAR, finishing fifth in 37 days, 22 hours. On his return Hasler, who was becoming disenchanted with what he perceived as the race's commercialisation, and the increasing size, complexity and expense of the yachts brought about by sponsorship, sold Jester to Mike Richey. Richey continued to race the boat until she was lost in an Atlantic storm during the 1988 OSTAR.
Sources
- Ewen Southby-Tailyour, ‘Hasler, Herbert George (1914–1987)’, rev., Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 9 March 2008