Colin Ratsey

Colin Ratsey was educated at Brighton College. He later served an apprenticeship as a sailmaker, and was associated with for over 50 years with Ratsey & Lapthorn, the oldest sail manufacturer in the world. In addition to his Olympic silver medal in 1932, he won the Prince of Wales Cup in 1939 for 14-foot dinghies, and the Prince Philip Cup for Dragon class in 1959. Ratsey sailed with two America’s Cup challengers, the English J-boat Endeavour in 1934, and the 12-metre Sceptre in 1958. He was also responsible for introducing the sport of frostbiting – winter sailing in small boats – to England. He eventually moved to the United States after his retirement from Ratsey & Lapthorn, and became vice-president of Yardarm Sailmakers in Needham, Massachusetts, and continued to be active in international sailing circles.