Commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1932, Blondie Hasler was soon to make his mark as a sailor and fighting man. In Norway 1940 his efforts were rewarded with the OBE, a Mention in Dispatches and the Croix de Guerre. His original tactical ideas and leadership were tested spectacularly in 1942 at Bordeaux in the legendary Cockleshell Heroes raid. After his successful escape, his skills were put to use training special forces in Ceylon and he was responsible for setting up the Special Boat Service before retiring with ill health.<BR>His sailing and writing careers flourished after the War and his Harbours and Anchorages of the North Brittany Coast became a classic yachtsman's pilot. After a brief foray into the theatre, he concentrated on designing and building a small but safe endurance yacht - the junk-rigged Jester with its servo pendulum self-steering gear was the result. The first single-handed trans-Atlantic race was held in 1960 at Hasler's instigation and his performance in coming second and the concept caught the public's imagination. Even in his Scottish 'retirement' Hasler's drive and initiative were unquenchable. He died in 1987.