American dinghy racing legend Stuart Walker has passed away at the age of 95.
Dr Walker was a paediatric specialist by day, but outside the hospital was a key figure in Annapolis, Maryland’s sailing scene — co-founding in the mid 1950s the Severn Sailing Association which still produces many of America’s top dinghy sailors.
An Olympian who represented the US in the International 14 class throughout the 1960s, Dr Walker was also an accomplished sailing writer, with a longstanding column for what’s now Sailing World magazine and numerous books on sailboat racing to his credit.
“Certainly my name has spread through my writing, but my articles would not have credibility if there wasn’t success behind it,” he told Annapolis’ Capital Gazette at a party for his 90th birthday.
