John Leather Archives - Amokura: a classic boat archive

John Leather (1928-2006)

webmstr — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:05:57 +0000

Naval architect, author, and passionate advocate for traditional boats John Leather was a respected British naval architect, yachting historian, and prolific maritime author whose lifelong passion for traditional sailing vessels helped preserve the heritage of classic yacht design. Born in Colchester in 1928, Leather trained as a naval architect and gained hands-on experience in boatbuilding before working at the Admiralty and later as a consultant. He wrote extensively for yachting magazines and authored over a dozen influential books on wooden boats, boatbuilding, and sailing history, including Clinker Boatbuilding, Gaff Rig, and The Gaff Rig Handbook, all of which remain reference works today. Leather had a particular love for gaff-rigged craft and East Coast working boats, and his knowledge was rooted not only in research but in practical experience. He was a champion of traditional boatbuilding skills and a key figure in the classic yacht revival of the 20th century. Amokura featured in his writing as an example of the finest work of Fred Shepherd and as a classic yacht of significant design pedigree. John Leather’s work helped bring wider recognition to yachts like Amokura, ensuring they were appreciated not only as seaworthy vessels but as important pieces of maritime heritage. John Leather died in 2006, but his legacy lives on in the many classic yachts still sailing today — and in the enduring influence of his writing.

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Letter from John Leather to David Japp, July 1996

webmstr — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:38:50 +0000

Dear David Yacht AMOKURA Many thanks for your letter and renewed invitation to see the AMOKURA again when she arrives at Lowestoft. I look forward to this after so many years and expect to bring with me an old friend you may know; Bernard Hayman, late editor for many years of the Yachting World magazine and someone who also knows the AMOKURA from her racing days. I think Bernard sailed against her in some races long ago. Regarding the photo of her on the slip at the Lower Yard of The Rowhedge Ironworks Co.about 1950. It was one of several taken at the time by the late F.J. Armes, a very good marine photographer from Brightlingsea. His widow still lives there, over eighty and I believe rather crotchety as I tried hard last year to see the vast number of negatives and prints she still has at her home, kept in suitcases, but without success. I fear the lot will one day be thrown out and burned, as so often happens. I will try to get the whole lot taken in to The Nottage Institute at Wivenhoe, which besides its educational maritime functions has a large collection of local maritime items gathered over many years. As I am to become one of its Trustees in autumn, having first been a pupil at its naval architecture evening classes in 1943, I may be able to influence this. If I think of other things regarding the AMOKURA before we see her, I will let you know. Do tell me when it is suitable to visit. Best wishes John Leather

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