A childhood rooted in the soil, but a destiny on the surface of the sea

Hans Fogh was born in Denmark to a family of gardeners, but it was during the summers spent at sea where he fell in love with sailing.

A young Hans Fogh was expected to continue with the family business. He apprenticed in his father's greenhouse for five years, but he spent summers at his aunt and uncle's cottage. It was there that he fell in love with the sea and discovered the joys of sailing.

Hans bought his first boat when he was 17 and, two years later, claimed his first championship in Copenhagen. He soon after took a job with Olympic and World Champion sailor Paul Elvstrom, from whom he learned the intricacies of sailing and the art of sail making. Hans quickly excelled in his sport.

In 1960, he won the European Flying Dutchman title, as well as a silver medal at the Olympic Games for Denmark. He claimed additional Flying Dutchman titles at the 1962 World Championships and the 1964 Kiel Week Regatta. Hans continued to claim sailing titles at regattas across Europe until he left Denmark.

In 1969, Hans and his family decided to immigrate to Canada, encouraged and supported by his longtime sailing friend Paul Henderson and the Canadian sailing community. Hans started his own sailmaking business, North Sails Fogh Limited. He was a skilled craftsman and innovator, creating the original laser sail, which put Canada on the map as a supplier of yachting equipment.

The Canadian sailing world rejoiced when Hans gained Canadian citizenship in 1975 and qualified for the national sailing team in 1976. He led the Canadian team to glory at numerous international sailing championship events over the next two decades, mainly in the Soling and Flying Dutchman classes. His greatest victory came at the 1984 Olympic Games when he skippered the Canadian boat to a bronze medal in the Soling class. The 24-year span between his first and second Olympic medals stands as an Olympic record.

Known as one of the finest yachtsmen of his era, Hans was ranked among the world's top ten competitive sailors. In all, he claimed three World Cups in the Soling class, eight North American, six European, and four Canadian titles in various classes of boats. He won more titles than any other Canadian sailor, was a member of seven Olympic teams, and was one of the only sailors in the world to excel in three of the seven classes of Olympic yachting.

In addition to these competitive feats, Hans was skilled in the craft of sailmaking. His sailmaking company, North Sails Fogh Limited, created the original laser sail, which put Canada on the map as a supplier of yachting equipment. Hans Fogh was awarded the Order of Sport and inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.