James Beale

James Beale was the son of industrial magnate, keen yachtsman, and Yacht Association member, Sir John Field Beale. Like his father, James also had a love of water sport, but competitive rowing was his first choice. Educated at Harrow School, Field then went to Cambridge and rowed for the First Trinity Boat Club, representing them at Henley in the Thames and Grand Challenge Cups. He had University eight trials in 1928 and 1929, but, unlike his father (1898), never won a Blue.

Beale later enjoyed his father’s passion for sailing, originally in dinghies on the Thames, and in 1935 he came third in the Ranelagh Trophy at Putney for 14-foot dinghies with his craft Afterthought. They then ventured into coastal waters and won the 14-foot dinghy class at the Torbay Regatta in 1937, and in 1939 Beale and Afterthought were third at Cowes.