Henry Ashton Highet, commonly known as Harry Highet, (1892 - 1989) was a New Zealand civil engineer famous for his 'P-class' yacht design. This class is famous for being the sailing trainer vessel for many new entrants into the sport, and virtually every famous New Zealand yachtsman, including Sir Peter Blake and Russell Coutts, learnt to sail in one.[1][2]
Harry was born in Wellington in 1892, the son of Scottish immigrants Thomas Morton and Isabella Highet. He was the youngest of nine children. Harry's father was an ironmonger and worked at the Evans Bay Patent slip, introducing Harry to shipbuilding from a young age.
A nephew of Harry's was Allan Highet, a member of Parliament for National. His sister, Mary, married George Page, Mayor of Nelson from 1935 to 1941.[3]
Harry was also involved in many railway construction projects in his capacity as an engineer for the New Zealand Ministry of Works.