Clyde Keel Boats

About

This Association is a registered charity, dedicated to restoring the graceful, elegant old yachts that are lying in fields, gardens and boatyards – and getting them sailing again!

Inspired by the collective enterprise of the owners of the Gareloch One Design, the owners of the Scottish Islands One Design have got together and formed this Association.

Please join us and help to restore the magnificence of the Clyde!

History

The firth of the river Clyde has a particular history for the yachtsman. It is a spectacular natural harbour, with a fishing tradition over many centuries. The fishermen raced each other, both in order to reach the markets before their rivals and latterly in straight competitive races. Non fishermen grew more interested in these events and sponsored the building of boats which were competitive, joining them during the races, (no doubt also betting on the result!) although the fishermen would still sail the boats.

Eventually the financiers would take the helm and the sport understandably grew popular. Until the advent of Glass Fibre, the yachts were built of wood and great designers made their worldwide reputation by designing yachts that would win such races. Watson, Fyfe and Mylne were names that conjured up elegant and graceful craft that were also world beaters in international competitions. Fyfe owned a yard at Fairlie, literally on the shore of the Clyde and from here his wonderful yachts (now fetching millions of pounds when exchanged between millionaires) were launched. The yard of McGruer on the Gareloch also spawned beautiful yachts, from whence the “Gareloch One Design” was designed in 1924… all 16 of these small yachts have now been restored and are sailing together! Yet the Clyde has seen a reduction in the popularity of this sport since the end of the Second World War and certainly a loss in the great spectacle that it provided for spectators from the shores of the river. A Great Aunt of mine, a nurse and a spinster, used to go on holiday to Gourock “What do you do in Gourock?” I would ask, aged ten and baffled. “Well, I watch the yachts racing!” she would reply. So ‘Doon the Water’ did not just mean steamships to Bute!

Design

Alfred Mylne designed the Scottish Islands One Design in 1926. Every boat, according to the class rules, was painted a different colour and had an engine fitted (or the equivalent weight and a dummy propeller). The first four were built in 1928 ( Westra 1), (Cara 2), (Bernera 3). (Stroma 4). The yachts proved to be very successful and another six were built before the Second World War .(Sanda 5), (Jura 6), (Fidra 7),(Iona 8), (Gigha 9), The racing was very keen and competitive and the boats were recognised as a very successful and attractive design, having good sea-keeping properties.

Herbert Thom was the class champion and he had (Canna 10) built before the Second World War .During the war ‘Westra’ was destroyed by fire and some time in the 1960’s ‘Iona’ is reputed to have been scuppered in the Clyde, having lain for many years at Hunterston. Following the war racing was resumed and a further yacht (Isla 10), was built in 1960. Before long the racing was supported by fewer boats, others were converted into cruising yachts and the class dispersed. But they were well remembered and in 1990 people started to restore some of them, notably ‘Cara’ ,’Stroma’, ‘Bernera’, ‘Isla’,and ‘Gigha’,followed by ‘Canna’, also a new boat was built ‘Shona’.(12). The fate of ‘Sanda’(5) and ‘Jura’(6) was to gradually deteriorate in the open, in Hull and in Lowestoft respectively. But these have been recovered from Lowestoft and Hull by this charity and are now in Adam Way’s boatyard on the Crinan Canal at Cairnbaan, awaiting restoration.’ Fidra’ remains converted to a cruising yacht, with a modern high profile sailplan.

The Association raced three of the restored Scottish Island Class in the 'Round Bute Race' organised by the Isle of Bute Yacht Club on the 24th of June, in very strong winds. Gigha won her class, with Canna second and Shona retired hurt, with a broken spreader. Next year we expect to increase the number sailing in this race!