Alexander Robertson and Sons Ltd (Yachtbuilders)
Encyclopedia
Sandbank, Argyll and Bute
Sandbank is a village on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, 2.5 miles north of Dunoon on the coastal A815 or the inland A885. It sits on the southern shore of the Holy Loch, branching off the Firth of Clyde....
in 1876, and went on to become one of the foremost wooden boat builders on Scotland's River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
. The 'golden years' of Robertson's yard were in the early 1900s when they started building IYRU 12mR & 15mR (Metre Class) racing yachts. Robertsons was well known for the quality of its workmanship and was chosen to build the first 15-Metre yacht designed by William Fife III (Shimna, 1907). More than 55 boats were built by Robertsons in preparation for the First World War and the yard remained busy even during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
in the 1930s, as many wealthy businessmen developed a real passion for yacht racing on the Clyde. During World War II the yard was devoted to Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
work, producing a wide range of large high speed Fairmile Marine
Fairmile Marine
Fairmile Marine was a British boat building company founded in 1939 by the car manufacturer Noel Macklin.Macklin used the garage at his home at Cobham Fairmile in Surrey for manufacturing assembly which is why the boats he designed came to be called Fairmiles....
Motor Boats. After the war the yard built the successful one-class Loch Longs and two 12-Metre challengers for the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
: Sceptre (1958) and Sovereign (1964). Due to difficult business conditions the Robertson family sold the yard in 1965, and it was turned over to GRP production work until it closed in 1980. During its 104 year history, Robertson's Yard built 500 boats, many of which are still sailing today.
Alexander Robertson (1851-1937)
Alexander Robertson, the son of a fisherman from TarskavaigTarskavaig
Tarskavaig is a crofting village on the West coast of Sleat on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It sits in a glen which meets Tarskavaig Bay and lies opposite the Isles of Eigg, Rum and Canna....
on the Isle of Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
, was born in Inverkip
Inverkip
Inverkip is a village and parish falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies about southwest of Greenock on the A78 trunk road...
on 29 August 1851. Following the catastrophic Potato Blight on Skye in 1846, Alexander's father left Tarskavaig
Tarskavaig
Tarskavaig is a crofting village on the West coast of Sleat on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It sits in a glen which meets Tarskavaig Bay and lies opposite the Isles of Eigg, Rum and Canna....
to seek a better life fishing on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
. After his parents moved to Sandbank in 1859 to run the village Post Office, he served his apprenticeship as a boat builder in Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
and Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
. In 1876, at the age of 25, he teamed up with Daniel Kerr to build small boats at his workshop in Sandbank. The partnership was dissolved in 1878, and Alexander went on to acquire larger premises in order to expand the business. He initially designed many of the yachts and launches himself, but in later years used many leading designers of the day to carry out work on the larger boats. Alexander remained chairman of the company until 1935, only two years before he died in 1937.
Cowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
; Parish Councillor; Justice of the Peace; member of the School Board; director of Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
District Cottage Hospital; on the Board of Management of the Parish Church and he was also responsible for organising many social gatherings in the village hall. He also took a very keen interest in yacht racing in the Holy Loch, even in his later years.
Early Years
By the age of 16, Alexander had started work as an apprentice with the DunoonDunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
boatbuilder, Ewen Sutherland. After his initial training, further experience was acquired at Alexander Stephen and Sons Ltd of Linthouse, one of the main Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
yards. In 1876 Alexander, at the young age of 25, teamed up with Daniel Kerr to form 'Robertson & Kerr, Boat Builders and Carpenters'. The initial boats built in their small workshop were modest 'clinker' craft and fishing skiffs, but they also carried out repairs, hired and stored boats, laid moorings and even earned money from fishing. On 17 October 1878, after around two years together, the Robertson & Kerr partnership was dissolved when Daniel Kerr accepted a job with the Clyde Lighthouse Trust.
Alexander continued working at the small workshop for several years, for the most part repairing boats. As business was booming he began looking for larger premises and found an old distillery site (Owned by Dugald McKinley, 1825–1833) with around 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of land, ample supplies of fresh water and good access to the sea. The land was purchased in 1879 and the first shed constructed in 1880. By 1887 the first phase of development of the site had been completed, and Alexander Robertson had the largest number of yachts (47) under his charge of any yard in Scotland. Construction of a slipway, to launch larger boats (greater than 25 ft) was held up for several years (1887–1892) because of the proposed plans to build the Clyde Ardrishaig and Crinan Railway, which would have passed right through the middle of the yard.
Golden Years
A proper boat numbering system was introduced at the new 'distillery' site in 1889 and every detail relating to cost was recorded in large ledgers. Boat No 1 was a 25 ft (7.6 m) cutter designed by Alexander Robertson for John Dobbie of DunoonDunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
, named Cowal Lass. Boat No 3 was the Fairlie, a 19 ft (5.8 m) cutter designed by William Fife III for A. Currie of Sandbank in 1890. This was the start of a long relationship with the famous Fife yard at Fairlie and over the years Robertsons built 11 Fife designed yachts. A 26 ft (7.9 m) cutter called Verve, designed by the famous George Lennox Watson in 1892, was the first of many to be built at the yard. The Alfred Mylne
Alfred Mylne
Alfred Mylne was a Scottish yacht designer, born in Glasgow. He founded A Mylne & Co. in 1896.- Work :Alfred Mylne was apprenticed to the Scottish shipbuilders Napier, Shanks and Bell, and went on to work as a draftsman and apprentice to George Lennox Watson...
-designed boats did not commence until 1900, with two 24 ft (7.3 m), 19/24 Clyde class sloops, the Valmai and the Susette. The Mylne family owned the 41 ft (12.5 m) Mylne-Robertson cutter Medea (Ex Vladimir) for over 30 years.
In April 1893 Alexander Robertson leased an acre of land on the 'foreshore & seabed' from the Board of Trade for a period of 31 years, with a rent of £2 per annum. Permission included the rights to extend the yard and build a slip, dock and wharf. The new slipway and pier were built in 1893, in time for wintering the boats at the end of the season. With an estimated cost of £4,000 - £5,000, this was one of the most important investments in Clyde yachting. The new slipway, allowed boats greater than 25 ft (7.6 m) to be built and launched, and was considered one of the best in the land. It was reported in the New York Times, on 14 December 1895, that "In Robertson's yard, Sandbank, Clyde, about 100 craft have been taken ashore for the Winter...". This confirms the significant growth of the business as a result of the new slipway.
Cisne Branco
Cisne Branco is a tall ship of the Brazilian Navy hailing out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, though she travels worldwide.Cisne Branco is a full-rigged ship built in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Damen Shipyard...
- Alfred Mylne, 1910), 12-Metre Heatherbell (Thomas Glen-Coats, 1907); 12-Metre Cyra (Alfred Mylne
Alfred Mylne
Alfred Mylne was a Scottish yacht designer, born in Glasgow. He founded A Mylne & Co. in 1896.- Work :Alfred Mylne was apprenticed to the Scottish shipbuilders Napier, Shanks and Bell, and went on to work as a draftsman and apprentice to George Lennox Watson...
, 1909); 10-Metre Pampero (1912); 8-Metre Novena (1908); 5-Metre Mungo (1908). Elrhuna, a lovely 28 ft (8.5 m) sloop was designed by Alexander in 1904, and due to the quality of the wood and sound construction she still races regularly on the West Coast of Scotland. The first of many motor boats were built in 1905, among them a luxurious 28 ft (8.5 m) teak built 'carvel' motor launch ordered for the S Y Nahma, which was the last boat designed by George Lennox Watson. The development of early steam boats by Alexander provided the necessary expertise to build 7 steam powered launches for the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
in the years leading up to World War I.
Robertson’s Yard was exceptionally busy in 1908. As well as four racing yachts, one large motor launch and several tenders under construction, they had plenty of hollow-spar work and major modifications to the Susanne. The yard employed seventy men and they had to work overtime to keep up with the ambitious building programme. Many alterations were made to the yard and they had a new building shed with 26 ft (7.9 m) headroom and a 4000 sq ft (371.6 m²) moulding-loft. The yard was now capable of building yachts of any size, and it was hoped some 23-Metre work would follow.
Alexander was a rather astute businessman so, as the yard was booming in the early 1900s, he began buying up properties along the shore of the Holy Loch to stop other boat yards being built.
The Wars
Over 55 boats were built by Robertsons in preparation for the First World War, and after the war the yard started to diversify and fit-out larger yachts. The company had been run by Alexander for many years, but now three of his sons were helping to run the family business. In 1922 Alexander decided to re-structure the organisation so it could be operated without him in the future. Alexander Robertson & Sons (Yachtbuilders) Limited was formally established on August 5, 1922 to "carry out all aspects of designing, building and repair of yachts, sale of yachts and sail making". Four of Alexander's sons helped to run the business in later years: Archibald; Alexander (Alec); Donald; George.Robertson's Yard was now looking for a new designer and by the end of 1929 David Boyd had replied to an advertisement in the Glasgow Herald. In 1937 he designed the sleek 6-Metre racing yacht Circe, which was described by many as the most successful racing yacht ever produced by the yard. Mr J. Herbert Thom, one of the Clyde's best helmsmen sailed the yacht with tremendous success in America in 1938 and brought back the 'Seawanhaka Cup', which was successfully defended in home waters the following year.
Alexander's eldest son Archibald Robertson was the senior Director in the company and destined to take over operation of the yard before he died in November 1929. Alexander remained Chairman of the company until June 1935, when he was 84. However, even after that he maintained a keen interest in the operation and was often first at the yard in the morning to see the men get started. He died on 15 Feb 1937 at the family home, 'Tarskavaig', named after the small crofting village on the Isle of Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
.
The first order for a lifeboat from the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) was secured by the yard in 1935. The Charlotte Elizabeth was the first motor-powered lifeboat launched in Scotland, and was later stationed in Port Askaig
Port Askaig
Port Askaig is a port village on the east coast of the island of Islay, in Scotland.-Transport:Port Askaig serves as the main port of Islay, sharing passenger services to the Scottish mainland with Port Ellen...
, Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
: she now lies abandoned by Thurso Harbour in Caithness http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/6641/Rotting_lifeboat_s_claim_to_fame_revealed.html. Orders for a further 10 lifeboats followed, several of which came back for regular servicing.
During the 1930s many gigs (or tenders) were built for larger boats launched further up the Clyde, among them the MY Virginia and SY Nahlin. A luxury 30 ft (9.1 m) motor launch was built for the owner of the SY Nahlin, along with a motor tender for the crew, two lifeboats and two dinghies.
Several larger boats were also built during this impressive pre-war period: Caretta, 67 ft (20.4 m) twin screw motor launch designed by Messrs G L Watson in 1927; Ron, 50 ft (15.2 m) ketch designed by J A McCallum in 1928; Southern Cross, 51 ft (15.5 m) ketch designed by Alfred Mylne
Alfred Mylne
Alfred Mylne was a Scottish yacht designer, born in Glasgow. He founded A Mylne & Co. in 1896.- Work :Alfred Mylne was apprenticed to the Scottish shipbuilders Napier, Shanks and Bell, and went on to work as a draftsman and apprentice to George Lennox Watson...
in 1930; Zigeuner, 60 ft (18.3 m) yawl designed by David Boyd in 1935
The specially fitted out 'ocean going' cruiser Southern Cross left Robertson's Yard on 26 October 1930 and set sail on a 3 year round the world trip, arriving in Brisbane in October 1931. Tragically, on the return leg her owner D Guthrie Dunn was lost overboard near St Helena. The yacht was brought back to Robertson's Yard by a new crew on 8 July 1933, where she was refitted and sold on.
Fairmile Marine
Fairmile Marine was a British boat building company founded in 1939 by the car manufacturer Noel Macklin.Macklin used the garage at his home at Cobham Fairmile in Surrey for manufacturing assembly which is why the boats he designed came to be called Fairmiles....
motor boats were launched during the war: Fairmile A motor launch
Fairmile A motor launch
The Fairmile A motor launch was a type of Motor Launch designed by Fairmile Marine for the Royal Navy.Shortly before the Second World War the British industrialist Noel Macklin submitted to the Admiralty an innovative plan for the series production of a motor launch...
, 100 ft (30.5 m) triple screw (1); Fairmile B motor launch
Fairmile B motor launch
The Fairmile B motor launch was a type of Motor Launch built by Fairmile Marine during the Second World War for the Royal Navy for coastal operations.-Design:...
, 112 ft (34.1 m) twin screw (7); Fairmile C motor gun boat
Fairmile C motor gun boat
The Fairmile C motor gun boat was a type of Motor Gun Boat designed by Norman Hart of Fairmile Marine for the Royal Navy. An intermediate design, twenty-four boats were built in 1941 receiving the designations MGB 312 - 335.-Design:...
, 110 ft (33.5 m) triple screw (3); Fairmile D motor torpedo boat
Fairmile D motor torpedo boat
The Fairmile D motor torpedo boat was a type of British Motor Torpedo Boat designed by Bill Holt and conceived by Fairmile Marine for the Royal Navy....
, 115 ft (35.1 m) quadruple screw (12). Some of the boats returned for servicing during the war and many others were repaired or modified for the Admiralty.
A number of Robertson built Fairmile boats had distinguished war records: ML-160 was lead vessel in the starboard column during Operation Chariot, the successful St Nazaire Raid on the heavily defended German dry dock and naval base in March 1942; many of the boats took part in Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, the invasion of Normandy; and several of these high speed launches were engaged in clandestine operations undertaken in Norway and the Mediterranean.
Sailing in the Clyde area was restricted during the war, although the Holy Loch appears to have been an unrestricted area in March 1940. The Clyde racing fleet did not make its official appearance after the war until 25 May 1946. Due to the shortage of materials the cost of building a new yacht had increased by 50% between 1939 and 1945.
Winds of Change
Boat building and yachting in particular changed direction dramatically after the war. Larger boats with crews all but disappeared and they were gradually replaced by more economical cruising and racing yachts. The 'one-off' design/building work that the yard specialised in was replaced by 'one-design' yachts, which began with Uffa Fox's Flying Fifteens in 1948 and the successful Loch Longs in 1949.In September 1956 a Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the most prestigious yacht club in the United Kingdom and arguably the world. Its clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom...
syndicate was formed to build a 12-Metre for the 1958 America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
. The challenger was selected based on model tank testing and David Boyd's second design was chosen. In October 1957 Sceptre http://www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/register/Sceptre.htm was beginning to take shape at Robertson's yard in Sandbank. She was officially launched on 2 April 1958. Some initial testing took place in the Holy Loch, but more extensive trials were carried out in the Solent before she was shipped to America. The Sceptre lost to the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
yacht Columbia in September 1958.
Royal Thames Yacht Club
The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the oldest sailing club in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are located at 60 Knightsbridge, London, England, overlooking Hyde Park....
Committee was anxious about her performance and David Boyd was asked to design another boat similar to Sovereign, which was named Kurrewa V. Before the two yachts left British waters they conducted trial races in May/June 1964 and the Sovereign was officially selected as the challenger. Although the New York Yacht Club yacht Constellation won the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
off Newport, Rhode Island, Sovereign was much admired for her graceful lines and magnificent teak deck.
It was around this time that major business problems started to appear and during a slow period the yard found work building fast launches for the RAF. They undertook fixed price contracts for two 63' General Service Mk 1 Pinnaces, but delays, design changes and escalating cost of materials put the yard in financial difficulties. At the AGM held on 4 June 1963, discussion took place regarding the adverse outcomes of these contracts and it was agreed efforts should be made to sell the yard. The Robertson family finally sold the yard in 1965 and it became a subsidiary of the Auchinleck Investment Co of Glasgow (comprising a syndicate of 5 well-known Clyde yachtsmen), essentially ending wooden boat building there.
GRP Production
The yard continued to operate for a further 14 years assembling a wide range of GRP (fibreglass) boats such as Pipers, Ohlsons, Etchells and Pilot Launches. The rising cost of oil and resin along with strong competition from the more established GRP yards down south brought boatbuilding to a close in 1980. Buildings in the lower yard were finally pulled down in the late 1980s and the site was levelled for re-development. All that was left of the original yard was the slipway and the proud boats that were once launched from it.Houses have now been built in the upper yard, and the lower yard site became incorporated in the new Holy Loch Marina development during 2009.
Tables - Boats and Designers
A total of 500 numbered boats were built at the yard, according to the yard build-book. However, in addition, around 300 smaller boats (under 20 ft) were also built: fishing skiffs; rowing boats; sailing dinghies; tenders (gigs); sailing lifeboats; motorised lifeboats.Classic Wooden Boats
A remarkably wide range of Classic Wooden Boats were built at Robertson's Yard.| Class of Wooden Boat | Number | Some Key Names and Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Metre | 2 | Shimna (1907), Tritonia ( later Jeano and Cisne Branco Cisne Branco Cisne Branco is a tall ship of the Brazilian Navy hailing out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, though she travels worldwide.Cisne Branco is a full-rigged ship built in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Damen Shipyard... ) 1910 |
| 12-Metre (Classic) | 2 | Heatherbell (1907), Cyra (1909) |
| 12-Metre (Modern) | 3 | Sceptre (1957), Sovereign (1963), Kurrewa V (later Ikra) 1963 |
| 10-Metre | 1 | Pampero' (1912) |
| 8-Metre | 4 | Novena (1908), Decima (1910), Sunburst (1967) |
| 6-Metre | 5 | Maid Marion (1921), Circe (1937), Marylette (1953) |
| 5.5-Metre | 2 | Maryllis (1951), Yolaine (1953) |
| 5-Metre | 1 | Mungo (1908) |
| Belfast Lough, Utah 18 ft (5.5 m) | 4 | n/a (1891) |
| 23/30 Clyde Class | 2 | Lottie (1898), Hawk (1898) |
| 19/24 Clyde Class | 5 | Valmai (1900), Valtos (1903), Sunbeam II (1904) |
| 30 ft (9.1 m) Clyde Class | 3 | Vladimir (later Medea) 1904, Sunbeam (1908), Corrie (1908) |
| Holy Loch Redwing | 4 | n/a (1903) |
| 7 Lengths Cutter (Germany) | 1 | Scottie (1906) |
| Dragon | 5 | Argee (1937), Arabis (1937), Primula (1937) |
| Flying Fifteen | 4 | Malise (1948), Sprite (1948), Cirrus (1949) |
| Loch Long | 27 | Blaithe (1949), Akela (1951), Rebel (1966) |
| Piper | 1 | Sandpiper (1966), original hull design for the GRPs |
| Watson Lifeboats (RNLI) | 9 | Charlotte Elizabeth (1934), W M Tilson (1950) |
| 32' Surf Lifeboats (RNLI) | 2 | Norman Nasmyth (1938), John Ryburn (1938) |
| Fairmile 'A', ML | 1 | 110 ft (33.5 m) Triple Screw Motor Launch, ML 106 (1939) |
| Fairmile 'B', ML | 7 | 112 ft (34.1 m) Twin Screw Motor Launch, ML 119, 136, 160, 197, 223, 238, 454 (1940–45) |
| Fairmile 'C', MGB | 3 | 110 ft (33.5 m) Triple Screw Motor Gun Boat, MGB 315, 317, 320 (1941) |
| Fairmile 'D', MTB & MGB | 12 | 115 ft (35.1 m) Quadruple Screw Motor Gun Boats & Motor Torpedo Boats: MGBs 625, 630, 637, 661; MTBs 653, 675, 691, 718, 731, 758, 793, 5018 (1942–45) |
| Admiralty Launches (other) | 65 | 50 ft (15.2 m) Steam Pinnace (1912), Patrol launch (1957) |
| RAF Mark 1 Pinnace | 2 | RAF 1380 (1956), RAF 1382 (1958) |
| RAF (other) | 6 | Motor launches (1957) |
In addition to the series of Classic Boats above, there were many 'one-off' Classic Boats which were built at Robertson's Yard.
| Classic (One-Offs) | Type of Wooden Boat | Designer | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairlie | 19 ft (5.8 m) Cutter | William Fife III | 1890 |
| Vill-u-an | 32 ft (9.8 m) Lugger | William Fife III | 1895 |
| Ernani | 59 ft (18 m) Wooden Screw Schooner | Alexander Robertson | 1898 |
| Verve II | 53 ft (16.2 m) Cutter | G L Watson | 1899 |
| Elrhuna | 28 ft (8.5 m) Sloop | Alexander Robertson | 1904 |
| Galma | 60 ft (18.3 m) Twin Screw Motor Launch | Alfred Mylne Alfred Mylne Alfred Mylne was a Scottish yacht designer, born in Glasgow. He founded A Mylne & Co. in 1896.- Work :Alfred Mylne was apprenticed to the Scottish shipbuilders Napier, Shanks and Bell, and went on to work as a draftsman and apprentice to George Lennox Watson... |
1908 |
| HMAS Australia | 50 ft (15.2 m) Steam Launch | Admiralty | 1909 |
| Adara | 63 ft (19.2 m) Twin Screw Motor Launch | J A McCallum | 1920 |
| La Falaise | 55 ft (16.8 m) Twin Screw Motor Launch | G L Watson & Co | 1923 |
| Ariadne | 69 ft (21 m) Motor Launch, ketch rigged | Alfred Mylne Alfred Mylne Alfred Mylne was a Scottish yacht designer, born in Glasgow. He founded A Mylne & Co. in 1896.- Work :Alfred Mylne was apprenticed to the Scottish shipbuilders Napier, Shanks and Bell, and went on to work as a draftsman and apprentice to George Lennox Watson... |
1925 |
| Caretta | 67 ft (20.4 m) Twin Screw Motor Launch | G L Watson & Co | 1927 |
| Ron | 50 ft (15.2 m) Ketch, gaff rigged | J A McCallum | 1928 |
| Pretty Polly | 67 ft (20.4 m) Auxiliary Cutter | G L Watson & Co | 1929 |
| Southern Cross | 51 ft (15.5 m) Twin Screw Auxiliary Ketch | G L Watson & Co | 1930 |
| Zigeuner | 61 ft (18.6 m) Auxiliary Bermudan Yawl | David Boyd | 1935 |
| Taiseer V | 38 ft (11.6 m) Auxiliary Sloop | C A Nicholson | 1953 |
| Lone Fox | 64 ft (19.5 m) Ketch | Robert Clark Ltd | 1957 |
| Greylag | 38 ft (11.6 m) Auxiliary Bermudan Sloop | David Boyd | 1962 |
| Sandpiper | 24.5 ft (7.5 m) Day Boat (prototype of Pipers) | David Boyd | 1966 |
Designers
Robertson's Yard built boats were designed by many famous naval architects throughout its history, among them, David Boyd who joined the yard in 1929.| Robertson's Yard - Designers | Wooden Boats Only |
|---|---|
| George Lennox Watson, & Co (1892–1950) | 38 |
| Alfred Mylne Alfred Mylne Alfred Mylne was a Scottish yacht designer, born in Glasgow. He founded A Mylne & Co. in 1896.- Work :Alfred Mylne was apprenticed to the Scottish shipbuilders Napier, Shanks and Bell, and went on to work as a draftsman and apprentice to George Lennox Watson... (1900–1925) |
27 |
| Noel Macklin – 'Fairmile' MTB's (1939–1945) | 23 |
| Alexander Robertson (1876–1907) | 17 |
| David Boyd (1933–1967) | 16 |
| William Fife III (1890–1921) | 11 |
| John A McCallum (1914–1928) | 7 |
| Johan Anker - 'Dragons' (1937–1952) | 5 |
| Uffa Fox - 'Flying Fifteens' (1948–1949) | 4 |
| Thomas C Glenn Coates (1907) | 1 |
| C A Nicholson (1953) | 1 |
| Robert Clark (1957) | 1 |
Note - The above counts for Alexander Robertson and David Boyd are probably understated - some of their boat designs were attributed to 'the builder', by Lloyd's Register
Lloyd's Register
The Lloyd's Register Group is a maritime classification society and independent risk management organisation providing risk assessment and mitigation services and management systems certification. Historically, as Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was a specifically maritime organisation...
.
GRP Boats
The table provides a summary of the main classes of GRP boats fitted-out, or built at the yard.| Class of GRP Boat | Number | Some Key Names and Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Piper | 57 | Stormpiper fitted-out (1967), Hee Hoo (1977) |
| Etchell 22 | 49 | Pinocchio (1975), Mistress (1978), Playgirl II (1980) |
| Ohlson 38 | 5 | Gale fitted-out (1969), Eorsa fitted-out (1973) |
| Ohlson 35 | 1 | Nyvaig fitted-out (1973) |
| Comfort 30 | 8 | Casual Comfort (1976), Alicante (1979) |
| Bolero 25 | 11 | Bolero 1 (1979), Bolero 11 hull-only (1980) |
| Bolero 35 | 4 | Hulls only (1980) |
| Launches (65–35 ft) | 16 | Norskerry fitted-out (1969), Kempock Clyde Pilot (1978) |
Classic Wooden Robertson Boats Still Sailing
Please update this section, which has been included to provide an up to date list of all wooden boats that are still sailing.| Name | Key | Built | Type of Boat, Information and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elrhuna | c | 1904 | 28 ft (8.5 m) Sloop designed by Alexander Robertson. Based at the Lochaber Yacht Club, south of Fort William, and still racing. |
| Scottie | r | 1906 | 35 ft (10.7 m) Sloop designed by A Mylne. Raced at the Havel Klassik regatta in Berlin, as Illusion, in June 2005. |
| Corrie | r | 1908 | 44 ft (13.4 m) Sloop designed by William Fife III. Based in Gosport and still races. On the National Register of Historic Vessels. |
| Grace | c | 1909 | 28 ft (8.5 m) Sloop. Based in Italy, and racing in the Classic series. |
| Sandora | m | 1916 | 35 ft (10.7 m) ex Admiralty Motor Launch (No 750). Based in Uxbridge. |
| La Falaise (later Maria Khristina) | m | 1923 | 55 ft (16.8 m) Twin Screw Motor Launch designed by G L Watson & Co. Undergoing restoration. |
| Alice | m | 1924 | 20 ft (6.1 m) Tender for the Lulworth, which was restored 2002. |
| Ron (of Argyll) | c | 1928 | 50 ft (15.2 m) Gaff Rigged Ketch designed by J A McCallum. On charter in the Whitsunday Islands, Australia. |
| Morven | c | 1934 | 23 ft (7 m) Auxiliary Sloop designed by G L Watson & Co. Currently based at Crinan, Scotland. |
| Zigeuner | c | 1935 | 60 ft (18.3 m) Bermudan Yawl designed by David Boyd. Based at the Fremantle Sailing Club, Australia - Charter work and racing. |
| Canadian Pacific | m | 1938 | 46 ft (14 m) Watson Lifeboat. Based in Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh. |
| City of Edinburgh | m | 1938 | 46 ft (14 m) Watson Lifeboat. Seen in Buckie harbour 2005. |
| Sir Arthur Rose | m | 1938 | 46 ft (14 m) Watson Lifeboat. Renamed Rose Marion, now based at Robertson's boatyard, Limekiln Quay, Woodbridge. |
| Julia Park Barry of Glasgow | m | 1938 | 46 ft (14 m) Watson Lifeboat. Converted to gaff rig. Based at Fanan Marina on Loch Swilly. |
| The Good Hope | c | 1938 | 46 ft (14 m) Watson Lifeboat. Converted to gaff rig. Based in South Wales. |
| Marletta | r | 1947 | 6-Metre designed by David Boyd. Now named 'Belanea', and based in Switzerland - Still racing. |
| Thistle | r | 1947 | 6-Metre designed by David Boyd. Based at Hamble. Raced in the Metre Centenary Regatta Cowes 2007. |
| Loch Long (s) | r | 1949 | A total of 27 Loch Longs (21 ft) were built by Robertsons between 1949 and 1966, over 20 of which are still racing. |
| Sarah Tilson | m | 1950 | 46 ft (14 m) Watson Lifeboat. At Medway Bridge, Rochester, undergoing restoration. |
| Duckling | c | 1950 | 32.7 ft (10 m) Auxiliary Gaff Ketch designed by David Boyd. Based at Stranraer. |
| Taiseer V | c | 1953 | 39 ft (11.9 m) Auxiliary Sloop designed by C A Nicholson. Believed to have been sailing recently. Now located in France, Brittany (August 2011), named SKYE (ex Fair Judgment III, ex Taiseer V), under refit. |
| RAF 1382, now Anglian Volunteer | m | 1956 | 63 ft (19.2 m) Royal Air Force General Service Mk 1 Pinnace. Used as a training vessel by the Maritime Volunteer Service, Harwich, March 2007. |
| Lone Fox | c | 1957 | 64 ft (19.5 m) Ketch designed by R Clark for Colonel Whitbread. On charter out of St Barth's - Races regularly in the Caribbean Classic series. |
| Sceptre | r | 1957 | 12-Metre David Boyd design. Owned by the Sceptre Preservation Society, and based at Cowes, still racing. Back in home waters on the Clyde in 2009. |
| Greylag | c | 1962 | 38 ft (11.6 m) Auxiliary Bermudan Sloop designed by David Boyd for Colonel Whitbread (wee sister of Lone Fox). Currently based at Crinan. |
| Sovereign | r | 1963 | 12-Metre David Boyd design. Based at the Yacht Club de Cannes, still racing. |
| Kurrewa V (later Ikra) | r | 1963 | 12-Metre David Boyd design. Based at the Yacht Club de San Tropez, still racing. |
| Sunburst | r,c | 1967 | 8-Metre David Boyd design. Last wooden yacht built at Robertson's Yard. Raced at Cowes 2007. |
Key : c = cruising yacht, r = racing yacht, m = motor boat
Yachting History - Emergence of the Clyde and Robertsons Yard
This section provides a brief history of yachting in the UK and attempts to put the emergence of the Clyde and the story of Robertson's Yard in context.During the early part of the 17th century sailing for ‘private pleasure’ began in the Netherlands. However, it was only after King Charles II of England returned from exile in the Netherlands in 1660, and was presented with a yacht named Mary, did sailing begin on the Thames. Prior to this time the word ‘yacht’ was completely unknown in England. The first yacht race, which was patronised by the royal court, took place on the Thames in 1662. It is believed that due to Royal connections, private sailing started to become popular in Cork during the late 17th century. The first yacht club in the world, ‘The Water Club of the Harbour of Cork’, was established in 1720. This famous club was subsequently reformed and went on to become the Royal Cork Yacht Club in 1831 http://1911encyclopedia.org/Yachting.
In the 18th century yachting in Britain was a very much an exclusive sport enjoyed only by the very rich, aristocrats and Royalty. From the middle to the end of the 18th century some races took place, but yachting developed very slowly.
During the 19th century yachting became a much less exclusive sport. Although there were only a few yachts over 35 tons at the start of the century, the British yacht fleet increased dramatically from around 50 in 1812, to 500 in 1850 and 2,200 by 1902.
The first yacht club in England was formed out of the Cumberland Society fleet in 1775 and went on to become the Royal Thames Yacht Club
Royal Thames Yacht Club
The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the oldest sailing club in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are located at 60 Knightsbridge, London, England, overlooking Hyde Park....
in 1830. The Yacht Club of Cowes was founded in 1815, which became the Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the most prestigious yacht club in the United Kingdom and arguably the world. Its clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom...
in 1833. Regular weekly races were being organised at Cowes from 1826. Although yachting started on the Thames, the Solent became a much more popular venue by the middle of the 19th century. The first American yacht arrived in Cowes in 1851, which heralded the start of sailing as an international sport, and was a precursor to the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
.
The first yacht club on the Clyde was the Northern Yacht Club, which appeared in 1824 and received its Royal Warrant in 1831. The club was founded to organise and encourage the sport, and by 1825 Scottish and Irish clubs were racing against each other on the Clyde. However, it was not until 1856 and the foundation of the Clyde Model Yacht Club (which later became the Royal Clyde Yacht Club) that regular weekly races took place. The Royal Yacht Club became a driving force of Clyde yachting, as three leading designers: William Fife III, George Lennox Watson
George Lennox Watson
George Lennox Watson was a Scottish naval architect. He was born in Glasgow, son of Thomas Lennox Watson, a doctor at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and grandson of Sir Timothy Burstall, engineer and entrant at the 1829 Rainhill Trials.-Early life:...
and Alfred Mylne
Alfred Mylne
Alfred Mylne was a Scottish yacht designer, born in Glasgow. He founded A Mylne & Co. in 1896.- Work :Alfred Mylne was apprenticed to the Scottish shipbuilders Napier, Shanks and Bell, and went on to work as a draftsman and apprentice to George Lennox Watson...
were among their members. The two senior clubs on the Clyde, the Royal Northern and the Royal Clyde, were amalgamated in 1978 to become the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club.
The first recorded Clyde racing yacht, a 46-ton cutter, was built by Scotts of Greenock in 1803 .http://www.electricscotland.com/history/transport/scotts5.htm Scottish yacht designer William Fife started designing yachts as early as 1807, but his first large yacht Lamlash, a 50 ton yawl, was not completed until 1812. This was the first Scottish yacht to cruise in the Mediterranean.
The rapid growth of Glasgow as an industrial city at the beginning of the 19th century was a direct result of an early project to deepen the Clyde, which was completed in 1812. The Industrial Revolution and growing overseas trade brought great wealth to the region. Many wealthy industrialists bought houses along the coast, away from all the pollution of the big cities, and developed a great passion for yachting.
However, yacht building and yachting didn’t really take off on the Clyde until the middle of the 19th century. During the 1850s’ the new sailing clubs were very active and William Fife & Sons dramatically increased the rate of building yachts at Fairlie from 2 to 5 per year. During the 1860s’ the yard had become well established and building increased from 5 to 9 yachts every year. By the end of the century a series of yachts had been designed specifically for sailing on the Clyde: 17/19; 19/24; 30 feet (9.1 m) restricted.
The creation of the International Yacht Racing Union and the International Rule in 1907 provided a big boost to yacht building in the early part of the 20th century, and prior to World War I, the British yachting fleet had grown to around 3,900. The emergence of a group of talented Clyde yacht designers such as William Fife III, George Lennox Watson, Alfred Mylne, James McGruer and David Boyd in the first half of the 20th century firmly established the pre-eminent position of Clyde yachts on the high seas. The River Clyde became, like Cowes and Kiel, a centre for yachting.
Robertson's Yard Time Line - Key Events
The table provides a time line for key events in the history of the yard.| Year | Key Events |
|---|---|
| 1851 | Alexander Robertson born in Inverkip. |
| 1858 | The family moves to set up the new Post Office in Sandbank. |
| 1875 | Alexander's father dies. |
| 1876 | 'Robertson & Kerr Boat Builders & Carpenters' partnership formed. |
| 1878 | Partnership dissolved, but Alexander continued on his own. |
| 1879 | Bought the larger 'Distillery Site'. |
| 1887 | Initial development phase of the new yard site completed. The business was expanding, with 47 boats based (wintered) at the yard. |
| 1889 | Proper boat numbering system started (No 1 Cowal Lass). |
| 1893 | The new slipway was completed late in the year. The first large boat (greater than 25 ft (7.6 m) ) was launched in 1895; Valda a 44 ft (13.4 m) cutter. |
| 1898 | First large steam powered boat, the 59 ft (18 m) Wooden Screw-driven Schooner, Ernani. |
| 1901 | Alexander starts buying shore property in Sandbank to stop other boat yards being built. |
| 1905 | First motor boat, and tender built (SY Nahma). |
| 1906 | Start of exports. Scottie, a special 35 ft (10.7 m) Mylne designed yacht was exported to Germany to race in the Baltic. |
| 1907 | Alexander bought a considerable portion of ground on the Kilmun shore, across the Holy Loch, to stop other boat yards being built. |
| 1907 | Start of the big classic racing yachts, first 15-Metre designed by W Fife III (Shimna). |
| 1907 | One of first 12-Metres in UK to be classed under' First International Rules' (Heatherbell). |
| 1911 | First naval order, from John Brown & Co (HMAS Australia). |
| 1922 | Alexander Robertson & Sons (Yachtbuilders) Ltd Sandbank, formally structured. |
| 1929 | Designer David Boyd left Fife's of Fairlie to begin work at the yard. |
| 1934 | Start of lifeboats for the RNLI (Charlotte Elizabeth). |
| 1937 | Death of Alexander Robertson, age 86. |
| 1939 | Beginning of the fast Fairmile ML/MGB/MTBs for World War II. |
| 1949 | First of one-design Loch Longs (Thistle) built at the yard. |
| 1957 | Earliest of the modern 12-Metre racing yachts (Sceptre). |
| 1963 | Last of the big wooden yachts 12-Metre (Kurrewa V). |
| 1965 | Robertson family sold the business. |
| 1966 | Sandpiper designed by David Boyd, wooden prototype for the GRP Pipers. |
| 1967 | Last wooden boat built at the yard, D Boyd designed 8-Metre (Sunburst). |
| 1967 | First GRP Piper fitted-out (Stormpiper). |
| 1973 | GRP shed operational. |
| 1974 | Earliest Etchell 22 built in the UK. |
| 1976 | First GRP cruiser built, Comfort 30 (Casual Comfort). |
| 1980 | Yard went into liquidation. |
| 1993 | Lower Yard sold to Highlands and Islands Enterprise. |
| 2003 | Upper Yard sold for housing development. |
| 2009 | Lower Yard site being incorporated in the Holy Loch Marina expansion programme. |
External links
- Fairlie Restorations - classic sailboat restorations, specialist in William Fife yachts
- Alfred Mylne - naval architect, designer, consultants and surveyors of classic yachts
- George Lennox Watson - specialist in the design of presidential and royal yachts
- The Sceptre Preservation Society
- Twelve meter rule yachts
- International Metre Association - search for metre class yachts
- Lone Fox Charters
- Chris Cameron photography
- MoFoTo photography
- National Register of Historic Ships
- British Classic Yacht Club