Alfred Mylne
Encyclopedia
Alfred Mylne was a Scottish
yacht
designer, born in Glasgow
. He founded A Mylne & Co. in 1896.
. Watson was the designer of the Royal Yacht
HMY Britannia
, the racing cutter first owned by Edward, Prince of Wales.
Mylne set up his own office in 1896. In 1906, Mylne was involved in establishing the International Metre Rule, a yacht-racing handicap
rule. Mylne designed a number of race-winning boats, including the 19-metre class cutter Octavia
in 1911.
Boat designer Uffa Fox
was a close friend of Mylne, and the latter appears regularly in the books Fox wrote before the Second World War. When Sir William Burton had his 12-metre yacht, Marina, designed, this was reviewed in Uffa Fox's Second Book (1935).
Mylne was joined in his office by Thomas Glen-Coats, and in 1908 Mylne and his apprentice Glen-Coats competed in the 12-metre class sailing event of the 1908 Summer Olympics
, in the yachts Mouchette and Hera respectively. This was the only Olympic event ever to be held in Scotland, and Hera won the gold medal.
During the First World War, the Bute Slip Dock Co (Mylne's yard at Ardmaleish point on the Island of Bute) produced hulls and components for Felixstowe F.3
and Felixstowe F.5
flying boats, as well as other Naval work. This introduced the company to new methods of construction and experience with new materials that were later adopted for use in Mylne's post war yacht designs.
The 41 ft Bermudan Cutter Medea (Ex Vladimir), see above photo, was designed by A Mylne in 1903 and built by Alexander Robertson and Sons Ltd (Yachtbuilders)
in 1904. The yacht was subsequently bought by A Mylne in 1930, modified extensively, and stayed in the Mylne family for over 30 years.
Alfred Mylne II succeeded his uncle as the senior partner in the business in 1945. He was joined by Ian Nicolson as a partner in 1959. A.Mylne & Co continues to trade as an independent yacht design company as part of Ace Marine Ltd - Naval Architects (as of March 2007).
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
designer, born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. 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 WatsonGeorge 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:...
. Watson was the designer of the Royal Yacht
Royal Yacht
A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
HMY Britannia
HMY Britannia (Royal Cutter Yacht)
His Majesty's Yacht Britannia was a gaff-rigged cutter built in 1893 for Commodore Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. She served him and his son, King George V, a long racing career.-Racing career:...
, the racing cutter first owned by Edward, Prince of Wales.
Mylne set up his own office in 1896. In 1906, Mylne was involved in establishing the International Metre Rule, a yacht-racing handicap
Handicapping
Handicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated...
rule. Mylne designed a number of race-winning boats, including the 19-metre class cutter Octavia
Octavia
-People:*Octavia the Elder, elder half sister of Octavia Minor*Octavia the Younger, sister of Augustus, younger half sister of Octavia Major and fourth wife of Mark Antony*Claudia Octavia, the daughter of Claudius and Valeria Messalina and first wife of Nero...
in 1911.
Uffa Fox
Uffa Fox CBE was an English boat designer and sailing enthusiast.-Life:Uffa Fox was born on the Isle of Wight and was raised in East Cowes. He lived for a while in Puckaster on the Isle of Wight.-Work:...
was a close friend of Mylne, and the latter appears regularly in the books Fox wrote before the Second World War. When Sir William Burton had his 12-metre yacht, Marina, designed, this was reviewed in Uffa Fox's Second Book (1935).
"The mast of Marina, the 12-metre Alfred Mylne designed for Sir William Burton in 1935, was called upon to endure some very heavy strains before the racing season started, for on her passage from the ClydeFirth of ClydeThe Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
to the South round the "Land" she met very bad weather... Though designed as a light-weather "12", Marina proved herself an able and seaworthy vessel, and came through that gale without damage to herself or her crew."
Mylne was joined in his office by Thomas Glen-Coats, and in 1908 Mylne and his apprentice Glen-Coats competed in the 12-metre class sailing event of the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
, in the yachts Mouchette and Hera respectively. This was the only Olympic event ever to be held in Scotland, and Hera won the gold medal.
During the First World War, the Bute Slip Dock Co (Mylne's yard at Ardmaleish point on the Island of Bute) produced hulls and components for Felixstowe F.3
Felixstowe F.3
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bruce, J.M. "". Flight, 2 December 1955, pp.842—846.* Bruce, J.M. "". Flight, 16 December 1955, pp.895—898.* Bruce, J.M. "". Flight, 23 December 1955, pp. 929—932....
and Felixstowe F.5
Felixstowe F.5
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bruce, J.M. " Flight, 2 December 1955, pp. 842—846.* Bruce, J.M. " Flight, 16 December 1955, pp. 895—898.* Bruce, J.M. " Flight, 23 December 1955, pp. 929—932....
flying boats, as well as other Naval work. This introduced the company to new methods of construction and experience with new materials that were later adopted for use in Mylne's post war yacht designs.
The 41 ft Bermudan Cutter Medea (Ex Vladimir), see above photo, was designed by A Mylne in 1903 and built by Alexander Robertson and Sons Ltd (Yachtbuilders)
Alexander Robertson and Sons Ltd (Yachtbuilders)
Alexander Robertson started repairing boats in a small workshop at Sandbank, Argyll and Bute in 1876, and went on to become one of the foremost wooden boat builders on Scotland's River Clyde. The 'golden years' of Robertson's yard were in the early 1900s when they started building IYRU 12mR & 15mR...
in 1904. The yacht was subsequently bought by A Mylne in 1930, modified extensively, and stayed in the Mylne family for over 30 years.
Alfred Mylne II succeeded his uncle as the senior partner in the business in 1945. He was joined by Ian Nicolson as a partner in 1959. A.Mylne & Co continues to trade as an independent yacht design company as part of Ace Marine Ltd - Naval Architects (as of March 2007).