Category Archives: sailmakers

Sensuous and mental joys

It’s pleasing to hear about yacht designer, surveyor, sailmaker, yachtsman, paragon of octogenarian health and prolific author of really useful yachting books, Ian Nicolson, rubbing shoulders with fellow media and literary ‘heavyweights’, Sally Magnusson, James Robertson and Kirsty Wark, at … Continue reading

Posted in boatbuilders, boatyards, book, film, Firth of Clyde, G.L. Watson, G.L. Watson & Co., gift, Glasgow, Martin Black, naval architect, object of desire, other yacht designers, sailmakers, Uncategorized, yacht clubs, yacht design, yacht designer, yachting history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wind of fortune

  Snippets of news slipping out online more than strongly suggest that one of the most exciting of classic yacht replica projects is well underway: a reincarnation of G.L. Watson’s design for the fabulous and fast schooner Rainbow, later Hamburg, … Continue reading

Posted in archives, Baltic Germany, Big Class, boatbuilders, boatyards, Captains, Clyde yachting, Clydebuilt, film, Firth of Clyde, G.L. Watson, G.L. Watson & Co., G.L. Watson & Co. Ltd., G.L. Watson clients, gift, Glasgow, leather-bound, Martin Black, naval architect, object of desire, other yacht designers, photography, replica, River Clyde, sailmakers, shipbuilding, shipyards, yacht design, yacht designer, yacht racing, yachting history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

High wire act

This wonderful image from G.L. Watson – The Art and Science of Yacht Design of Shamrock II’s huge jackyard topsail being raised at Rothesay, Isle of Bute in 1901 made The Herald Scotland magazine’s Saturday Portfolio spot last weekend. Try … Continue reading

Posted in America's Cup, Big Class, Clyde yachting, Clydebuilt, Firth of Clyde, G.L. Watson, Glasgow, Irish yachting, photography, sailmakers, tank testing, yacht racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Altair: one of Scotland’s most beautiful things

Altair: one of Scotland’s all time most beautiful things. Made by men who worked with their head and their hands – and their heart. Designed, built and launched at Fairlie, Ayrshire, Scotland, 1931, by William Fife and Son. IM (Thanks … Continue reading

Posted in art, boatbuilders, boatyards, Clydebuilt, film, object of desire, other yacht designers, sailmakers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Weekend Watson – Lufra

For those suffering the worst of winter right now, here’s a bright sunny image – even in monochrome – from the mid-1890s. The gaff-rigged cutter Lufra eats up the Clyde off Dunoon in a stiff nor’westerly, her cotton sails by … Continue reading

Posted in boatbuilders, boatyards, Clyde yachting, Firth of Clyde, G.L. Watson, object of desire, sailmakers, The Weekend Watson, yacht racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments