Clyde Classic, which will be held on the Clyde over 21 – 23 June, is shaping up to be a highlight of this summer’s classic season. The event is unique – part regatta, part classic yacht design symposium -and it is attracting entrants visiting the Clyde for the Fife Regatta as well as local classics from the Clyde, Argyll and Northern Ireland. Clyde Classic will see an interesting line-up of authors, journalists, academics and classic yacht owners speaking at the symposium element of the event, at the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club (RNCYC).
Event organiser Gordon Drysdale commented: “The genesis of Clyde Classic is a belief that the yacht design heritage of the Firth of Clyde deserves celebration and wider appreciation. With an active classic scene on the south coast of England, the Clyde should be able to match this activity, being the well-spring of so much design, build and racing activity. I am delighted that stalwart Clyde and Argyll classics will be joined by yachts visiting for the Fife Regatta.”
The William Fife III ketch ‘Kentra’ has recently being launched after seven years in storage at Fairlie and is being re-commissioned for the event. Kentra’s owner will speak at the Clyde Classic symposium, reflecting on his guardianship of her as she approaches her ninetieth year. Kentra is joined by another big William Fife III yacht, the 86ft schooner ‘Astor’. Her world-girdling owners, Richard and Lani Straman, have never before sailed her on the Clyde.
Clyde Classic is not just for large classics but smaller craft too, including work boats and motor boats. Brian Corbett will return with his 24ft Nathaniel G Herreshoff-designed ‘Winifred’, repeating his sterling efforts bringing her up from the south of England for last year’s McGruer Regatta.
Alfred Mylne will be represented by the 1908 yawl, ‘Maid of Lorn’ and the restored six metre, ‘Valdai’, which will travel up from Fowey for the regatta. The McGruer dynasty’s body of work will be represented by ‘Elona’ and ‘Kelana of Clynder’. The latter’s owner, Jamie Grant, is part of the main sponsor’s team from MacRoberts solicitors.
The symposium element of Clyde Classic is the first to be held in the United Kingdom. Gordon Drysdale commented that “the Clyde Classic symposium is an exciting waypoint in the growing interest in classic yachts. There have been symposiums in the United States in recent years, most recently at the 2012 Fife Symposium. It is fitting that the first UK symposium should be on the Clyde and will look at the wider design context. Symposium-only tickets to Clyde Classic are available through www.clydeclassic.com – my hope is that local people will join crew, owners, enthusiasts and RNCYC members at the informal symposium sessions.”
The symposium includes the launch of a new book on McGruer& Co, the screening of a short film commissioned to celebrate the 19-Metre Fife Mariquita’s centenary and a talk on the lesser known Clyde designers by former RNCYC archivist, Iain McAllister. Symposium talks are limited to 20 mins duration, followed by questions. There will also be a whisky tasting session by event sponsor, Adelphi Distillery.
One fine old lady will be attending the event, ‘Ayrshire Lass’, last afloat for the McGruer Regatta, where as usual, she bewitched onlookers. Since then she has been stored on her tailored transportation lorry, in a quiet corner of a Gareloch shed. Launched in 1887, it is a wonder to see
her still sailing and reflects the dedication of her owner and supporters.
Gordon Drysdale commented that “it is through events like Clyde Classic and the Fife Regatta that we can support the trades, owners and crew that keep these boats still sailing. More than this, we must generate a new generation of younger owners to become their guardians for the future.”
For more information on the event please visit www.clydeclassic.com
