Robert Clark

[ahab]

I own a 35 foot yacht designed by Robert Clark and built in the Netherlands in the 60's
I am wanting to find out more about the designer
Does anyone know of any potential sources of information?

 

[Jeremy_W]

Congratulations. Sailing a Robert Clark design upwind is a great experience. Robert Clark was probably the most successful designer of single-handers in the sixties. His designs scored first - second - first - fourth in the first four Observer Single Handed Transatlantic races (The yachts being Gipsy Moth III, Gipsy Moth III, Sir Thomas Lipton, British Steel). British Steel obviously also did a RTW against the prevailing winds.
Clark's Admiral's Cuppers include Jocasta (1957 British team) and Caprice of Huon (1965, 1967 Australian teams).
Robert Clark also designed the Ocean Youth Club's standard 70-foot training yacht.

 

[Mirelle]

As a (very) young man he designed a yacht named "Mystery" which got a glowing testimonial in the YM of the (1930's) day from Dr T Harrison Butler; several sisters were ordered and he was on his way. He tended to design pretty, fast, docile boats which did not rate that well under RORC or IOR rules, no doubt because of their conventional good qualities such as stiffness, longish ends, etc.

 

[ahab]

Thank you, she is indeed a joy to sail, although down wind she needs careful handling.

Do you know of any source of information on Robert Clark and his designs?

 

[Adrian_Morgan]

Classic Boat ran a Robert Clark profile some months back, plus review of Mystery and discussion of his relationship with HB

 

[Jeremy_W]

There's no particular single source. I'm just a sucker for those coffee table books with names like "The Greatest Yachts" which end up being remaindered down from £25 to £5.99. You could try the Amateur Yacht Research Society web site which includes a list of past issues. I know AYRS gets hammered as a bunch of dilletantes but you might get lucky.

There's a bunch of guys in Portsmouth restoring the Clark 41 "Pas Seul" after a little sinking near Figuera da Foz in Portugal. They were looking into Clark's other work. Maybe I could put you in touch to create a virtual fan club.

 

[Adrian_Morgan]

See above re Classic Boat. NMM has his plans. Little known fact: he once worked from an upstairs office in George St Croydon, before moving to London's West End. Drew his first boat, Mystery, while recovering from an illness as a young man. Based on Turner's Metacentric principle "a true metacentroid". Indeed, she steers like an arrow. No weather/lee helm. Now restored and based on east Coast at Fox's. HB said "woe betide if you fall overboard as she'll not stop for you..."

 

[Mirelle]

Just to prove the point, "Mystery" has (or at any rate she had) the smallest tiller I have seen on a boat of her size!

 

[ahab]

Thanks for the info, I have requested a copy of the article from Classic Boat. Owned by IPC but not part of the YBW setup??

I know that I shouldn't ask but who are NMM and what plans do they have.

Regards

 

[Twister_Ken]

>I know that I shouldn't ask but who are NMM and what plans do they have.<

My first guess - National Maritime Museum
Second guess - Nice Mister Mandelson

 

[Bosunof]

I have a Robert Clark 42'. She is a lovely sail and is currently on the West coast of Scotland under refit

Her name? Bosun. One of only four built. I would like to get in contact with all her previous owners to discover what she has done before I took on the task of caring for her. Do her sister yachts still sail in British waters?

Is there a biography of Rbert Clark? Would make interesting reading.

 

[sailorman]

"Mystery"

is she now in Ipswich again

 

[Mirelle]

I think so.

I know where her original 1930's chromed bronze Highfield levers, erroneously removed in the course of restoration as "not original" are, too - and "Mirelle" has no plans to return them!

 

[Dipper]

If it is the same boat (steel yawl), we charted ‘Pas Seul’ from Portsmouth Harbour (Hardway) about 20 years ago for a long weekend in the Solent. Unfortunately, there was not a lot of wind. I would have loved to have seen what she could do in a strong breeze.

Manoeuvring in close quarters under engine was not her strong point especially when you had to change into reverse by burying half your body into the stern locker to reach the gear lever.

 

[Aja]

I got the plans and sail plan for my father's 8 tonner from Greenwich. Very helpful.

Think the price was about £15 per plan.

Donald

 

[traveler_ten]

Sister Ship to Bosun

Hello Bosunof,

I've just purchased a sister ship of Bosun of Forth - Bowstring. She is not in British waters, but in the Caribean. I would be interested in exchanging information with you, if you are still active on this forum.

Best Regards,

Aidan

 

[Leighb]

Robert Clark also designed the Royal Harwich One Design in 1937. For those who don't know this is a 20 foot day racing yacht, still being raced on the Orwell.

At that time a young Austin Farrar worked in his office, and was commissioned to design the rig and sailplan. For it's time it was considered to be very advanced.

Austin came to the 60th anniversary party and gave us a fascinating talk on the history of the class.

 

[robgilham]

Don't know when I'll next think to log onto this forum, if you want to contact me do so on robgilham@googlemail.com, I use that one all the time.