For the first time since its inception in 1998, this year’s Fife Regatta will host one of the rare examples of a yacht built by the famous Fairlie boatyard to drawings by another designer: the Salcombe Saint One Design St Patrick, designed by G.L. Watson & Co., and completed in 1919 by William Fife & Son – the dream team, Watsons and Fife.
St Patrick sailing at Kippford 1950s
Iain McAllister collection
As naval architect Jack Gifford recounts, after a very short stay in Devon, together with her sister (brother?) ships, named, of course, St Andrew, St David and St George, she got around a bit before returning to Scotland to join the vibrant post-WW2 sailing scene on Scotland’s little known south coast, especially on Loch Ryan, and at Kippford where this happy image was snapped in the early 1950s.
After a period where she lost her way, she was rescued by her original design office to become “works boat” after rebuilding on the River Hamble by Fife restoration specialists Fairlie Restorations – the dream team again, and the luck of the Irish.
What became of her three saintly sister/ brother ships remains one of classic yachting’s tantalising mysteries…
IM
