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The Book

Alfred Mylne: Scotland's Greatest Yacht Designer - A 150th Birthday Commemorative Biography
Inside cover of Mylne book
Contents page of Mylne Book
Page showing sailors in action

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Description:

In 1896, Alfred Mylne, a visionary and ambitious 24-year-old, embarked on a groundbreaking journey by establishing his own yacht design office in the heart of Glasgow. This meticulously curated book pays homage to Scotland’s greatest yacht designer on his 150th Birthday, delving into Mylne’s prolific life, iconic yachts, and enduring legacy.

Spanning the golden age of yachting from 1872 to 1947, this luxurious narrative unfolds over 510 pages, enriched with over 700 contemporaneous photographs and drawings. The book transports readers through the fascinating world of lavish yachts and intricate designs, revealing the unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation of Alfred Mylne.

Whether you’re a casual reader intrigued by historic luxury yachting or a dedicated enthusiast of maritime design, this lavishly illustrated masterpiece promises an immersive and enlightening experience, celebrating the timeless genius of Alfred Mylne.

Features:

  • Comprehensive Biography: Celebrates Alfred Mylne's 150th birthday with an extensive look into his life and contributions to yacht design.
  • Rich Visuals: Features over 700 contemporary photographs and drawings to illustrate Mylne's groundbreaking designs.
  • Detailed Narration: 510 pages of meticulously researched content, providing an in-depth view of the yachting world between 1872 and 1947.
  • Luxurious Presentation: A stunning book that is a visual and informative treat for both casual readers and maritime enthusiasts.

Available from

Beacon, Port Edgar, Scotland.

La Libreria del mare, Milan, Italy

Toplicht, Germany

Yachting Heritage Centre, Flensburg, Germany

Boat Books Australia

Amazon (UK)

Related Books

The following books have been supported by the Mylne archive and are highly recommended additional reading.

A century ago, some of Glasgow’s best known business families chose to leave their home comforts behind every weekend in summer to do battle on the Firth of Clyde, racing against each other in a fleet of sailing yachts, the Scottish Islanders. Designed, built and organised to ensure absolutely level competition, winning in one was entirely down to boat handling skills and cunning. The boats’ seaworthiness ensured that they turned out regardless of the weather, sometimes the only fleet brave enough to do so. Their antics excited interest far beyond the yachting fraternity and were eagerly covered in the national press. Using the Scottish Islanders as a thread, we draw together stories about the people involved in the original pre-war racing scene, including some early pioneers of women on water, such as the remarkable Udy Russell, and their intense competition, including occasional excursions abroad, where we see Herbert Thom and his crew doing battle with America’s best in Oyster Bay. Finally we look at how the individual boats have survived into our age, being restored and rebuilt to serve new generations as basic, safe cruisers, still winning races, always turning heads, not forgetting the social scene.
Beautiful boats last a long time, but ugly ones die young. That is one reason why there are so many Alfred Mylne designed yachts still sailing, even though some of them are well over 100 years old. It was in 1896 that Alfred Mylne, at the age of twenty-four, set up his yacht design office in Glasgow and the company is now one of the oldest British yacht design firms still in existence. Boat design features which are widely believed to be quite new are found in early Mylne designs and between 1896 and 1920 Mylne designed several beautiful, race-winning yachts. Alfred Mylne yachts still turn heads today, even in San Tropez or Antigua. In this book, Ian Nicolson uses original plans from the archives of Alfred Mylne to demonstrate the beauty of the earliest Mylne yacht designs and to tell the story of Alfred Mylne the man.
Alfred Mylne the First designed exciting, beautiful yachts, which have won many races over the past 120 years – some are still collecting prizes. They have also cruised far and wide. Many still traverse the oceans, braving the blasting breeze with the confidence of their strong construction. Each chapter of this book is about one of these famous craft, or about a class of boats. The text reveals what is so special about each design. With a fascinating set of illustrations from the Mylne archives, each boat is accompanied by reproductions of Mylne’s original plans and drawings. This is the second book about Alfred Mylne the First’s very special designs, being a sequel to Ian Nicolson’s recent Alfred Mylne The Leading Yacht Designer: 1896-1920. Writing with expertise and enthusiasm, the author has worked in the yacht industry for seventy-one years, including twenty years with Alfred Mylne the Second.