Alfred Mylne was apprenticed to the famous Scottish shipbuilders, Napier Shanks and Bell.He then worked as draftsman to G.L. Watson, where he was involved in drawing up the plans of the Royal Yacht "Britannia". This "Britannia" was the magnificent racing cutter that was first owned by the Prince of Wales [later King Edward VII] and which later passed to his son, King George V.
Mylne set up his own office in 1896, which almost certainly makes the firm that still bears his name the world's oldest yacht design business in continuous production. Mylne immediately established a reputation as a designer of winning yachts, and was one of the people behind the most successful yacht handicap rules of all time - the International Metre Rule. This rule was devised in 1906 and in the following years Mylne designed a wonderful collection of winners in various metre sizes up to the remarkable and successful 19 metre cutter "Octavia".
Mylne designs were always admired for their elegance, and this was one of the attractions that drew owners to commission cruisers of every size from his design board. He also produced One-Design classes and racing dinghies, launches and some commercial craft. In 1911 he bought a yacht building yard with his brother Charles and ran it himself until he handed it over to his nephew, Alfred Mylne II in 1946 when he retired. Mylne ran the design office and yacht yard through both World Wars, producing craft for the Royal Navy as well as major components of flying boats for the Royal Naval Air Service.