William Umpleby Kirk Collection (page 18)

The schooner Dwyn-Wen, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Dwyn-Wen, 1914. Dwyn-Wen was designed by Alexander Richardson and built at Philip & Sons, Dartmouth in 1906

The 23 Metre Candida (K8) sailing with spinnaker, 1935. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23 Metre Candida (K8) sailing with spinnaker, 1935. Candida was designed by Charles Nicholson for the banker Mr. Herman Andrae. She was launched in 1929

The schooner Lamorna, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Lamorna, 1912

Ventana and The Truant racing upwind, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 8 Metre class sailing yachts Ventana and The Truant racing upwind, 1913

Christening Group for the Yugoslavian Bakar, J Samuel White and Co, Cowes, Isle of Wight, 1931
Christening Group for the Yugoslavian Bakar, J Samuel White and Co shipyard, Cowes, Isle of Wight, 10 Jan 1931

The Big Class White Heather II heeling in a good wind, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The Big Class White Heather II heeling in a good wind, 1911. White Heather II was a successful yacht designed by William Fife and won many races since her launch in 1907

The 7 Metre Nelta, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 7 Metre Nelta, 1911

The 6 Metre class Bubble, Wambat, Lanka, Stella and Vanda racing on the Solent, 1914

Gundred running downwind under spinnaker, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 8 Metre class Gundred running downwind under spinnaker, 1913

The 6 Metre class Jean (K16) sailing in light winds, 1921. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre class Jean (K16) sailing in light winds, 1921

Westward (foreground) and the visiting Canadian schooner Bluenose, 1935. Creator
The schooners Westward (foreground) and the visiting Canadian racing and fishing schooner Bluenose, 1935

The schooner Prima Donna, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Prima Donna, 1914

The 250 ton schooner Germania sailing downwind with spinnaker, 1912. Creator
The 250 ton schooner Germania sailing downwind with spinnaker, 1912. Germania was designed by Max Oertz and owned by the German industrialist Count Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach

The 6 Metre class Coral (17) and Fintra (20), 1936. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre class Coral (17) and Fintra (20) racing downwind, 1936

The 12 Metre bermuda rig sailing yacht Westra, 1936. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 12 Metre bermuda rig sailing yacht Westra, 1936. Westra, designed by Charles Nicholson, was the winning yacht in 1934 when she won 15 out of 35 races. She came second in 1935 and 1936

The beautiful schooner Cetonia making good headway, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The beautiful schooner Cetonia making good headway, 1911

The gaff rigged cutter Bloodhound sailing in light winds, 1908. The 40 ton cutter, Bloodhound was designed by William Fife and built in 1874

Start of Cowes to Weymouth Race, Ostara, Mariska, Corona & Octavia run downwind
Start of Cowes to Weymouth Race, the 15-metre Ostara, Mariska, and 19-metre Corona & Octavia run downwind, 1911

The Princess of Wales with Prince Edward and Prince Albert, Barton Manor, Isle of Wight, 1909
The Princess of Wales with her sons, Prince Edward and Prince Albert, in front of the Queens Entrance to Barton Manor, Isle of Wight, 1909

The 15 Metre Paula III sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 15 Metre Paula III sailing close-hauled, 1913. Paula III was designed by Charles Nicholson and launched in 1913. It was fitted with the innovative Marconi topmast which Nicholson also used

King George V, Queen Mary and crew on board HMY Victoria and Albert, 1927. Creator
King George V, Queen Mary and crew on board HMY Victoria and Albert, 1927. Group portrait of King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary (1867-1953) with the crew of the royal yacht Victoria and Albert

The cutter Grisette sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Grisette sailing close-hauled, 1913

The hydroplane Maple Leaf IV, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The hydroplane Maple Leaf IV, 1913. Maple Leaf IV in which T.O.M. Sopwith won back the British International Trophy in 1912, was powered by two Austin engines generating 400 horsepower

The Lady Anne sailing in gentle breeze, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The Lady Anne sailing in gentle breeze, 1913. The Lady Anne a 15-metre cutter designed by William Fife III was launched in 1912. The Lady Anne was restored in 1999 by Fairlie Restorations

Saunders motor launch on slipway ready for launching, 1908. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Saunders motor launch on slipway ready for launching, 1908

View of Spring Hill, Cowes, Isle of Wight, c1930. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
View of Spring Hill, Cowes, Isle of Wight, c1930. Spring Hill is an estate on the Isle of Wight containing the large landmark manor house of the same name

The 15-metre class Maudrey sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 15-metre class Maudrey sailing close-hauled, 1913. This yacht was designed by the Scottish boat designer William Fife III. A total of twenty 15-metre yachts were built between 1907 and 1917

Bloodhound at anchor with flags, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Bloodhound at anchor with flags, 1913. The 40 ton cutter, Bloodhound was designed by William Fife and built in 1874. Owned by the Marquis of Ailsa she had a successful racing career

The 15 Metre sailing yacht Paula III in fine form, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 15 Metre sailing yacht Paula III in fine form, 1913. Paula III was designed by Charles Nicholson and launched in 1913

The Chilean destroy Almirante Condell after launch, 27th January 1913. Creator
The Chilean destroy Almirante Condell after launch, 27th January 1913. Almirante Condell was the second of six Almirante Lynch class destroyers ordered by the Chilean Navy and built in Cowes

A run for the mark: the 19-metre class Octavia, Corona & Mariquita, 1912
A run for the mark: the British built 19-metre class Octavia, Corona & Mariquita race downwind, 1912

The 12 Metre cutter Alachie sailing in gentle winds, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 12 Metre cutter Alachie sailing in gentle winds, 1913

No wind for the 8 Metre class The Truant, Spero and The Antwerpia IV, 25th May 1912

The yawl Celia with full sail, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The yawl Celia with full sail, 1912

Saunders motor launch being launched, 1908. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Saunders motor launch being launched, 1908

The 15-metre cutter Ostara sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 15-metre cutter Ostara sailing close-hauled, 1912. Ostara, launched in 1909 was designed by Alfred Mylne

The 8 Metre sailing yacht Antwerpia (H19), 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 8 Metre sailing yacht Antwerpia (H19), 1911

The 118 foot racing yacht Cariad sailing close-hauled, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 118 foot racing yacht Cariad sailing close-hauled, 1911. Cariad, named after the Welsh word for Sweetheart was built by Summers & Payne in Southampton for Lord Dunraven in 1896

The 8 Metre Carron (K2) sailing upwind, 1934. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 8 Metre Carron (K2) sailing upwind, 1934

The launch of Chilean destroy Almirante Lynch, 28th September 1912. The name of this vessel is recorded as Tome by the photographers, Kirk & sons

The 96 ft ketch Julnar, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 96 ft ketch Julnar, 1912. Julnar was designed by William Fife and built at Southampton by Summers & Payne to the order of Sir Maurice FitzGerald, the Knight of Kerry, in 1909

Launch of the Chilean destroy Almirante Condell, 27th January 1913. Almirante Condell was the second of six Almirante Lynch class destroyers ordered by the Chilean Navy and built in Cowes

The 19-metre cutter Norada sailing close-hauled, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 19-metre cutter Norada close-hauled, 1911. Norada was designed by Charles Nicholson and launched in 1911

The handsome racing schooner Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The handsome racing schooner Waterwitch, 1911. Designed by William Fife, Waterwitch was not successful in competition and was later redesigned by Charles Nicholson

Istria viewed from lee quarter, reaching, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Istria viewed from lee quarter, reaching, 1912. Istria, was designed by Charles Nicholson and originally owned by the architect Sir Charles Allom

The 19-metre class Octavia (C2) & Mariquita racing close-hauled. Creator
The 19-metre class Octavia (C2) & Mariquita racing close-hauled. Octavia was designed by Alfred Mylne and Mariquita designed by William Fife

The American three mast schooner Karina, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The American three mast schooner Karina at anchor, 1912

The 46 ft yawl Chinkara under sail, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 46 ft yawl Chinkara under sail, 1913. Chinkara was designed by Frederick Shepherd and built in 1903 at the Hanson yard on the Isle of Wight for Colonel Potts

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William Umpleby Kirk was a renowned yacht designer and builder, known for his exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. His company, Kirk & Sons of Cowes, created some of the most iconic yachts of their time. One such masterpiece was the 205 ton J-class yacht Velsheda, captured in all her glory sailing close hauled in 1933. The sleek lines and impressive size showcased Kirk's expertise in creating powerful yet elegant vessels. Another notable creation by Kirk & Sons was the steam yacht Boadicea, gracefully anchored and exuding timeless charm. This vessel stood as a testament to Kirk's ability to combine luxury with functionality. In 1913, Cremona crashed through a wave with sheer force, displaying both her strength and the skillful design by William Umpleby Kirk. The image immortalized this momentous event that highlighted the durability of his creations. The steam yacht Joyeuse also bore witness to Kirk's ingenuity in boat building. Launched in 1914, she epitomized elegance on water while boasting cutting-edge technology for her time. Kirk's designs were not limited to motor yachts alone; he also excelled at crafting magnificent sailing vessels like White Heather and Shamrock racing downwind. These images captured thrilling moments during races where speed met artistry. Shamrock IV, an America's Cup challenger from 1914 without its topsail displayed another side of William Umpleby Kirk’s talent - designing competitive racing yachts that pushed boundaries. However, not all moments were triumphant; RMS Olympic suffered damage after colliding with HMS Hawke in the Solent waters in 1911. This incident demonstrated how even well-crafted vessels could face unexpected challenges at sea. The steam yacht Surf painted a serene picture as it rested peacefully at anchor in 1912 – showcasing yet another facet of William Umpleby Kirk’s versatility as a designer.