Alfred Mylne was a shy and humble man and was averse to any sort of publicity. However, as much as he hated being photographed, the caption to this picture above from a 1938 edition of the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News will probably have pleased him. It is headlined “The Great Designer”, and reads: “Mr Mylne is the best-known of the Scottish designers, and his Clyde ketches, such as Thendara and Fiumara are famous. He is the present Commodore of the Clyde Cruising Club”. Best known of the Scottish designers? Better known than his friend William Fife III of the Fairlie dynasty? Even if not absolutely true, this was a compliment indeed.
The image shows Mylne at the helm of Fara, the only representative of the new 30sqM Class yet built in Britain. She had been commissioned by notable Glasgow yachtsman Colonel William Wordie and constructed at Alfred’s own Bute Slip Dock at Ardmaleish.” At the 1938 Clyde fortnight, which was being described as “the greatest yachting festival since the last war”, she, along with the Scandinavian imports Hexan and Tarpoon, were considered “the most interesting entries.”
Fara proved typical of Mylne boats in not winning her first few times out, while showing enough flashes of speed and promise at different moments to catch the eye.
THE DRAGONS ARE COMING
The fact he was involved at all with a Nordic class is quite something. Around that time Johan Anker’s Dragons were establishing themselves as one of the hottest classes on the Clyde, and Mylne was very upset about it. We have to remember he knew Anker well from the IYRU committee,
