Arthur Henry Kirk Collection

The 205 ton J-class yacht Velsheda sailing close hauled, 1933
The 205 ton J-class yacht Velsheda sailing close-hauled, 1933. Velsheda was designed by Charles E Nicholson and built in 1933 for Woolworths founder William L Stephenson

The 19-metre Wendula & Mariquita sail close-hauled, 1913
The 19-metre Wendula (renamed Octavia ) & Mariquita sail close-hauled, 1913. Mariquita was designed by William Fife III and Octavia by Alfred Mylne

The 96 ft ketch Julnar, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 96 ft ketch Julnar, 1911. 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

The Lady Anne spray over deck, sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The Lady Anne spray over deck, sailing close-hauled, 1912. The Lady Anne, a 15 Metre cutter designed by William Fife III was launched in 1912

The steam yacht Chimaera, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The steam yacht Chimaera, 1914

The majestic cutters White Heather and Shamrock race downwind, 1912. Creator
The majestic cutters White Heather and Shamrock race downwind, 1912

The sailing yachts White Heather and Shamrock, race downwind. Shamrock was designed by William Fife and was Sir Thomas Liptons first challenger for the Americas Cup

The cutter Shamrock beating upwind. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Shamrock beating upwind. Shamrock, designed by William Fife, was Sir Thomas Liptons first (1899) challenger to the Americas Cup

Cremona crashes through wave, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6-metre Cremona crashes through wave, 1913

The steam yacht Boadicea at anchor. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The steam yacht Boadicea at anchor

The steam yacht Wanderer (later named Vagus ) hoisting sails

The steam yacht Joyeuse, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The steam yacht Joyeuse, 1914

The motor yacht La Toquade at anchor, 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The motor yacht La Toquade at anchor, 1939

The 179 ton cutter White Heather sailing close-hauled, 1924. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 179 ton cutter White Heather sailing close-hauled, 1924

Hole torn in the hull of RMS Olympic after the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent, 20th September 1911

The beautiful schooner Meteor IV, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The beautiful schooner Meteor IV, 1911. Meteor IV was Kaiser Wilhelm IIs fourth yacht. It was designed by Max Oetz and launched in 1909

The cutters Rosamond, Carina and Sonya racing downwind, 1911. Creator
The cutters Rosamond, Carina and Sonya racing downwind, 1911

The 142 ton steam yacht Sapphire under way, 1920. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 142 ton steam yacht Sapphire under way, 1920. The Sapphire was built for the Duke of Bedford, by John Brown and Co. Limited, of Clydebank in 1912

The 140 ft schooner Heartsease under sail. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 140 ft schooner Heartsease under sail. Heartsease was built by J.G. Fay & Co. and later renamed to Adela

The gaff rigged cutter Bloodhound sailing downwind with spinnaker, 1911. Creator
The gaff rigged cutter Bloodhound sailing downwind with spinnaker, 1911. The 40 ton cutter, Bloodhound was designed by William Fife and built in 1874

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

Istria sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Istria sailing close-hauled, 1912. Istria, was designed by Charles Nicholson and originally owned by the architect Sir Charles Allom

Americas Cup challenger Shamrock IV sailing without topsail, 1914. Creator
Americas Cup challenger Shamrock IV sailing without topsail, 1914. Shamrock IV was a yacht owned by Sir Thomas Lipton and designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson. She was launched in June 1914

The J-Class yachts Shamrock V and Britannia, 1934. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The J-Class yachts Shamrock V and Britannia, 1934

The sailing yacht Sea Belle under way, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The sailing yacht Sea Belle under way, 1911

The 6 Metre class Freesia sailing close-hauled, 1921. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre class Freesia sailing close-hauled, 1921

Sloop (Dragon? class) sailing with spinnaker, c1938. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Sloop (Dragon? class) sailing with spinnaker, c1938

The auxiliary schooner La Cigale sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The auxiliary schooner La Cigale sailing close-hauled, 1913

The schooner Meteor IV, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Meteor IV, 1911. Meteor IV was Kaiser Wilhelm IIs fourth yacht. It was designed by Max Oetz and launched in 1909

Wamba II running downwind under spinnaker, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Wamba II running downwind under spinnaker, 1914

The 76 ton schooner Lisette under sail. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 76 ton schooner Lisette under sail. Lisette was built at Cowes in 1873

1st Earl of Birkenhead with his daughter on board their yacht, (Isle of Wight?), c1925
Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead (1872-1930) with his daughter Lady Pamela Smith Berry, Baroness Hartwell (1915-1982) on board their yacht, (Isle of Wight?), c1925

Trivia, a 12 Metre class yacht sails close-hauled, 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Trivia, a 12 Metre class yacht sails close-hauled, 1939. Trivia was designed by Charles Nicholson for Vernon W. MacAndrew. She achieved first in her class in 1937, her first season

The luxury steam yacht Nahlin at anchor. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The luxury steam yacht Nahlin at anchor. Nahlin is a luxury yacht and one of the last of three large steam yachts constructed in the UK

The schooner Meteor IV, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Meteor IV, 1912. Meteor IV was Kaiser Wilhelm IIs fourth yacht. It was designed by Max Oetz and launched in 1909

The 6 Metre sailing yacht Margaret (K14) sailing close-hauled, 1921. Creator
The 6 Metre sailing yacht Margaret (K14) sailing close-hauled, 1921

The Yarmouth One Design Greywing, 1922. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The Yarmouth One Design Greywing, 1922

The steam yacht Niagara, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The steam yacht Niagara, 1912

The yawl Wendur sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The yawl Wendur sailing close-hauled, 1913. Wendur was built by D & W Henderson & Co. Glasgow in 1883

The 6 Metre Womba II running downwind, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Womba II running downwind, 1913

Stella sailing close-hauled, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre class Stella sailing close-hauled, 1914

La Belle Sauvage, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
La Belle Sauvage, 1912. The 3 masted barquentine steel auxiliary steamer was built by Ramage & Ferguson, Leith and launched in 1894

The 6 Metre class Lanka, Wamba and Stella racing on reaching leg, 1914

The 6 Metre Stella, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Stella, 1914

The spectacular 15 Metre Vanity sailing in a good wind, 1912. Vanity was designed by William Fife III and launched in 1909

The 6 Metre Vanda sailing broad reach, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Vanda sailing broad reach, 1913

The 8 Metre Garraveen (H7), sailing close-hauled, 1914 Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 8 Metre Garraveen (H7), sailing close-hauled, 1914. Garraveen was designed by Morgan Giles and constructed by Nicholson & Pulton, Southhampton in 1914

The 7 Metre Ancora (K3) sailing under spinnaker, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 7 Metre Ancora (K3) sailing under spinnaker, 1913. Ancora went on to win gold medal in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics

The steam yacht Surf at anchor, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The steam yacht Surf at anchor, 1912

The steam yacht Aldebaran under way, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The steam yacht Aldebaran under way, 1913

The Lady Anne making waves in a good breeze, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The Lady Anne making waves in a good breeze, 1912. The Lady Anne, designed by William Fife III was launched in 1912. The Lady Anne was restored in 1999 by Fairlie Restorations

Saunders Shipyard (Interior), Cowes, 1938. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Saunders Shipyard (Interior), Cowes, 1938

The 19-metre class Norada & Mariquita, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 19-metre class Norada & Mariquita, 1913. Norada was designed by Charles Nicholson and Mariquita by William Fife III. Mariquita is the only surviving 19-metre of the six that were built

The auxiliary sailing ship Sunbeam, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The auxiliary sailing ship Sunbeam, 1911. The 565-ton three-masted schooner was owned by Lord Brassey who had her built in 1874

Steam yacht Liberty running east. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Steam yacht Liberty running east. Liberty was built for Joseph Pulitzer in 1908. Designed by George Lennox Watson she was one of the largest private yachts of her day

The 105 ft ketch Thendara sailing with spinnaker. 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 105 ft ketch Thendara sailing with spinnaker. 1939. Thendara was designed by Alfred Mylne for the Scottish yachtsman Sir Arthur Young. She was launched in 1937 and is still racing today

Istria sailing downwind under spinnaker, viewed from stern, 1912
Istria sailing downwind under spinnaker, 1912. Istria, was designed by Charles Nicholson and originally owned by the architect Sir Charles Allom

The 15-metre Ostaria, Hispania and Sophie Elizabeth racing upwind, 1911

The schooner Pampa. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Pampa

The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1932. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1932. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928. It was converted to J-Class in 1931

HMY Britannia before being sunk, July 1936. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
HMY Britannia before being sunk, July 1936

The 6 Metre Cremona moored with flags, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Cremona moored with flags, 1913

Steam yacht Miranda at anchor, 1910. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Steam yacht Miranda at anchor, 1910

Unknown yacht sailing close-hauled. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Unknown yacht sailing close-hauled

The five masted windjammer cargo ship Preussen under sail. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The five masted windjammer cargo ship Preussen under sail

The Big Five J Class yachts racing downwind, 1934. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The Big Five J Class yachts racing downwind, 1934

Hole torn in the hull of RMS Olympic after the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent, 20th September 1911

The 6 Metre Cheetal (L21) sailing upwind, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Cheetal (L21) sailing upwind, 1911

Steam yacht Liberty, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Steam yacht Liberty, 1914. Liberty was built for Joseph Pulitzer in 1908. Designed by George Lennox Watson she was one of the largest private yachts of her day

Sailing yachts cross start line. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Sailing yachts cross start line

Claude Grahame-White hydroplane, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Claude Grahame-White Hydroplane, 1912

The hydroplane Brunhilde. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The hydroplane Brunhilde. Brunhilde was built by S. E. Saunders on the Isle of Wight for the Duke of Westminster as a successor to the record breaking Ursula

A group onboard sea sled Miss England, 1922. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Claude Grahame-White in his experimental 45-foot power sledge, Miss England, 3 Sept 1922. Miss England was built of wood by the Cowes firm of S.E. Saunders in 1921

The cutter Shamrock beating to windward. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Shamrock beating to windward. Shamrock, designed by William Fife, was Sir Thomas Liptons first (1899) challenger to the Americas Cup

The studio of Kirk & Sons of Cowes, Isle of Wight, August 1935. Kirk & Sons of Cowes were Photographers by Royal Appointment to King George V

The 147 ton ketch Thendara sailing upwind. 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 147 ton ketch Thendara sailing upwind. 1939. Thendara was designed by Alfred Mylne for the Scottish yachtsman Sir Arthur Young. She was launched in 1937 and is still racing today

The 23 Metre sailing yacht Cambria, 1928. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23 Metre sailing yacht Cambria, 1928. Cambria was built by William Fife for the newspaper magnate Sir William Berry

The Prince of Wales and Prince Edward at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, 1908

The schooner Meteor IV, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Meteor IV, 1913. Meteor IV was Kaiser Wilhelm IIs fourth yacht. It was designed by Max Oetz and launched in 1909

The cutter Shamrock sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Shamrock sailing close-hauled, 1912. Shamrock, designed by William Fife, was Sir Thomas Liptons first (1899) challenger to the Americas Cup

The 1894 built schooner Xarifa under sail, 1899. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 1894 built schooner Xarifa under sail, 1899

Prince Arthur on board HMY Victoria and Albert, c1925. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Prince Arthur on board HMY Victoria and Albert, c1925

The magnificent schooners Germania and Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The magnificent schooners Germania and Waterwitch, 1911. The 250 ton schooner Germania was designed by Max Oertz and owned by the German industrialist Count Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach

Queen Mary aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, 1931. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Queen Mary aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, 1931. Queen Mary (1867-1953) on board the royal yacht

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EDITORS COMMENTS

Arthur Henry Kirk was a renowned shipbuilder and naval architect from Cowes, known for his exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs. His legacy lives on through the magnificent vessels he created, each one a testament to his expertise. One of Kirk's notable creations was the majestic J-class yacht Velsheda. With its sleek lines and impressive 205-ton weight, it gracefully sailed close hauled in 1933, showcasing Kirk's mastery of yacht design. Another masterpiece by Kirk & Sons of Cowes was the steam yacht Boadicea. This vessel exuded elegance as it anchored peacefully, reflecting Kirk's attention to detail and commitment to creating luxurious yachts. In 1913, Cremona crashed through a mighty wave, displaying both her strength and Kirk's ability to construct sturdy vessels that could withstand nature's forces. Kirk also designed the steam yacht Joyeuse in 1914. This exquisite creation exemplified his dedication to combining beauty with functionality in every aspect of his work. The motor yacht La Toquade at anchor in 1939 showcased yet another side of Kirk's talent. Its modern design highlighted his adaptability as he embraced new technologies while maintaining timeless aesthetics. Kirk & Sons' contributions were not limited to luxury yachts alone; they also played a role in sailing competitions such as the America’s Cup. The iconic Shamrock IV raced without topsail in 1914, demonstrating both speed and agility under Kirk's careful engineering. However, even great ships face challenges at times. In 1911, RMS Olympic suffered a torn hull after colliding with HMS Hawke in the Solent waters—a reminder that even amidst adversity, Arthur Henry Kirk’s designs stood strong against unexpected obstacles.