Arthur Henry Kirk Collection (page 2)

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 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

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

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

Hole torn in the hull of RMS Olympic after the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent, 1911
Hole torn in the hull of RMS Olympic after the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent, 20th September 1911. The collision took place as Olympic

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 early aviation pioneer, Claude Grahame-White flew his hydroplane at Cowes over the assembled yachts which included the Royal Yacht which had King George V

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 Prince of Wales and Prince Edward at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, 1908. The Prince of Wales (1865-1936, later King George V) with his son Prince Edward (1894-1972)

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

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. HMY Victoria and Albert, launched in 1899, was a steamship used by the royal family

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

The 221 ton gaff-rigged cutter Britannia sailing under spinnaker, 1913. Creator
The 221 ton gaff-rigged cutter Britannia sailing under spinnaker, 1913. Britannia was owned by King George V. One of the most successful racers of its day, in 1913 it won 8 of the 13 races it entered

Steam yacht Minona under way, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Steam yacht Minona under way, 1913

The American J-Class yacht Yankee, 1935. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The American J-Class yacht Yankee, 1935. In 1935 Gerry Lambert bought the Frank Paine designed Yankee to England to race against the British J-Class yachts Endeavour, Velsheda, Candida

The 6 Metre class Maid Marion (K22) sailing close-hauled, 1921

Corridor and cabins on SS Insulinde, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Corridor and cabins on SS Insulinde, 1914. The Dutch steam ship SS Insulinde was built in 1914 for the Rotterdam Lloyd company and served as a passenger freight ship between Rotterdam and Jakarta

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

The 161 ton schooner Amphitrite at anchor, 1922. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 161 ton schooner Amphitrite at anchor, 1922. Amphitrite was designed by Ben Nicholson and built in 1887

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 steam yacht Sabrina at anchor, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The steam yacht Sabrina, 1914. Sabrina was built by Vickers, Sons & Maxim in 1899

The Russian Imperial Yacht Standart at Cowes, 1909. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The Russian Imperial Yacht Standart at Cowes, 1909. Standart was built by order of Emperor Alexander III of Russia, and constructed at the Danish shipyard of Burmeister & Wain

The ketch Xarifa (renamed Verona ) at anchor, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The ketch Xarifa (renamed Verona ) at anchor, 1912

Izmes two 150 hp engines, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Izmes two 150 hp engines, 1913. Izme was built for Albert Vickers to take part in the British International Trophy (Harmsworth Trophy) event held at Osborne Bay in September 1913

RMS Queen Mary passing Cowes, Isle of Wight, August 1936. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
RMS Queen Mary passing Cowes, Isle of Wight, August 1936. A policeman watches from the quay as the ocean liner Queen Mary passes the port of Cowes

Prince Albert at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, 1910. Prince Albert (1895-1952, later King George VI) in naval cadets uniform at the college where he spent two years

The gaff rigged 8 Metre Spero sailing with spinnaker, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The gaff rigged 8 Metre Spero sailing with spinnaker, 1912

The 105 ft ketch Thendara sailing upwind. 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 105 ft 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 135 ft barque sailing ship Modwena, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 135 ft barque sailing ship Modwena, 1913. Modwena was built in 1908 by John Reid in Glasgow. In 1912 she was bought by the sewing machine magnate Mortimer Singer to use as a private yacht

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

Queen Mary, King George V and crew on board HMY Victoria and Albert, 1925. Creator
Queen Mary, King George V and crew on board HMY Victoria and Albert, 1925. Group portrait of King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary (1867-1953) with the crew of the royal yacht Victoria and Albert

The spectacular 338-ton Big Class schooner Westward, 1926. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The spectacular 338-ton Big Class schooner Westward, 1926. Westward was designed by Nathanael Herreshoff and built in 1910

The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, c1908. Group portrait of the Prince of Wales (1865-1936, later King George V) and Princess of Wales (1867-1963)

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 Prince of Wales and Prince Edward at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, 1908. The Prince of Wales (1865-1936, later King George V) with his son Prince Edward (1894-1972)

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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.