Lee Bow 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 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

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 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

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

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 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 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 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

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

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

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

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 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 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 schooner Astria sailing close-hauled. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Astria sailing close-hauled

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 cutter Nanette sailing close-hauled, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Nanette sailing close-hauled, 1911

The racing cutters Sonya, Onda and Carina, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The racing cutters Sonya, Onda and Carina, 1911

The 45 ton cutter Camellia sailing close-hauled, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 45 ton cutter Camellia (previously named Varia ) sailing close-hauled, 1911

The cutters Creole (3) and Ma oona (6) racing close-hauled, 1913. Creator
The cutters Creole (3) and Ma oona (6) racing close-hauled, 1913. Ma oona was designed by Alfred Mylne and built at McAlisters yard in Dumbarton in 1907. Creole was designed by George L

The yawl Adelaide under sail, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The yawl Adelaide under sail, 1913

Yawl sailling close-hauled, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Yawl sailling close-hauled, 1914

The racing cutters Creole (3) and Rosamond, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The racing cutters Creole (3) and Rosamond, 1911

Schooner (Waterwitch?) under sail, c1936. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Schooner (Waterwitch?) under sail, c1936

The gaff rigged 8 Metre class Termagent (H9) sailing close-hauled, 1911. Creator
The gaff rigged 8 Metre class Termagent (H9) sailing close-hauled, 1911

Saling yacht Asphodel (K5) with prize flags, 1922. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Saling yacht Asphodel (K5) with prize flags, 1922

The 6 Metre Flya (K13) sailing close-hauled, 1921. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Flya (K13) sailing close-hauled, 1921

The 6 Metre class Maid Marion (K22) and Freesia (K11), 1921

The 6 Metre yacht Polly (K10) sailing upwind, 1921. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre yacht Polly (K10) sailing upwind, 1921

The cutter Rosamond sailing with spinnaker, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Rosamond sailing with spinnaker, 1911

The cutter Rosamond sailing close-hauled, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Rosamond sailing close-hauled, 1911

The ketch Lady Camilla sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The ketch Lady Camilla sailing close-hauled, 1912. Lady Camilla, originally called Nyria, was designed as a cutter by Charles E. Nicholson and built in 1906. In 1912, under the ownership of Mr H

Start of W Class race: Squirrel (3), Jadi (26), Diana (8), Emerald (27), Melody (28), 1931

The racing cutter Creole under sail, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The racing cutter Creole under sail, 1911. Creole was built in 1890 from designs of G L Watson for Colonel Villiers Bagot

The cutter Minstrel competing in the round Island Race, 1938. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Minstrel competing in the round Island Race, 1938. (Possibly the 1913, William Fife designed yawl that was later converted to a bermudan sloop.)

The 6 Metre Jonquil sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Jonquil sailing close-hauled, 1912

The yawl Gertrude sailing close-hauled. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The yawl Gertrude sailing close-hauled

Sailing yacht Blue Peter, 1934. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Sailing yacht Blue Peter, 1934

Unknown schooner under sail. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Unknown schooner under sail

Start of race at East Cowes Sailing Club, July 1921. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Start of race at East Cowes Sailing Club, July 1921

Group of cruisers sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Group of cruisers sailing close-hauled, 1913

The ketch Valdora sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The ketch Valdora sailing close-hauled, 1912

The cutter Onda sailing close-hauled, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Onda sailing close-hauled, 1911

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

The 6 Metre Cynthia sailing upwind, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Cynthia sailing upwind, 1912

The 6 Metre Ejnar (L17) breaking waves, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6 Metre Ejnar (L17) breaking waves, 1912

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"Captivating Close-Hauled Sailing: A Glimpse into the Exquisite Lee Bow Yachts" Step back in time and witness the sheer elegance of sailing as these magnificent vessels gracefully cut through the water, their lee bows pointing towards adventure. In 1933, the majestic 205-ton J-class yacht Velsheda showcased its prowess, sailing close hauled with an air of regality. Its sleek design and impressive size made it a true spectacle on the open seas. A decade earlier, in 1913, Kirk & Sons of Cowes crafted another masterpiece - La Cigale. This auxiliary schooner was a vision to behold as it glided effortlessly close-hauled, leaving behind a trail of awe-inspired onlookers. Not far behind was Lisette, a stunning 76-ton schooner also created by Kirk & Sons of Cowes. With every sail perfectly trimmed and taut against the wind's force, Lisette embodied both beauty and power. Julnar took to the waters in 1911 as a remarkable example of nautical craftsmanship. This 96-ft ketch designed by Kirk & Sons of Cowes displayed exceptional skill in navigating upwind while maintaining its gracefulness. The Trivia joined this elite fleet in 1939 as a proud representative of the prestigious 12 Metre class yachts. As it sailed close-hauled under expert guidance from Kirk & Sons of Cowes' creators, Trivia left spectators spellbound with its speed and precision. Meteor IV made waves in maritime history when it first set sail in 1912. The brainchild of Kirk & Sons of Cowes' skilled artisans, this schooner epitomized elegance while conquering any headwind that dared to challenge its might. Witnessing Ostaria, Hispania, and Sophie Elizabeth racing upwind together was like witnessing poetry come alive on water; their synchronized movements painted an enchanting picture of competition and camaraderie in 1911.