Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Iain Oughtred and Nic Compton's beautiful biography

Nic Compton's new volume on Ian Oughtred, published by and available now at WoodenBoat
courtesy WoodenBoat


Iain's Elf, after the Hardanger Faering
courtesy Bootbouwer



A sailing version of the Acorn Skiff, the design credited with 'making' Iain's career



The Arctic Tern, says Iain, is a 95% scaled down Ness Yawl. These boats take their inspiration from the Shetland Yoals, but are lightened and narrowed for faster recreational performance. This example has a gunter sloop rig,  giving increased windward performance



Jeanie II, the prototype for the Arctic Tern, named for Iain's mother.


The Arctic Tern profile drawing as found in Iain's design catalogue, a desirable piece of literature, which can be ordered from Iain . Find his mailing address below.



For comparison, here's a photo of a Shetland Yoal, a foureen from about 1895 with a high peaked lugsail, found in " Inshore Craft of  Britain" by Edgar J. March



Interor view of a JII or Arctic Tern built by Andrew Kitchen



One of  Iains most popular designs, the Ness Yawl
this photo was originally taken by Owen Sinclair from his Welsford Navigator and is of John Hitchcock's Ness 



Bumblebee Pram, courtesy Strathkanchris



Macgregor sailing canoe, also courtesy Chris Perkins, aka Strathkanchris,via Intheboatshed



Here's Iain sailing a sprit rigged Elf
courtesy Bootbouwer



Cover of  Iain's design catalogue which is in itself a formiddable work of art.
Order from iain direct at the address given below.



Albannach, or Alba, Iains own Ness Yawl, is now for sale. Details here.
I believe this boat has won a Glen Raid or two



A Wee Seal at the Port TownsendWooden Boat Festival (I have no idea what year)
courtesy John Welsford, a formidable small boat designer in his own right, via  Duckworks Magazine



Eun Na Mara



Haiku, Iain's interpretation of Ralph Monroe's noted sharpie Egret
There's an article on the designing and  building of this wishbone cat ketch to be found in Water Craft #61



I've included this photo simply because I found it compelling, a Ness or Caledonia Yawl, most likely, but I was intrigued by the extended stem and stern  posts, a more traditional Norwegian detail
courtesy Bootbouwer




Author Nic Compton, in colusion with WoodenBoatBOOKS and Adlard Coles has produced a sumptuious feast of a biographry about Iain Oughtred, his life and his designs. It takes one from Iain's early years in Melbourne and Sydney, his migration to Britain and his participation in the wooden boat revival there, and his eventually settling in his adopted homeplace, beloved Scotland. It also chronichles the arc of his career and follows the development of his design philosophy. The book also includes a beautiful design catalogue. Copious photographs accompany and illustrate the text. Biographies are often slow going, even a bit moribund, but for me this one (so far anyway, I haven't finished) reads more like a thriller, pulling you forward, wanting to find out what happens next. Iain started his sailing career as a racer and has  not denied these roots in his design, even as he turned more and more to maritime tradition for his inspiration. His entire ouerve has seen him grounding his designs in seaworthy tradition while updating them for contemporary use, building techniques and speed. He has been instrumental in putting forward the lapstrake plywood/epoxy building program (he wrote a book on this technique), and his design always takes into account the homebuilder. Mr. Compton has knit all this together into a flowing narrative that stays out of the way and allows the story unfold like a satisfying afternoon sail. Highly recommended. Iain Oughtred's life is and has been an extraordinary journey and this book is testimony to it.  Amazon is taking orders, but you can get the book now at WoodenBoat. I suggest you do so.  Iain doesn't maintain a web presence but some of his plans are available through WoodenBoat, Classic Marine, Jordan Boats UK or directly from Iain  the old fashioned way, here:

Iain Oughtred
Struan Cottage
Bernisdale
Isle of Skye
IV51 9NS

Tel: 01470 532732

 Iain is selling his Ness Yawl, Albannach, offered on the Jordan site.



5 comments:

Mike said...

Thanks Thomas for letting us know about this biography.

I've always admired Ian’s designs and now I'm looking forward to reading about the man.

Mike

bowsprite said...

incredibly beautiful boats. Wow. Thank you!

Dave Coulter said...

What a post! I haven't (yet) built a boat, but I did purchase a set of his plans for the sailing canoe.

Someday, someday.....

Gavin Atkin said...

For a slightly different take, I reviewed Compton's biography some time ago. http://intheboatshed.net/2009/07/31/iain-oughtred-a-life-in-wooden-boats-a-sympathetic-biography-by-nic-compton/

Thomas Armstrong said...

To follow up on Gavin's comment, I'd suggest that you take his advice and read his review, maybe a little more than slightly different and perhaps far more perceptive, but in any case worth a look, and if you are not familiar with intheboatshed, please acquaint yourself.