Alexander Robertson & Sons was a boatyard in Sandbank, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, from 1876 to 1980. The yard was located on the shore of the Holy Loch, not far from the Royal Clyde Yacht Club (RCYC) at Hunters Quay, in the building that is now the Royal Marine Hotel, which was the epicentre of early Clyde yachting. Alexander Robertson started repairing boats in a small workshop at Sandbank in 1876, and went on to become one of the foremost wooden boatbuilders on Scotland's River Clyde. The "golden years" of Robertson's yard were in the early 1900s, when it started building some of the first IYRU 12mR & 15mR (Metre Class) racing yachts. Robertson's was well known for the quality of its workmanship and was chosen to build the first 15-metre yacht designed by William Fife III (Shimna, 1907). More than 55 boats were built by Robertson's in preparation for the First World War and the yard remained busy even during the Great Depression in the 1930s as many wealthy businessmen developed a passion for yacht racing on the Clyde. During World War II the yard was devoted to Admiralty work, producing a wide range of large high-speed Fairmile Marine Motor Boats. After the war, the yard built the successful one-class Loch Longs and two 12-metre challengers for the America's Cup: Sceptre (1958) and Sovereign (1964). Due to difficult business conditions, the Robertson family sold the yard in 1965, and it was turned over to glass-reinforced plastic production work until it closed in 1980. During its 104-year history, Robertson's Yard built 482 numbered boats, many of which are still sailing today.'Robertson's Boat Yard 1876-1980', by David Hutchison - Classic Boat Magazine, June 2008
History of Robertson's Yard
Alexander Robertson (1851–1937)
In 1876, a 25-year-old Alexander Robertson teamed up with Daniel Kerr to build small boats at his workshop in Sandbank. The partnership was dissolved in 1878, and Robertson went on to acquire larger premises in order to expand the business.
Robertson not only provided a significant source of employment in Sandbank, but he also played an important part in the local community. He made notable contributions in a number of areas, including: Argyll County Councillor, representing Cowal; Parish Councillor; justice of the peace; member of the school board; director of Dunoon District Cottage Hospital; on the board of management of the Parish Church and he was also responsible for organising many social gatherings in the village hall. He also took a very keen interest in yacht racing in the Holy Loch, even in his later years.The Robertson Boat-Builders of Skye, by D Hutchison, the origin of the boat-building Robertsons from Sandbank, Clan Donnachaidh Annual 2012
Golden years
A proper boat-numbering system was introduced at the new 'distillery' site in 1889 and every detail relating to cost was recorded in large ledgers. Boat No 1 was a cutter designed by Robertson for John Dobbie of Dunoon, named Cowal Lass. Boat No 3 was the Fairlie, a cutter designed by William Fife III for A. Currie of Sandbank in 1890. (This was the start of a long relationship with the famous Fife yard at Fairlie, and over the years Robertsons built eleven Fife-designed yachts.) A cutter, Verve, designed by George Lennox Watson in 1892, was the first of many to be built at the yard. The 1894 G L Watson designed Gaff cutter Camilla is the oldest known Robertson yacht still sailing, and is based at Rhu. The Alfred Mylne-designed boats did not commence until 1900, with two , 19/24 Clyde class sloops, the Valmai and the Susette. The Mylne family owned the Mylne-Robertson cutter Medea (Ex Vladimir) for over thirty years.National Register of Archives (NRA). Robertson's Yard documents and information held at the Argyll & Bute Council Archives in Lochgilphead.
In April 1893, Robertson leased an acre of land on the "foreshore and seabed" from the Board of Trade for a period of 31 years, with a rent of £2 per annum. Permission included the rights to extend the yard and build a slip, dock and wharf. The new slipway and pier were built in 1893, in time for wintering the boats at the end of the season. With an estimated cost of £4,000 to £5,000, this was one of the most important investments in Clyde yachting. The new slipway allowed boats greater than to be built and launched, and was considered one of the best in the land. It was reported in the New York Times, on 14 December 1895, that "In Robertson's yard, Sandbank, Clyde, about 100 craft have been taken ashore for the Winter...". This confirms the significant growth of the business as a result of the new slipway.Scotsman Newspaper
The yard became renowned for its quality tenders which were built for large steamships launched further up the river. It appears that the first such order was for a set of four boats for Mr Ninian B Stewart's new steel steam screw schooner Maria, designed by G L Watson, and built in 1896. (No Yard Number for boats, no yard reference. Source: Yachtsman magazine, 5 March 1896).
By 1900 most of the infrastructure required for the production of high-calibre wooden boats was in place: pier, slipway, sawmills, workshops, building-sheds, stores, paint shop, engine house, sail loft and workers' houses.
Elrhuna, a sloop was designed by Alexander in 1904, and due to the quality of the wood and sound construction she still races. Elrhuna (Boat No 35) is the oldest yacht still sailing which was both designed and built by Alexander Robertson. She was referred to as the "Wee Britannia" after the Royal Yacht Britannia, due to her graceful lines and sleek black hull.
The first of many motor boats were built in 1905, among them a luxurious teak-built 'carvel' motor launch ordered for the S Y Nahma, which was the last boat designed by George Lennox Watson. The development of early steam boats by Alexander provided the necessary expertise to build 7 steam-powered launches for the Admiralty in the years leading up to World War I.Lloyd's Register of Yachts. Digital records published by'The Association of Yachting Historians'.
When the new 'Metre' class of racing yacht was introduced in 1907, there was fierce competition. Every year vast sums of money were spent by wealthy enthusiasts to have the latest and fastest yacht on the Clyde. These were the golden years of the yard, during which they built some of the earliest metre-class classic racing yachts: 15-metre Shimna (later Slec) (Willian Fife III, 1907); 15-metre Tritonia (later Jeano, Cisne Branco and Albatroz - Alfred Mylne, 1910), 12-metre Heatherbell (Thomas Glen-Coats, 1907) - Heatherbell represented Finland in the 1912 Helsinki Summer Olympics; 12-metre Cyra (Alfred Mylne, 1909) - note : renamed Arcula around 1934 and destroyed by the Wehrmacht in 1943 or 1944, which killed its owner Frits Johannsen (DK); 10-metre Pampero (1912); 8-metre Novena (1908); 5-metre Mungo (1908).
Robertson's Yard was exceptionally busy in 1908. As well as four racing yachts, one large motor launch and several tenders under construction, they had plenty of hollow-spar work and major modifications to the yacht Susanne. The yard employed seventy men and they had to work overtime to keep up with the ambitious building programme. Many alterations were made to the yard and they had a new building shed with headroom and a moulding-loft. The yard was now capable of building yachts of any size, and it was hoped some 23-metre work would follow.
Robertson was a rather astute businessman so, as the yard was booming in the early 1900s, he began buying up properties along the shore of the Holy Loch to stop other boat yards being built.Dunoon Observer and Argyllshire Standard, local newspaper.
The wars Over 55 boats were built by Robertson's in preparation for the First World War, and after the war the yard started to diversify and fit-out larger yachts. The company had been run by Robertson for many years, but now three of his sons were helping to run the family business. In 1922 Robertson decided to re-structure the organisation so it could be operated without him in the future. Alexander Robertson & Sons (Yachtbuilders) Limited was formally established on 5 August 1922 to "carry out all aspects of designing, building and repair of yachts, sale of yachts and sail making". Four of Robertson's sons helped to run the business in later years: Archibald, Alexander (Alec), Donald and George. A fifth son, James, trained as a naval architect and worked for Lloyd's Register of Shipping, making a significant contribution to the restoration of the famous tea clipper Cutty Sark, which is on display in London.Private family history from the Boyd and Robertson families.
Robertson's Yard was now looking for a new designer and by the end of 1929 David Boyd had replied to an advertisement in the Glasgow Herald. In 1937 he designed the sleek 6-metre racing yacht Circe, which was described by many as the most successful racing yacht ever produced by the yard. J. Herbert Thom, one of the Clyde's best helmsmen sailed the yacht with tremendous success in America in 1938 and brought back the 'Seawanhaka Cup', which was successfully defended in home waters the following year. Circe was transferred to the Spartak Yacht Club in Tallinn and represented Russia in the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics.
Archibald Robertson was the senior director in the company and destined to take over operation of the yard before he died in November 1929. Alexander remained chairman of the company until June 1935, when he was 84. Even after that he maintained a keen interest in the operation and was often first at the yard in the morning to see the men get started. He died on 15 February 1937 at the family home, 'Tarskavaig', named after the small crofting village on the Isle of Skye.
The first order for a lifeboat from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was secured by the yard in 1935. The Charlotte Elizabeth was the first motor-powered lifeboat launched in Scotland, and was later stationed at Islay Lifeboat Station in Port Askaig: she now lies abandoned by Thurso Harbour in Caithness (correct as of 13 Jun 2009).
The Sir Arthur Rose was proudly displayed in the RNLI pavilion at the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow between May and October. The lifeboat was officially named by Mrs F.O. Laing, daughter of Sir Arthur, on 11 August 1939 and sailed to the Isle of Iona for blessing on the same day. Orders for a total of 11 lifeboats were received, several of which came back for regular servicing. RNLI archive and library.
During the 1930s many gigs (or tenders) were built for larger boats launched further up the Clyde, among them the SY Nahlin. A luxury motor launch was built for the owner of the SY Nahlin, along with a motor tender for the crew, two lifeboats and two dinghies. During the renovation of the S Y Nahlin, by the new owner Sir James Dyson, a new owner's launch was built from the original plans in 2009, and the crew's launch was rebuilt in 2008 by Henwood & Dean of Henley-on-Thames.
Several larger boats were also built during this impressive pre-war period: Caretta, twin screw motor launch designed by Messrs G L Watson in 1927; Ron, ketch designed by J A McCallum in 1928; Southern Cross, ketch designed by G L Watson in 1930; Zigeuner, yawl designed by David Boyd in 1935.