Fulmar

Fife 8 metre Fulmar K22 set for return to the Clyde

With the primary aim of competing in the 8mR World Cup at the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club in 2024, a group of sailors from Scotland teamed up to review boats on the market around the world. Some truly magnificent boats were identified, but for them, it had to be a Fife design and Fulmar quickly emerged as the front runner.

Originally to be called Oonah she was drawn by William Fife III in 1929, at height of his powers, and built in 1930. The original owner failed to take delivery and she was bought by the Aspin brothers and renamed Fulmar before being launched in 1931. She is often quoted as the most successful Clyde 8mR of the inter-war years and remained competitive post war. In 1954 she was shipped to the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club where the 8mR class was being established. In Canada she extended her prize list further, collecting many trophies as late as 1966, before a period of cruising. Fulmar was eventually laid up ashore and left unattended. She was uncovered in 1991 and shipped back to the UK and extensively rebuilt before seeking out the warmer climes of the Mediterranean, where she remained until returning to the UK in 2019. A refit was commenced, but not completed, and she has been lying ashore at Hamble since.

The process of acquiring her began and is happily now complete. Fulmar will soon be on her way back to the Clyde and work will recommence to get her back into shape, and ready to race in 2023. Her home port will be Rhu, and she will race under the RNCYC burgee. The owners are delighted to be bringing back an iconic Fife 8mR to race on the Clyde and hope this might stimulate others to do the same, especially in the lead up to the 2024 World Cup, which also coincides with the 200 year anniversary of RNCYC, the club that many hold to be the home of 8mR racing.