Fast and Bonnie : History of William Fife and Sons, Yachtbuilders

This piece of yachting history chronicles the development and progress of Fife, once the premier yacht builder in Britain. It follows its beginning in the nineteenth century until its closure in 1939, during which period almost 1,000 boats were designed and built. Three members of the Fife family, in succession, were integral to its progress. William Fife I, originally a builder of fishing smacks created the paddlesteamer industry and aimed to build yachts that were “fast and bonnie”. William Fife II developed designs that were modern and forward thinking, while William Fife III took the yard to the apogee of its success, with clientele that numbered some of the crowned heads of Europe. This tale of enterprise and craftsmanship is interspersed with anecdotes about the family behind the yard, their clients and their craftsmen.