Page 10 - Folk Boat Year Book 2021

The Association at 60

As seen on the front cover of this year’s Yearbook the Association is 60 years old.
The inaugural meeting of ‘The Folkboat Association of Great Britain’, although this
name was only agreed some way into the meeting, was held “after an excellent
dinner” (quote from the minutes of that meeting) at the Normandie Hotel,
th
Knightsbridge on the evening of the 7 of April 1961. A Committee was elected and
the Association was born.

Two years later Mr T. Whittaker, the Secretary at the time, wrote a piece for the 1963
Handbook. This “History of the Association” tells the early history of the Association.

The History of the Association

The idea of a Folkboat Association in Great Britain was first mooted in 1950 when the first two British
Folkboats were built. Despite all the efforts of a few dedicated owners, no formal body was constituted.
Existing boats varied widely in detail, and were, moreover, sparsely scattered around the coasts of
Britain. In spite of the fact that these early efforts appeared to be premature, the enterprise was not
completely abandoned, for Mr. J. S. Saunders, with great foresight, continued to keep a register of new
boats and even issued sail numbers to them.
By the end of 1960 the number of Folkboats had grown considerably and they were becoming very
popular. Several owners therefore felt that the time had come when an association could successfully
be re-constituted. With this end in view a dinner party followed by an inaugural meeting took place in
April 1961 and was well attended by owners and other interested parties. The meeting invited Mr. D. A.
Doyle to act as Chairman and during the meeting Mr. T. Whittaker gallantly agreed to combine the offices
of Secretary and Treasurer. Both these gentlemen were subsequently confirmed in their appointments.
A committee was also elected at this dinner and with the exception of two resignations and replacements
it exists in the same form today and meets at frequent intervals.
From these modest beginnings the Folkboat Association of Great Britain has gone from strength to
strength. Area Committees have been formed and regular racing has been organised. Last year saw the
Folkboats racing as a class on their R.O.R.C. handicaps in major regattas, and it is remarkable that as
many as 25 entries were received for class racing in Cowes Week. Folkboat rallies have been
successfully organised and well attended, and it has been so pleasant to see how many of the boats are
sailed and raced by members with their wives and children.
Since the inaugural meeting, two Annual General Meetings followed by dinners have been held. The
latter were well attended and such well-known personalities as Francis Chichester and the Honourable
Max Aitken were invited as guests of honour. Folkboat owners from all over the country were able to
forgather to discuss the many interesting and technical problems concerned with standardising the
British Folkboat and, probably more important, to relive for a few hours the activities of the past sailing
season.
So the Folkboat Association of Great Britain is now a going concern. It is recognised by the R.Y.A. The
class regulations have gone a long way to standardising the British Folkboat and to maintaining the
rugged strength and design of the original Scandinavian boats. The Committee's advice is sought by
boat builders and sail makers in this country and abroad.
Most important, perhaps, the first object of the Association is being achieved for the fellowship among
all those who sail in Folkboats continues to grow each year.
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