Ian Proctor
Ian Proctor FRS (1918-1992) was a prolific designer of both sailing dinghies and cruisers. His pioneering aluminium mast designs also revolutionised the sport of sailing.[1]
Proctor had more than one hundred designs to his credit,[2] from which 65,000 boats were built.[citation needed] Some of his designs are listed below.
Education
Proctor was educated at Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk.[1][3]
Career
Dinghy designer
Ian Proctor first began to design dinghies professionally in 1950. The National 12 was soon followed soon by the Merlin Rocket. Proctor's early designs were met with immediate success, winning championships from 1950 to 1952. His design of Proctor Spars revolutionised dinghy sailing.[1] Then in 1958 he penned the evergreen Wayfarer, which soon became a hit with sailing schools and still has a solid following in racing and cruising circles. Indeed, a Wayfarer was sailed from the UK to Norway and Iceland by Frank Dye, and this boat is now on display at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.[4]
The most widely-known of all Ian Proctor designs has to be the Topper of which more than 35,000 have been produced to date. This was the first sailing dinghy to be produced from injection moulded plastic. The Topper generally used for training, but also like the Wanderer has an enthusiastic racing following.
Yacht designer
Although better known for his dinghy designs and metal masts, Ian Proctor was also responsible for the design of several small cruisers. His first cruiser was the Seagull for Bell Woodworking, followed shortly afterwards by the Seamew. Later on there was the Nimrod, Eclipse, Pirate, and the Prelude.
Mast designer
In 1953 Ian Proctors 'Cirrus' had an all metal mast. Proctor quickly realised the potential of metal masts and in 1953 he designed the first all-metal tapered and extruded mast for sailing dinghies. Then in 1955 he established 'Ian Proctor Metal Masts Limited' as a commercial venture. Proctor Masts soon became the leading metal mast producers for all types of sailing craft. Indeed by 1960, 13 different countries were using Proctor masts in the Olympics and the 1987 America's Cup featured 12 boats using Proctor masts.
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Ian Proctor Designs
- Bosun
- Merlin Rocket
- National 12
- Nimrod, commissioned by Westerly[citation needed]
- Pirate, commissioned by Rydgeway Marine
- Prelude, commissioned by Rydgeway Marine
- Seagull, commissioned by Bell Woodworking
- Seamew, commissioned by Bell Woodworking
- SigneT[5]
- Tempest
- Topper
- Wanderer
- Wayfarer
- Kestrel, the first dinghy to be designed to be built in glass fibre.[6][7]
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Honours
References
- ^ a b c I Will Plant Me a Tree: an Illustrated History of Gresham's School by S.G.G. Benson and Martin Crossley Evans (James & James, London, 2002) p. 39
- ^ a b c "Ian Proctor remembered". Yachting Monthly. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
Ian Proctor's innovative designs and ideas modernised the whole concept of small boat sailing, making a vital contribution to the popularisation of the sport. He designed over 100 different boats and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Royal Designer for Industry.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ The History and Register of Gresham's School, 1555-1954 (Ipswich, 1955)
- ^ Dye, Frank: Ocean-crossing Wayfarer (David and Charles, London, 1977) ISBN 0-7153-7371-4
- ^ "SigneTs". Ben Mitchell. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- ^ Osprey Racer at hartleylaminates.co.uk (accessed 23 November 2007)
- ^ Sailing & Yachting Classes at yachtsandyachting.com (accessed 23 November 2007)