Belle Poule
Belle Poule is an auxiliary ketch designed by A. Mylne & Co. in 1927 under design number 312. Built by R A Newman at Hamworthy, Poole, she measures 32.5 ft on the waterline with a beam of 10.8 ft and draft of 5.5 ft. The wooden hull carries 920 sq ft of sail and is fitted with a 56 BHP Perkins 4-cylinder oil engine. The vessel remains in existence.
Ownership
No ownership records held for this vessel.
Crew
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Specification
Details
Registry & Identity
Design Archive
Historical Context
The 1920s represented a period of consolidation for A. Mylne & Co., the Glasgow-based design office established in 1896. By the time Design 312 was drawn for Belle Poule, Mylne had completed work across a broad spectrum of cruising and racing yachts, and the design language had matured toward practical, sea-kindly forms. The auxiliary ketch had become established as a preferred cruising type by this date, offering the working advantages of a two-masted rig—easier sail handling, better balance under reduced canvas—combined with engine power for restricted waters and calm conditions. This design philosophy aligned closely with Mylne's reputation for designing vessels that prioritised practical seamanship over fashion. The choice of R A Newman as builder, a Poole yard, reflects the geographic distribution of Mylne's commissions across British yacht-building centres. The south coast maintained distinct building traditions and technical strengths throughout the inter-war years.