John Alden (naval architect)
Encyclopedia
John Gale Alden was an American naval architect and founder of Alden Designs, a prominent yacht design company. Alden who grew up in Rhode Island
was inspired by the local fisherman and regattas and when his family moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts
in 1900 the docked Grand Banks fishing schooners inspired his later designs. He have worked under yacht designer Edward Burgess
and later for his son Harling Burgess, both designers for the America's Cup
.
Alden founded the Alden Design Office in 1909 and his design office was, by 1932, known worldwide in part due to his "Malabar" designs success on the offshore racing scene; Malabar IV won the Newport–Bermuda race
in 1923, Malabar VII won it in 1926 and Malabar X won overall in 1932, with his other designs occupying the top four places. His designs have been donated by the company to MIT's
Hart Nautical Collection
.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
was inspired by the local fisherman and regattas and when his family moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
in 1900 the docked Grand Banks fishing schooners inspired his later designs. He have worked under yacht designer Edward Burgess
Edward Burgess
Edward Burgess was an American yacht designer, born June 30, 1848 in West Sandwich, Massachusetts.Edward is fifth son of Benjamin Franklin Burgess and Cordelia Williams Ellis. The Burgess family were merchants who made their money in the West Indies trade and lost it in 1879...
and later for his son Harling Burgess, both designers for the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
.
Alden founded the Alden Design Office in 1909 and his design office was, by 1932, known worldwide in part due to his "Malabar" designs success on the offshore racing scene; Malabar IV won the Newport–Bermuda race
Bermuda Race
The Bermuda Race, or Newport Bermuda Race, is a biennial yacht race from Newport, Rhode Island to the island of Bermuda, a distance of 635 nautical miles across open ocean. The first Bermuda Race started in 1906 from Gravesend Bay, N.Y. with three entries. The race was held several times in the...
in 1923, Malabar VII won it in 1926 and Malabar X won overall in 1932, with his other designs occupying the top four places. His designs have been donated by the company to MIT's
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
Hart Nautical Collection
Francis Russell Hart Nautical Museum
The Hart Nautical Gallery is a gallery in the MIT Museum at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.The original Francis Russell Hart Nautical Museum was established in 1922 at MIT as part of the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. It was...
.
External links
- Company page
- List of Alden Yachts (Excel-file)