Hera

Overview

Built in 1908 on the Clyde by R. McAlister & Son, HERA was one of the earliest 12 Metres constructed under the new International First Rule. Designed and owned by Sir Thomas C. Glen-Coats of Glasgow, she was built as a gaff-rigged cutter and quickly proved herself one of the finest yachts of her generation.

Among the three new Twelves built by McAlister that year—HERA, MOUCHETTE, and NARGIE—she became the best known, celebrated for her performance, craftsmanship, and Olympic triumph.

Design and Construction

HERA was a 26-ton 12 Metre built to Lloyd’s specification and measured several times between May and July 1908, each certificate adjusting her sail area and slightly lowering her freeboard for better balance. Her hull followed the graceful Scottish school of yacht design—fine bow sections, powerful mid-body, and elegant overhangs—reflecting Glen-Coats’ deep understanding of the new International Rule.

She carried the classic gaff cutter rig with a long bowsprit and short boom, handled by a Scottish amateur crew under Glen-Coats’ command. On board for trials and racing was Alfred Mylne, a close collaborator and leading designer of the period.

Olympic Victory – 1908

When Olympic sailing was assigned to the Clyde in 1908, only two 12 Metres entered: HERA and MOUCHETTE. Foreign competition was regrettably absent, but the races were keenly contested. With Glen-Coats at the helm and Mylne aboard, HERA won both races over a 26-mile course consisting of two laps of a 13-mile circuit off Hunter’s Quay.

MOUCHETTE pressed her hard, and the first race was decided by mere seconds; in the second race, HERA finished 62 seconds ahead. These two victories earned the Gold Medal for Great Britain in the 12 Metre class. The amateur Scottish crew were widely praised for their seamanship and sportsmanship.

Racing Career

HERA continued racing successfully on the Clyde through the 1908 and 1909 seasons, scoring ten firsts and numerous seconds and thirds. In 1909 she had nine firsts, five seconds, and four thirds out of thirty-four starts. Between 1910 and 1912 she remained competitive, adding more wins and top finishes before being retired from active class racing.

After the Royal Victoria Regatta in 1912, she suffered two broken masts and was laid up for repairs.

Ownership and Later History

1908–1909 Sir Thomas C. Glen-Coats – Glasgow, Great Britain – original owner and Olympic helmsman.
1919–1920 Captain P. Clemmatsen – Arendal, Norway.
1923–1924 Nils Brecke – Christiania (Oslo), Norway.
1925 Major H. G. Maitland – London, Great Britain – listed in Lloyd’s Register as “formerly Int. Rating Class 12 Metre.”
1926–1930 Major H. F. Courage – rig altered to Bermudian cutter.
1930s George T. Millward and Peter Pitt-Millward – London and Capri.
1939–1949 H. Bagnardi – Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1950 Disappears from Lloyd’s Register.
Post-1950 Unconfirmed report of ownership by Mrs. Odette Langlet, Valenciennes, France.

Her later years saw several conversions and a shift from racing to cruising, including the addition of an auxiliary engine and modernized rig.

Legacy

HERA remains one of the most celebrated of all early 12 Metres—an Olympic champion, a product of Clyde craftsmanship, and a testament to the artistry of Thomas Glen-Coats. Her 1908 gold medal marked the beginning of Britain’s dominance in the new International Rule classes and secured her place among the foundational yachts of the 12 Metre lineage.

Though her ultimate fate is uncertain, her name endures in both Olympic and yachting history as one of the finest examples of the First-Rule Twelves ever built.