Kate 12 E 5

(Replica of Javotte, 1909)

Design Lineage and Classification

KATE is a 12 Metre Class sloop built to the International First Rule, launched in 2006 as a faithful replica of Javotte, the original First Rule 12 Metre designed by Alfred Mylne in 1909. The yacht was conceived directly from Mylne’s surviving construction drawings dating from 1908, preserving the hull form, proportions, and sailing characteristics of the original design.

KATE is notable as the only known replica of a First Rule 12 Metre and the first newly built 12 Metre yacht since 1987, marking a significant revival of the class’s earliest design generation.

Construction and Launch (2006)

The yacht was personally built by Philip Walwyn on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, part of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies, and was launched in December 2006.

While strictly respecting Mylne’s original design intent, the construction employed modern methods and materials to ensure structural longevity and safety. The hull is of wood/epoxy construction, bronze fastened throughout, and glass sheathed. Planking consists of 35 mm Oregon pine, with an internal 2 mm veneer of Okoumé. Frames and centerline structure are laminated mahogany, deck beams are laminated Oregon pine, and the deck is a double layer of plywood finished with a laid Oregon pine deck. The spars are constructed of Sitka spruce, consistent with period practice.

Philosophy and Authenticity

In keeping with the original 1909 plans, KATE was built with an emphasis on pure sailing performance and authenticity rather than comfort or technology. The yacht was deliberately constructed without an auxiliary engine, an unusual decision in the modern era, and requires only minimal electronic and technical support.

This approach results in a sailing experience closely aligned with that of the early 12 Metres—fast, elegant, and responsive—demonstrating that performance under the First Rule depended primarily on hull form, rig balance, and seamanship rather than mechanical assistance.

Sailing and Racing Use

KATE is equally suited to regatta racing and day sailing, and has sailed extensively in the Caribbean. She has participated in, or been associated with, classic and prestige regattas including the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, Heineken Regatta, and Les Voiles de Saint-Barth, where her authentic appearance and performance place her naturally among classic racing yachts.

Her design allows her to sail efficiently and safely in open water while remaining true to the handling characteristics of early First Rule 12 Metres.

Historical Significance

As a direct replica of Javotte—one of the most successful and long-lived First Rule 12 Metres—KATE serves as a living reference yacht for the earliest period of the 12 Metre class. She provides rare insight into pre-World War I design philosophy and stands as a tangible link between the origins of the class and its modern revival.