The British Folkboat Association is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary and is calling on owners of the one-design boat to get in touch.

There are currently 762 Folkboats in the UK and Ireland and the association has more than 300 members.

It the most successful design in the Round-The-Island race, the UK’s largest yacht race, having won the Gold Roman Bowl for the overall victory five times – more than any other design.

Formed in April 1961 after meetings in Portsmouth and London, the association represents both the traditional British Folkboats and the later Nordic One-Design Folkboats, which in particular has strong racing fleets in the Western Solent.

Designed in Scandinavia during the second world war, Folkboats first came to prominence when Blondie Hasler sailed his Folkboat, Jester, in the first OSTAR transatlantic race in 1960, with another Folkboat also among the race’s five entrants.

The association maintains a database of all Folkboats and wants to hear from any owners who have recently bought a Folkboat, but have not registered the change of ownership.

For more details on the association contact Eddie Mays at eddie@eddiemays.com or visit www.folkboats.com.

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Picture courtesy of Eddie Mays.