John G. Alden

The most widely copied American cruising designer of the interwar years, and — through design No. 157 — the drafting hand behind San Francisco Bay's oldest one-design class.

Office

Alden Design Office founded 1909; later John G. Alden, Inc.; he retired from active design c. 1955

Output

Over 1,000 designs

Signature type

The Malabar / 'Alden schooner' — grace and seaworthiness over rating-rule cleverness

Honour

National Sailing Hall of Fame, 2013

Bay connection

Alden design No. 157 became the Bird class, drawn by his associate Sam Crocker, dated 1 September 1921

• 1923Malabar IV — Bermuda Race winner
• 1926Malabar VII — Bermuda Race winner
• 1921Bird class (design No. 157) — for a San Francisco Bay committee; drawn by Sam Crocker
• 1927La Goleta — schooner, Fastnet finisher
• 1932Malabar X — Bermuda Race winner
• 1939When and If — schooner built for General George Patton