Twister time

Peter Poland reviews and test sails the popular classic Kim Holman-designed Twister

- Peter K Poland

Kim Holman was one of the most successful British yacht designers of all time. His elegant creations were a dominant force in the UK offshore racing scene from the early 1960s, and his designs had an uncanny knack of fulfilling the old adage that ‘what looks right is right.’

As one of his many fans succinctly put it: “He was incapable of designing an ugly boat”. From the little Stella to mighty Admirals Cuppers like Fanfare, every Holman design is a joy to behold.

Over his relatively short career as a designer – first on his own and later in partnership with Don Pye – Holman produced around 70 designs that went onto be built. Many of the early wooden one-offs were so successful that they were built in large numbers, while the later GRP models were series-produced. So there’s no shortage of Holman cruiser-racers available on today’s market.

Holman went to Sherborne School then joined the Navy during World War II. After a spell of sail training in 32ft cutters at HMS Ganges on the river Stour he later became the youngest officer to captain a coastal minesweeper. Then, after the war, he attended Bristol University, commenting that – like many of his contemporaries – he “didn’t get a degree but did learn to drink and have fun.”

His career started in earnest at the Waldringfield office of Jack Jones, a successful East Coast yacht designer. While there, Holman had built his early ‘solo’ design Phialle and raced her successfully from 1956. Then he bought a share in Gowen Sailmakers, whose products went on to adorn a succession of successful Holman designs.