WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE DEDICATED TO CAPTAIN CHARLIE BARR
“You hired me to win”
Barr to Atlantic’s owner, Wilson Marshall
Born in Gourock in 1864, Captain Charlie Barr rose to become one of the most accomplished racing skippers in history, successfully defending the America’s Cup on three consecutive occasions (1899, 1901 and 1903) and setting a transatlantic sailing record that endured for generations.
He set the Transatlantic record in
12 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 19 seconds
with the 227-foot, 300 ton schooner Atlantic in 1905.
This speed record stood for 75 years until Eric Tabarly’s crossing in the foiling trimaran, Paul Ricard. While Charlie Barr’s official monohull transatlantic race record stood for 100 years until 2005 when a new record was set by Robert Miller’s Mari-Cha IV.
Year 1st AC Won
1899
AC Victories
3
Years Transatlantic Race Record Held
100
24hr record (nm)
341
Avg Speed (kts)
14.1
“Captain Barr was the greatest skipper who ever lived.
His career as a skipper of the cup was such a uniformly successful one that it would be hard to single out his greatest feat. All his races were wonderfully well sailed.”
-G.A. Cormack, Secretary of the New York Yacht Club,
quoted in The New York Times.
Barr was inducted into the
America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 1993 and into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2011.
THE CAPTAIN CHARLES BARR MONUMENT
Captain Charlie Barr stands among the most accomplished racing skippers in history and remains one of Scotland’s greatest sporting figures. More than a century after his achievements captivated the sailing world, plans are now underway to create a permanent bronze statue in his hometown of Gourock to celebrate his life, his achievements and to finally give Charlie Barr the recognition that he deserves.
The project has already received planning permission for a prominent seafront location, the design phase is well advanced, and the fundraising campaign is now officially underway.
We invite you to become part of this remarkable project, whether you are an individual, organisation, or a member of the sailing community. Opportunities exist for supporters to play a lasting role in bringing the monument into being, with principal patrons permanently recognised on the monument itself with their names cast in bronze upon the pedestal.
THE RETURN TO THE CLYDE
Richard Mille Cup 2026 in Scotland
Atlantic Sails into Charlie Barr’s Home Waters
In June 2026, the Clyde will host one of the most spectacular gatherings of historic yachts seen anywhere in the world. The Richard Mille Cup will bring together a fleet of magnificent classic yachts for ten days of racing through some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery.
Among them will be the schooner Atlantic, the faithful recreation of the legendary record-breaking vessel that Charlie Barr sailed to victory in 1905. So it will be a symbolic moment when Atlantic sails in to Charlie Barr’s home waters, carrying aboard his descendant, Alasdair Purves, as plans have just been approved for a permanent statue to be built there honouring Barr’s life and achievements in Gourock.
The Clyde was historically once one of the great yachting venues of the world, and it still is! A place where the yachts of Fife, Watson and Mylne were raced by royalty. During the Richard Mille Cup, that story comes vividly back to life. Expect epic duels between majestic schooners, powerful gaff-rigged racing yachts under full sail, and unforgettable scenes set against a breath taking backdrop of mountains, islands and castles.
This is the continuation of a story that began over 150 years ago and a heritage that will extend into the future for many generations to come. Join us as we celebrate the remarkable legacy of Charlie Barr, the golden age of sail, and the enduring spirit of the Clyde.
For more details please visit the official website:
https://www.richardmillecup.com/
Special upcoming event:
BUILT TO WIN
The Story of Herreshoff & Barr
Join us for this live talk at
The Herreshoff Marine Museum
in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
6pm July 23rd 2026
Join us on July 23rd at the Herreshoff Marine Museum for a special evening celebrating one of yachting’s most successful partnerships: between designer Nathanael G. Herreshoff and Scottish skipper Charlie Barr.
Travelling from the UK, marine artist Shane Couch and Alasdair Purves, great-grandson of Charlie Barr, will each give a talk, sharing their insights into this golden era of yacht racing.
Shane Couch is known for his historically precise and photorealistic oil paintings and was recently awarded Best in Show by the American Society of Marine Artists. With new paintings from his latest series — being unveiled for the first time at this event — Shane captures the drama and beauty of the Herreshoff yachts that Barr sailed to victory.
Alasdair Purves is also a keen sailor of classic yachts, such as the schooners Eleonora, Mariette, and Atlantic, and has spent years piecing together Barr’s untold story — tracing his journey from a young Scottish fisherman to America’s most celebrated racing skipper.
With fresh perspectives and new artworks, all shared with infectious enthusiasm, this event promises something new — even for the most seasoned yachting aficionados!
For more details of the event please visit the official website:
https://herreshoff.org/event_calendar/built-to-win/
Charlie Barr biography by Shane Couch:
Charlie captained and raced some of the most famous yachts ever built. He raced Minerva, the crack 40 footer, that swept all before her in America, then Herreshoff’s 46 footers Gloriana and Wasp not to mention racing Navahoe against the King’s yacht Britannia in England in 1893. In 1895 he raced Vigilant against Defender in the America’s Cup trials. He so often getting the best of Capt Hank Haff of Defender that it was thought he should have helmed Defender in the Cup that year.
In 1899 and 1901 he captained Columbia in the victorious America’s Cup campaigns of those years before moving on to the mighty Reliance of 1903.
In response to the Kaiser’s challenge for a Transatlantic Race in 1905, Barr was placed in command of Wilson Marshall’s three-masted schooner Atlantic, a yacht with which he won immortal fame; winning the race and setting a monohull race record that was to remain unbroken for a hundred years
When Nat Herreshoff’s new schooner Ingomar raced in England in 1906 it was Barr in command sweeping the board in both the Solent and against the best of the Kaiser’s schooners at Keil.
His final command was the schooner Westward with which he famously administered successive defeats on the fastest schooners in England and Germany. In one race he refused to yield his right of way simply because the Kaiser expected him to.
Capt Barr died rather suddenly died at Southampton in 1911 on the eve of departing with Westward to do battle with Herreshoff’s new schooner Elena.
Read more:
America Scoop article (a very good biography)
Classic Boat Magazine’s excellent three part series of articles on Charlie Barr:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Barr
Mission Statement
We are dedicated to preserving the spirit and legacy of Charlie Barr. By honouring his extraordinary achievements as one of the greatest skippers in history, our mission is to inspire and educate future generations with the story of his remarkable journey. We aim to support maritimeheritage, foster a love for sailing, and instil the values of resilience and determination that defined Charlie Barr’s character.
In our endeavours to preserve the legacy of Charlie Barr we will deliver a
series of projects:
These include our Youth Sailing Program “Sail Quest”, live events during the Barcelona America’s Cup season, the creation of a monument in his home town in Scotland,
and also a film that brings his compelling story to life.
Before 
After! 
Left to Right:
Marine Artist Shane Couch,
Captain Jim Thom.
Charlie’s descendant Alasdair Purves
Capt.Charles Barr
Memorial Restoration
This restoration was the first of our projects, and what better way to preserve his legacy than to give his memorial the respect it deserves.
We recently received a call from Jim Thom, the former captain of the schooner Atlantic and the gaff cutter Mariquita. Jim had visited Charlie’s grave in Southampton and suggested it was time to give it some attention. After a couple of visits and a lot of scrubbing, weeding and also laying down some fresh pebbles the site is looking much better! The stone has returned to its orginal colour and the lettering is legible once again. We’d like to say a special thank you to Jim Thom for all of his efforts and also to Shane Couch for his kind help in cleaning the stone too.
Throughout his career Charlie Barr won many high profile yacht races and achieved legendary status, yet today he remains an unsung hero of ours. Born in Scotland in 1864 he emigrated to the United States where he achieved fame as a skipper in the America’s Cup and died in Southhampton, England, whilst captain of the schooner Westward. He was just 46 years old, at the height of his racing career, when he had a fatal heart attack and fell into his wife’s arms. He is buried in Southampton Old Cemetery.
Charlie was captain of the cutter Navahoe, which he famously raced against King Edward VII’s yacht Britannia, when he first met his wife-to-be, Emily, in her father’s shop of marine instruments where she worked in Southampton. It must have been love at first sight because he returned a year later to marry her!
At his grave is a stepped pedestal surmounted by a stone cross inscribed with a heartfelt tribute from his wife, in front of this is an ornate stone anchor and chain.
About Alasdair
Alasdair is based in Barcelona, Spain. Over the last few years he has been charting the story of his great great grandfather Charlie Barr.
Alasdair also has a passion for sailing and in recent years has worked and raced on several classic boats such as
Eleonora, Kelpie of Falmouth, Mariette, Dione, Atlantic, Viveka and Marigold.
Book Alasdair for speaking engagements
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Captain Charlie Barr 