Fife, William

William Fife III (1857 to 1944) was a Scottish yacht designer and builder, the third generation at the family Fairlie shipyard in North Ayrshire, established in 1790 by his grandfather. He returned to Fairlie as its designer in 1886 and over his career drew roughly 600 yachts, including two America’s Cup contenders and the gaff cutter that became Eric Tabarly’s Pen Duick (built 1898). Fife designs, marked by the dragon’s-head bow scroll, are prized classics; his last boats were built in 1938.