Chapter II: Preface

A few lines only are necessary to explain the object with which these volumes are put forth. There is no modern encyclopædia to which the inexperienced man, who seeks guidance in the practice of the various British Sports and Pastimes, can turn for information. Some books there are on Hunting, some on Racing, some on Lawn Tennis, some on Fishing, and so on; but one Library, or succession of volumes, which treats of the Sports and Pastimes indulged in by Englishmen--and women--is wanting. The Badminton Library is offered to supply the want. Of the imperfections which must be found in the execution of such a design we are conscious. Experts often differ. But this we may say, that those who are seeking for knowledge on any of the subjects dealt with will find the results of many years' experience written by men who are in every case adepts at the Sport or Pastime of which they write. It is to point the way to success to those who are ignorant of the sciences they aspire to master, and who have no friend to help or coach them, that these volumes are written.

* * * * *

To those who have worked hard to place simply and clearly before the reader that which he will find within, the best thanks of the Editor are due. That it has been no slight labour to supervise all that has been written, he must acknowledge; but it has been a labour of love, and very much lightened by the courtesy of the Publisher, by the unflinching, indefatigable assistance of the Sub-Editor, and by the intelligent and able arrangement of each subject by the various writers, who are so thoroughly masters of the subjects of which they treat. The reward we all hope to reap is that our work may prove useful to this and future generations.

THE EDITOR.

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTION 1
_By Sir Edward Sullivan, Bart._

II. OCEAN CRUISING 18
_By Lord Brassey, K.C.B._

III. CORINTHIAN DEEP-SEA CRUISING 41
_By C. E. Seth-Smith, C.B. (late commanding London Brigade
Royal Naval Volunteers_)

IV. THE EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN RACING YACHT 50
_By G. L. Watson._

V. SLIDING KEELS AND CENTREBOARDS 102
_By R. T. Pritchett._

VI. RECOLLECTIONS OF SCHOONER RACING 108
_By Sir George Leach, K.C.B., Vice-President Y.R.A._

VII. THE RACING RULES AND THE RULES OF RATING 146
_By 'Thalassa.'_

VIII. YACHT'S SAILING BOATS 187
_By the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery._

IX. SMALL YACHT RACING ON THE SOLENT 222
_By 'Thalassa.'_

X. FITTING OUT A FIFTY-TONNER TO GO FOREIGN. 295
_By E. F. Knight._

XI. BALTIC CRUISING 308
_By E. F. Knight._

XII. FIVE-TONNERS AND FIVE-RATERS IN THE NORTH 322
_By G. L. Blake._

XIII. YACHT INSURANCE 407
_By G. L. Blake._

INDEX 415

ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE FIRST VOLUME

(_Reproduced by J. D. Cooper and Messrs. Walker & Boutall_)

FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS

ARTIST TO FACE PAGE

UNION JACK _Frontispiece_

'BRITANNIA,' H.R.H. Prince of Wales
_From a photograph by Wm. U. Kirk, of Cowes_ 50

'VARUNA,' 40-RATER
_From a photograph by Adamson, of Rothesay_ 54

'DORA,' 10-TONNER
" 58

'ARROW'--LINES
_G. L. Watson_ 72

'LETHE'--KEEL
_From a photograph_ 78

SALOON OF 'THISTLE'
" 82

'JULLANAR'
_From a photograph by Adamson, of Rothesay_ 88

MIDSHIP SECTIONS
_J. M. Soper, M.I.N.A._ 102

'EGERIA'
_R. T. Pritchett_ 114

'EGERIA' AND 'OIMARA'
" 134

'SEABELLE'
" 138

RACING FLAGS, SCHOONERS, CUTTERS, YAWLS, &c 140

'SAVOURNA,' 5-RATER
_From a photograph by Adamson, of Rothesay_ 244

'THE BABE,' 2-1/2-RATER
_From a photograph by Symonds, of Portsmouth_ 246

'DACIA,' 5-RATER
" 252

SOLENT OWNERS' RACING COLOURS 276

START OF SMALL RATERS ON THE CLYDE
_From a photograph by Adamson, of Rothesay_ 354

'WENONAH,' 2-1/2-RATER
" 360

'RED LANCER,' 5-RATER
" 372

COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS 394

ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT

BEFORE THE START (_Vignette_) _Title-page_

VICTORIA CUP, 1893
_R. T. Pritchett_ 1

'SUNBEAM' (R.Y.S), 1874
" 19

'SUNBEAM'--MIDSHIP SECTION
_St. Clare Byrne, of Liverpool_ 24

'SUNBEAM'--LINES
" 29

'CYGNET,' CUTTER, 1846--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_G. L. Watson_ 54

'PROBLEM,' 1852--PROFILE AND DECK PLAN
_Hunt's Magazine_ 55

'VARUNA,' 1892--PROFILE
_G. L. Watson_ 55

VANDERDECKEN'S TONNAGE CHEATER
_Hunt's Magazine_ 56

DOG-LEGGED STERNPOST
_G. L. Watson_ 57

'QUIRAING,' 1877--IMMERSED COUNTER
" 58

'BRITANNIA,' 1893--CUTWATER
" 60

'THISTLE,' 1887--CUTWATER
" 60

DIAGRAM OF LENGTH AND DISPLACEMENT OF 5-TONNERS
_G. L. Watson_ 62

PROFILES OF 5-TONNERS
" 63

SECTIONS SHOWING DECREASE OF BREADTH AND INCREASE OF DEPTH IN
5-TONNERS UNDER 94 AND 1730 RULES
" 63

DIAGRAM OF VARIATION UNDER DIFFERENT RULES
" 64

DIAGRAM SHOWING VARIATION OF DIMENSIONS, &c., WITH YEARS;
40-RATERS; L. AND S.A. RULE.
" 67

PROFILES OF 40-RATERS
" 67

MIDSHIP SECTIONS OF 40-RATERS
" 68

'LEOPARD,' 1807--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_Linn Ratsey, of Cowes_ 72

'MOSQUITO,' 1848--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_T. Waterman_ 75

'LETHE'--MIDSHIP SECTION
_G. L. Watson_ 79

'VALKYRIE'--PROFILE
" 82

'VIGILANT'--PROFILE
" 82

'BRITANNIA' CUTTER--GENERAL ARRANGEMENT PLAN
" 84

S.S. 'MERKARA'--RESISTANCE CURVES
" 87

'JULLANAR,' YAWL, 1875--MIDSHIP SECTION
_E. H. Bentall, Esq._ 89

'JULLANAR,' YAWL--LINES
" 91

'EVOLUTION,' 1880--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
" 92

'METEOR' (LATE 'THISTLE'), 1887--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_G. L. Watson_ 94

'FLORINDA,' YAWL, 1873--LINES
_Camper & Nicholson, of Gosport_ 97

'KRIEMHILDA,' 1872--PROFILE
_Michael Ratsey, of Cowes_ 98

'FLORINDA,' YAWL, 1873--PLANS
_Camper & Nicholson, of Gosport_ 100

'FLORINDA,' YAWL, 1873--MIDSHIP SECTION
" 101

H.M. BRIG 'LADY NELSON,' WITH THREE KEELS, 1797
_R. T. Pritchett_ 102

DIAGRAM OF BOAT WITH ONE CENTREBOARD, 1774
" 103

DIAGRAM OF BOAT WITH THREE SLIDING KEELS, 1789
" 103

DIAGRAMS SHOWING USE OF THREE KEELS IN 'LAYING TO,' 'ON A WIND,'
AND SCUDDING
" 104

'CUMBERLAND,' WITH FIVE SLIDING KEELS
_From a model in possession of Taylor family_ 105

'CUMBERLAND,' SHOWING THE FIVE KEELS DOWN
" 105

H.M. 'TRIAL' CUTTER, 1791--SHEER DRAUGHT
_R. T. Pritchett_ 107

'KESTREL,' SCHOONER, 1839
" 108

'PANTOMIME,' SCHOONER, 1865--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_Michael Ratsey, of Cowes_ 112

'CAMBRIA,' BEATING 'DAUNTLESS' IN 1870
(_From picture at R.T.Y.C._)
_R. T. Pritchett_ 125

'DAUNTLESS,' SCHOONER (N.Y.Y.C.), 1871
" 129

'CETONIA,' SCHOONER, 1873--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_Michael Ratsey, of Cowes_ 142

THE START
_From a photograph by Debenham, of Cowes_ 148

CHART OF THE ROYAL SOUTHAMPTON YACHT CLUB (BRAMBLES AND LEPE
COURSE) 161

DIAGRAM OF SAIL CURVES, 40-RATING CLASS
_'Thalassa'_ 173

WHALES
_R. T. Pritchett_ 189

THE SWOOP OF THE GANNET
" 192

'BLACK PEARL'S' CUTTER--MIDSHIP SECTION
" 200

MAIN SHEET ON IRON HORSE 202

'BLACK PEARL'S' CUTTER--SAIL PLAN
_Richard Perry & Co._ 203

S.S. 'ALINE'S' CUTTER 205

S.S. 'ALINE'S' CUTTER--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_Earl of Pembroke_ 207

'BLACK PEARL'S' CUTTER--LINES
" 209

THE SQUALL IN LOCH SCAVAIG, SKYE
_R. T. Pritchett_ 217

'EXCUSE ME'
" 218

SELF-UNMOORED
" 219

NEVER 'MOON'
" 220

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME
" 221

'COCK-A-WHOOP,' 1889--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_A. E. Payne_ 234

'HUMMING BIRD,' 1889
_A. E. Payne, from a photograph by Symonds_ 236

'QUINQUE,' 5-RATER; LT.-COL. BUCKNILL, R.E.
_From a photograph by Symonds, of Portsmouth_ 242

'THE BABE,' 1890--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_A. E. Payne_ 244

'MOSQUITO,' 1892, WITH ROLL FORESAIL
_J. M. Soper_ 249

'DOREEN,' 1892
_From a photograph by Debenham, of Cowes_ 252

'CYANE,' 1892
_From a private Kodak_ 253

'WINDFALL,' 1891
From a photograph by Adamson, of Rothesay 254

'FAUGH-A-BALLAGH,' 1892--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_A. E. Payne_ 256

DIAGRAMS SHOWING IMPROVEMENTS IN FORE SECTIONS OF 2-1/2 RATERS
_J. M. Soper_ 257

DIAGRAMS SHOWING IMPROVEMENTS IN AFT SECTIONS OF 2-1/2 RATERS
" 258

DESIGN FOR 1-RATER BY J. M. SOPER, 1892
" 260

DESIGN FOR A CENTREBOARD 1-RATER BY J. M. SOPER, 1892
" 262

'WEE WINN,' 1892
_From a photograph by Debenham, of Cowes_ 265

'WEE WINN'--LINES
_J. M. Soper_ 266

'DAISY,' 1892--LINES
" 266

CHART OF THE ROYAL SOUTHAMPTON YACHT CLUB, 'BRAMBLES COURSE' 283

THE DROGUE OFF THE KULLEN HEAD
_R. T. Pritchett_ 308

DANSKE FISHING-BOAT AND ANCHOR
" 311

ROSKILDE FROM THE FIORD
" 313

A DANSKE CRAFT
" 315

A GOOD CRAFT FOR THE BALTIC
" 317

TOWING HEAD TO WIND
" 319

A DROGUE
" 321

CHART OF THE DUBLIN, KINGSTOWN, AND MERSEY COURSE 327

'FREDA'
_R. T. Pritchett_ 336

'CHALLENGE,' 1876
" 339

'MINERVA,' 1888--LINES AND MIDSHIP SECTION
_Fife of Fairlie_ 368

'NATICA,' 1892
_From a photograph by Adamson, of Rothesay_ 374

IN THE CHANNEL
_R. T. Pritchett_ 406