Chapter X: Racing in a 40-Rater in 1892

BY R. T. PRITCHETT

Most of the races described in these volumes are from the standpoint of the looker-on ashore, or else on board some vessel which was not competing; the present chapter describes a race from that point of vantage, the deck of the winning yacht.

Cowes in the early morn is not generally known to visitors. The 'wood and brass work'--a term better known on board than on shore--is now in full swing, for this admirable function must be completed by eight bells. If cleanliness be next to godliness, surely yachts have very much to commend them, with their spotless decks, bleached runners, and immaculate canvas. In leaving the pontoon for the offing, the various craft increase in size as the water deepens. First the small raters are passed, 1/2-, 1-, 2-1/2-raters, 'Wee Winn,' 'Polynia,' 'Hoopoo,' and 'Kitten'--described by 'Thalassa' in his Solent chapter. Passing the tens and twenties the French yachts are reached, for of late years the burgee of the French club is often seen at Cowes, and the American flag is more frequent than of yore. The Guard-ship now looms. The Royal yacht, 'Victoria and Albert,' is at her buoy, the Royal Yacht Squadron nobly represented. Eight bells now strike. Immediately the morning flutter of bunting flies to the mastheads, where all the burgees should arrive simultaneously, taking the time from the flagship--but they do not, unfortunately. (N.B.--Racing flags can be lashed before eight bells, as they have no halliards.) By this time we see the 40 just astern of a yawl and ahead of a Frenchman. 'Queen Mab' is basking and glistening in the bright morning sunshine, in perfect repose, yet rather fretting to be off, for with her colour she knows what is coming. Having come alongside very carefully, without touching the varnish, we are soon on board, and find all in motion. The business of the day has begun, the preliminary functions are completed, such as sending the gig away with the superfluous gear of squeegees, mops, oars. The 12-ft. dinghy is already lashed over the skylight, with the stem wedged up to the coaming abaft of the companion. The tyers are off the mainsail, and it is soon on the hoist. The crew are going aloft, to string down on the throat halliards; gradually the peak rises, well up, about 45°, and with the modern lacing down to the boom the sail soon becomes fairly set. Next, the gaff topsail. In America, in the 'Puritan' and other racers, photography shows that they start with two, jibheader and jackyarder or club foresail, so called from the club or yard at the foot. In the 'Vigilant,' the jackyarder was set most cleverly over the jibheaded topsail when running back in the final race. In joining a racer there is nothing so comfortable for host and guest too as being on board in good time. With a flying start it is very important to be under way to the minute, especially in light winds and with a tide running, such as the swill in Cowes Roads generally is, whether spring or otherwise. It is no joke for a boatman to catch a racer once under way, even without her head sails, in the offing, to say nothing of the anathemas of the owner, and the skipper's suppressed comments.

Soon comes the welcome of the owner of 'Queen Mab,' Col. T. B. C. West, well known in the yachting world in connection with that grand yawl 'Wendur,' 143 tons, T.M., built in 1883, his famous 10-rater 'Queen Mab' in the Clyde, and now the 'Queen Mab' of 1892. The forties are a very prominent class and justly so; they emphasise the sport of class racing over handicaps.

About this time the racing flags of other craft are a subject of intense interest, and the crew are immensely keen. Should an old adversary not be getting under way, the why and wherefore will be at once discussed; this generally brings out prominently any hand of the 'sea lawyer' class, if the owner has unfortunately shipped one. The head sails have now been set, and we are curvetting and pirouetting about waiting for preparatory gun. There is no doubt that wonderful skill is shown in the handling of the various craft. A dexterity and firmness are apparent which could never be secured with the American system of adjusted time: thus if 'Vigilant' were four minutes late at the start, that time would be deducted from the winner at the finish. Now comes the full excitement of the start. 'First gun, sir; fifteen minutes to go!' is the word, and for the next eighteen minutes all is extra wariness, sometimes fourteen yachts under way, manoeuvring, and keenly watching each other. 'Blue Peter, sir, five minutes!' is next heard. The owner, watch in hand, by the skipper, records the fleeting moments as they pass, calling out the minutes: at length it comes to 1 min., 50 secs., 40 secs., 30 secs., 20 secs. 'How much, sir?' 'Ten seconds'; then 'Let her go!' and she goes--with her cranse iron over the line directly after the gun. Everyone now turns attention to the recall numbers. Are there any? There has been such a thing as three over the line out of four starters, so great is the eagerness for a lead.

Among the larger classes everyone looks out for Mr. Jameson being first over line, with O'Neil at the tiller, famed for his special gift for quick starting and weather berths. A good start is a grand beginning. So long as one is leading no explanation is required why the good ship is not showing her best form, or how it is that she is not in her right trim. By this time the fleet is getting sorted; with a good sailing breeze the large craft draw out ahead in many cases, and it is well to do so; the large cutters are started, say, a quarter of an hour ahead, and the forties together. In 1892 the forties were very strongly represented, 'Thalia,' 'Reverie,' 'Queen Mab,' 'Corsair,' 'Creole,' 'Varuna,' 'White Slave.' This gave most interesting sport, far preferable to handicapping, which is only adopted to bring vessels of different tonnage together. A curious instance of this occurred at Cowes, when 'Irex,' 'Genesta,' and 'Lorna' all came in together within five minutes, and having brought up, stowed canvas and dined, it was discovered that 'Sleuthhound' was coming in, almost saving her time allowance of about 53 min. It is certainly most uninteresting to the spectators on shore to see the first fine craft come in close together, and returning from afternoon tea to perhaps discover that the real winner is just sailing in round the flagboat and getting the gun.

By this time the 'sun is over the foreyard' and all are settling down for a fine race. Sailing in a race affords excellent opportunity for noticing the other competing craft and admiring the goodly company assembled around. The big cutters are leading, and some of the forties astern. That 'Queen Mab' will hold her own with the best is a point upon which we feel happily confident, her racing flags being proof of her capacity--thirty-six is the number she showed at the end of the season. This yacht, as mentioned elsewhere, was built with a centreboard, but instead of a huge partition in the centre of the saloon, the board came under the main companion, and was quite unnoticeable. As with Mr. Jameson's 'Irex,' 'Mab's' centreboard was discarded, and each became the crack of her respective season. 'Varuna,' also a new boat this year, designed by Mr. G. L. Watson with a Watson bow, as in 'Mab,' was a beautiful craft, really perhaps the designer's favourite. These bows, with those in 'Corsair' and others, elicited sighs and groans from the old school of yachting men; for what with the schooner bow, the Viking bow, the inverted Roman nose bow, the bottle-nose bow, the Fife bow, and the canoe bow, one's idea of what a bow should be became somewhat confused. However, overhang forward carries the day up to 200 tons. 'Corsair,' 40-rater, designed by Mr. Arthur Payne of Southampton, was a grand boat, with less beam than 'Mab,' beautiful counter, long boom, very workmanlike all round. She was built for that enthusiastic yachtsman, Admiral the Hon. Victor Montagu, a dear lover of all good English sports. 'Thalia' was a fine craft, by Fife of Fairlie, a splendid sea boat. Many is the good race Mr. Inglis has sailed in her, with Carter, who sailed 'Britannia,' 1893, at the tiller.

Length B.P. 88'0"; length L.W.L. 83'6"; beam extreme 15'0".

Tonnage R.T.Y.C. Rule 88. tons; tonnage register 74.67 tons; Y.R.A. Rating 98 tons.]

Corsair (Admiral the Hon. Victor Montagu), 40-rater, 1892. Designed by Arthur E. Payne.]

We live in an age of rather rapid development; 1892 becomes ancient history in 1893, still it seems sad that when one has a good vessel like 'Thalia,' she should so soon be outclassed. Fashion always runs to extremes; now that fashion has attacked yachting, the belle of one season is extinguished in the next. 'Sic tempora et naves mutantur.' In old days enthusiastic yacht-owners lengthened their pets, almost rebuilt them sometimes, as in the cases of 'Alarm' and 'Arrow'; the associations were retained and duly cherished.

We have started, it should have been said, for the Australian Cup, value 50_l._, presented by Mr. Gibson Miller for yachts exceeding 20 tons and not exceeding 40 tons. The second prize, 30_l._, is given by the Royal Squadron. The westerly wind turned out very light, and without a good sailing breeze racing becomes peaceful repose. Much interest, however, is felt in the performance of 'Irene,' 40-rater, designed by Mr. G. L. Watson for Prince Henry of Prussia, who was at the tiller all day, heart and soul in it, longing for a breeze, and probably keeping up the old superstition by giving an unintentional whistle for one; but still it would not come. At 4 hrs. 0 min. 35 secs. 'Queen Mab' came in the winner, 'Thalia' taking second prize.

For real racing a true wind, such as we had in the race for prizes given by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, August 6, is indispensable. This was a small but sporting muster. 'Iverna' and 'Meteor' were sent away at 10.45 A.M., 'Iverna' crossing the line to a second. The forties, 'Corsair,' 'Queen Mab,' and 'Thalia,' were despatched half an hour later at 11 A.M., to a perfect start and a whole-sail westerly breeze, 'Mab' crossing two seconds after the Blue Peter was hauled down. The gun missed fire. We hailed the Committee Boat, 'Are we all right?' when the pleasant echo returned, 'All right, go on,' and away we went.

It was a fine reach down Southampton Water, the three close together in single file. Passing Calshot Lightship we hauled our wind and stood over for Cowes, feeling the westerly breeze which came sweeping up from the Needles; below Egypt we went about and took our jumps merrily--a nasty sea, if the sea can be nasty; our working topsail relieved her somewhat--for 'Corsair' and 'Thalia' were carrying jackyarders. It was a grand beat down to Lymington; the rain was heavy, but after a few hard squalls the sun came out and the Lymington mark-boat was rounded, 'Queen Mab' 12 hrs. 45 mins. 10 secs., 'Corsair' 12 hrs. 46 mins. 20 secs., 'Thalia' 12 hrs. 47 mins. 35 secs. As the mark-boat was neared all were astir. 'Get your gear on your spinnaker boom, my lads, and top him as soon as you can. Will you take the time, sir, of "Meteor" and "Iverna" rounding?' Before this our masthead man George had gone aloft by an acrobatic performance which is always interesting to the beholder: on the port tack with the port foot on a hoop, and the starboard foot on the sail, as indicated in the illustration. George was a good compact cheery hand, and must have been born for this particular function. By this time we are round.

'Down spinnaker boom,' and now every thread draws and the whole sail is pulling hard. 'All aft, my sonnies!' and the skipper Parker seems to smile upon his pet. At this time bread and cheese and beer are served out, and form a very pleasant pendant to 'all aft' except the look-out, who took his mid-day in solitude by the unfilled foresail. A splendid dead run from the Lymington mark back to Cowes now takes place. See! 'Corsair's' spinnaker is here suddenly taken in, Sycamore, her skipper, having discovered that her mast was sprung, and he therefore went into Cowes. This was a great disappointment to us, and must have been to Admiral Victor Montagu, who so dearly loves racing, especially in a true wind. We were now cracking on for the Warner, our enjoyment only once disturbed by a hail from the look-out, 'Boat right under bow, sir,' and in the same breath, 'Only a photogger, sir,' and on we sped. Rounding the Warner 'Thalia' carried away her throat halliards, but soon continued the race. Rounding mark-boats and lightships is thrilling work, and beautifully it is done on 'Queen Mab.' It is delightful to see the judgment and decision, and how cheerily the hands haul on to the mainsheet; truly this is sport and excitement not easily beaten. 'Queen Mab' bends gracefully to it, and well it suits her; we are hissing through it. It is generally supposed that racing yachts are regularly gralloched and cleared out below; it is so in America and was done to 'Navahoe' in her races; but it is not so here. Everything is in its place, and when the head of the steward appears at the companion with the welcome words, 'Lunch, sir!' we find that all is well--but look out for the swinging table: touch that and there will be a ghastly crash. The 40-rater has the owner's cabin and the lady's cabin, with a very comfortable one for a guest, to say nothing of accommodation for sea bachelors who do not require shore luxury. The ladies' conning tower is generally the top step of the companion, but in the 'Seabelle' Mrs. Taylor had an armchair swung like a gimbal compass, in which she knitted comfortably at whatever angle the yacht might be in a seaway. After lunch we are close-hauled lying for Calshot Castle, hissing through it with a pleasant swish of spray, ever and anon making some of the hands duck their heads as they lie up to windward. Many is the dry remark and cheery yarn that one hears under these circumstances; not many words but much to the purpose, old recollections are revived, and there is always something to be learnt.

Each hand is on the look-out in calm weather, scouring the horizon for a wandering catspaw, or in bad weather, watching the other craft to see how they take it. To note the skipper's face is a study; his eye on every leach and every sheet, keen and ready for any emergency, entirely absorbed in 'her' and how she is going and how he can best cosset her. Such was the impression left of Ben Parker at the tiller of 'Queen Mab.' He had done good work in Mr. Hill's 'Dragons' of the 20's. His first command was the 'Ulidia,' Fife's 10-tonner, after having sailed for some years under Tom Diaper and O'Neil, and his Channel race from Dover in 1892 will never be forgotten. It was a merry close haul back from the Warner to Southampton Water. As the wind was drawing down the river we had a beat up to the Committee-boat, which was reached, 'Queen Mab' 4 hrs. 9 mins. 57 secs., winner, 40_l._ and silver medal; 'Thalia,' 4 hrs. 58 mins., second prize 10_l._ 'Thalia,' built by Fife of Fairlie, had a rare good crew, and Mr. I. A. Inglis has sailed many a famous race in her with his skipper, Carter, whose season of 1893 in H.R.H. the Prince of Wales's 'Britannia' speaks for itself. We get the 'gun,' that great joy at the end of a good race. 'Down foresail,' and round she comes. The cheering is over, so now to clear up. Unlash the dinghy, get back the cutter and gear, and fill in the Declaration, which has to be sent in by every owner or his representative immediately after a race is won. It runs thus:

_Y.R.A. Declaration that Rules have been observed_

I hereby declare that . . . . . . . . yacht whilst sailing in the
. . . . . . . Race this day has strictly observed the sailing Rules and
Regulations.

Date . . . . . . Signed . . . . . . .

The gig is by this time alongside, and it must have been delightful to the owner as he stepped into her and left the side of the victorious 'Queen Mab,' to look up and see five winning flags flying, representing five first prizes in five starts in one week.

It is not the purpose of this chapter to record all 'Queen Mab's' victories, but it may be noted that she won the 40_l._ prize given by the Royal Dorset Yacht Club in August of this year--1892. The club was founded in 1875, and holds forth many inducements to yacht-owners to visit Weymouth. For small raters it is admirably adapted, as the Esplanade is of immense length, and the short courses can be seen from one end to the other.

At Dartmouth also 'Queen Mab' had two fine races, in a hard wind round the Skerries. The first, August 26, was very good, but the second, August 27, was better, though only one round, at the end of which we found the flagboat bottom up. 'Queen Mab' won first prize on both days. At Plymouth, in the following week, continuing the 'Westward Ho' procession, 'Mab' sailed over, with double-reef mainsail No. 3 and jib, no foresail, 'Thalia' and 'Corsair' not caring to start. Outside the Breakwater it was very grand, and outside Rame Head grander still, as the rollers came in after a 48 hours' gale. The pilot admired 'Mab' immensely, she made such good weather of it. The gale was great sport for us, and it was surprising to see how the small boats thrashed through it. 'Dis' carried away her bowsprit, and there was much harmless wreckage of gear. One lesson might be learnt, that with the short bowsprit produced by the overhang forward there is much strain taken off that very important spar. Plymouth often gets a hard blow about this time, which is the more to be regretted from the extraordinary variety of boats and classes, from the 'Britannia' class down to the rowing matches of the bum-boat women. Devonport and the Navy training brigs and colleges all join the water frolic, and great is the disappointment when the weather is unfavourable.

_40-rater_ (_T. B. C. West, Esq._) _Designed by G. L. Watson_, 1892.]