Chapter I: Royal Yachts and English Yacht Clubs (3)

That the naval officers who are honorary members have been valued friends to the club goes without saying. Nothing could exceed the interest that has been taken in the club's welfare by the Commodore, H.S.H. General Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, especially whilst in command at Portsmouth. Neither must the club's mainstay, the honorary secretary, Mr. John Main, be forgotten. Almost from the beginning Mr. Main had acted as under-secretary to the then honorary secretary, Mr. C. McCheane, and it is not too much to say that when acting in that capacity he was the kedge anchor to the club, and frequently on occasions was called upon to play the part of best bower. When Mr. McCheane resigned his office on July 14, 1887, after an interregnum of three months, during which Captain Haldane was made acting secretary, Mr. Main was chosen unanimously to fill the vacant office, and not only those connected with the club, but all who have had to hold communication with him, know how well its arduous duties have been performed. It is to this gentleman that the writer is indebted for help in compiling this notice.

With a commodious house, a signal station to keep up, and prizes to be provided (nearly 6,000_l._ have been given to be sailed for up to 1893), the expenses, it is needless to say, are great and tax the funds considerably. Money, however, is always forthcoming through the liberality displayed by many of the members. Among those who have come forward to help the club with gifts of cups and prizemoney are the following gentlemen, whose names are rarely absent from any notice or list calling for an extra supply towards the prize fund: Captain Sutton, Vice-Commodore; Mr. J. R. West, late Rear-Commodore; Mr. A. H. Glennie, Rear-Commodore; and Messrs. Julian Senior, S. Richards, and B. Paget. Mrs. Robertson Fernie makes an annual present of a purse in memory of her late husband, who was always a contributor up to the time of his death.

The club has certainly done more for amateur seamanship than any other inside the Isle of Wight; it was the first to start a system of fortnightly regattas, and has always been chosen by outside clubs to time the arrivals of their ocean races to the port of Portsmouth.

The usual annual regatta was held last year, 1893, somewhat unfortunately, during the squadron week at Cowes, whither the big cutters of the season had attracted so many lovers of yacht racing as well as general sight-seers. A very varied programme was provided, including all classes from the 100-tonner to the 1/2-rater, in all about five different races. The first was a handicap for yachts exceeding 19-rating, the course being from between the committee-vessel and the Spit Fort, round the N.E. middle buoy, Warner lightship, and Boyne buoy, all marks to be left on the port hand. This afforded a great opportunity for the spectators on Southsea beach to see the racing thoroughly well, as the competitors had to accomplish three rounds, making about a 40-mile course.

The object of handicaps is to get sport amongst craft of varied tonnage, class, and build, by giving time allowance. In the present case the largest vessel was 'Mabel,' late 'Irex,' 100-rating; the smallest,'Marigold,' 22-rating; 'Mabel' allowing 'Marigold' 39 minutes. Six started. A good race ensued, as the following time of the finish will corroborate:--'Columbine,' winner, 4 hrs. 32 mins. 41 secs.; 'Castanet,' 2nd prize, 4 hrs. 36 mins. 15 secs.; 'Creole,' 3rd prize, 4 hrs. 33 mins. 43 secs.; 'Mabel,' 4 hrs. 38 mins. 14 secs.

+---------+------+------+----------+-----------------+
| Yacht | Rig |Rating| Handicap | Owner |
+---------+------+------+----------+-----------------+
|Mabel |cutter| 100 | scratch |Mr. Muir |
|Creole | " | 40 |10 minutes|Lieut.-Col. Bagot|
|Columbine| yawl | 50 |12 " |Mr. W. B. Paget |
|Castanet |cutter| 40 |14 " |Mr. W. R. Cookson|
|Hyacinth | yawl | 50 |27 " |Mr. T. C. Garth |
|Marigold |cutter| 22 |39 " |Mr. W. R. Martin |
+---------+------+------+----------+-----------------+

The 20-raters were represented by 'Dragon,' 'Deirdré,' and 'Molly.'

The 2-1/2-raters brought together were in number eight--'Elf,' 'Gareth,' 'Gavotte,' 'Kismet,' 'Meneen,' 'Papoose,' 'Faugh-a-Ballagh,' and 'Undine.'

This race was for the Fernie Cup, value 10 guineas, won by 'Kismet,' Miss Mabel Cox.

Four 1-raters started over a 12-mile course, and the 1/2-raters finished a very successful regatta by having a match over an 8-mile course; the 'Mosquito,' belonging to Admiral Hallowes, beating the 'Coquette' by half a minute.

ROYAL CINQUE PORTS YACHT CLUB, DOVER

ESTABLISHED 1872

_Commodore_: H.R.H. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT, K.G.
_Vice-Commodore_: EARL OF PEMBROKE

The leading feature in the regatta of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club is the race to Boulogne and back, which really is the Channel match of the season; and in the year 1877, which was remarkable for hard winds and even gales on racing days, such as that when the Weymouth, as well as other regattas, was hopelessly stopped, the grandest race of the series was sailed June 14. The following fine fleet started:--

+-----------+-------+-----------+---------+---------------------+
| Yacht |Tonnage|Description| Builder | Owner |
+-----------+-------+-----------+---------+---------------------+
|Australia | 207 | Schooner | Inman |W. W. Hughes, Esq. |
|Phantom | 172 | " | Hoad |A. O. Wilkinson, Esq.|
|Corinne | 160 | " | Ratsey |N. Wood, Esq. |
|Sea Belle | 142 | " | Harvey |H. Taylor, Esq. |
|Miranda | 135 | " | Harvey |G. C. Lampson, Esq. |
|Lufra | 208 | Yawl | Ratsey |J. Houldsworth, Esq. |
|Florinda | 138 | " |Nicholson|W. Jessop, Esq. |
|Jullanar | 127 | " | Bentall |A. D. Macleay, Esq. |
|Vol au Vent| 103 | Cutter | Ratsey |Col. Markham |
+-----------+-------+-----------+---------+---------------------+

With a very hard E.N.E. wind blowing all reefed mainsails and jibheaders, 1877 was a great season for carrying away spars, and June 14 added its share. The arrival time round Boulogne mark-boat is worth recording.

_117 tons_ (_Tankerville Chamberlayne, Esq._). _June 24, 1876_.]

h. m. s.
Phantom 2 17 0
Australia 2 21 30
Corinne 2 29 0
Lufra 2 29 30
Miranda 2 32 0
Florinda 2 32 19
Sea Belle 2 35 15
Jullanar 2 36 0
Vol au Vent 3 0 15

The E.N.E. was now a little before their beam; with flattened sheets they all began to dive a little more than on the voyage out. At last, some five miles or so after rounding the Boulogne mark-boat, the leading schooner, 'Phantom,' took a dive that was too much for her bowsprit, which snapped off short. Poor 'Phantom,' in the prime of life, leading grandly and full of promise! After this there were no more accidents. The 'Australia' had the lead, and finished, winning the 100_l._ prize, and establishing a record, 4 hrs. 12 mins. 40 secs. for the course, which has not been beaten up to the present.

The other racers came in as follows:--

h. m. s.
Australia 4 12 40
Corinne 4 26 18
Florinda 4 30 38
Phantom 4 33 3
Miranda 4 34 32
Jullanar 4 36 30
Sea Belle 4 37 48
Lufra 4 38 38
Vol au Vent 5 24 0

Another good race over the same course, on June 28, 1880, was won by 'Latona,' 160 tons, built by J. White; A. B. Rowley, Esq.; duration of race, 4 hrs. 14 mins. 4 secs. Started 10.30 A.M., arrived at Dover 2 hrs. 44 min. 4 secs.

_40-rater, by Fay & Co. Designed by J. M. Soper, 1891. Hauled up at Fay's Yard._]

On July 22, 1889, the 'Wendur,' yawl, 124-rating, 43 tons, built by and belonging to Thos. B. C. West, Esq., ran this time very close, starting 10 A.M., arrived at Dover 2 hrs. 14 mins. 28 secs. Duration of race, 4 hrs. 14 mins. 28 secs., being 24 seconds longer than 'Latona.'

A race on Tuesday, June 14, 1892, was a very remarkable one, and showed what a 40-tonner is capable of in bad weather and hard wind in the Channel, which is not the smoothest water in a strong North-easter. The finish was as follows:--

Arrived at Dover
h. m. s.
Lethe, yawl 3 17 11
Queen Mab, cutter (winner, 70_l._) 3 34 9
Iverna, cutter 3 38 1
Thalia, cutter (2nd prize, 5_l._) 3 47 28
Creole, cutter 3 57 32
Varuna, dismasted

Duration of race, 4 hrs. 32 mins. 11 secs. Wind north-east, strong and squally.