Chapter VII

. The racing man on the Solent or the Clyde cares more for the sport than the science involved in questions of displacement, length, and what not; and we may rest assured that whatever the Council of the Y.R.A. do, or leave undone, the sport will proceed in the same enthusiastic manner.

There cannot be the smallest doubt that an immense advantage to yachting would be gained if England, France, and America raced under the same rule of rating and a similar classification; and if an international conference were invited to meet in London the thing would be done without much difficulty.

The table of Clubs on p. 286 shows that 2,761_l._ in cash and 933_l._ in cups, plate, &c. were won on the Solent in 1892, or a total of 3,723_l._ This does not include the prizes won at the Town Regattas--Cowes, Southampton, Lymington, Yarmouth, Totland Bay, Ryde, and Portsmouth. Good prizes are offered to the raters at several of these regattas, probably increasing the above total to nearly 4,000_l._[15]

[Footnote 15: These amounts were all larger in 1893.]

_Table of Rig, Dimensions, &c._

+-------------------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----------+------------+-----------------+------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | Sail | Areas | Spars | Lines | | Name of Yacht | Rig | Date |Rating|L.W.L.+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | | | | | |Total| Main| Head | Top |Boom |Gaff |Yard | Luff | A | B | C | D | I | J | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | 10- |Yvonne | Cutter | 1889| 9.80 | 34.10|1,726| 813| 658 |254 |34.00|21.6 | -- | 22.85| 44.3 | 19.2 | 40.2 | 19.3 | 46.2 | 28.5 | | raters|Doreen | Lugger |July 15, 1892| 9.96 | 38.05|1,572|1,061| 511 | -- |38.38| -- |33.38| 18.75| 57.8 | 24.3 | 42.4 | 16.9 | 34.4 | 29.7 | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | |Alwida | Cutter | May 15, 1890| 4.95 | 29.66|1,002| 684| 318 | -- |29.7 |19.5 | -- | 22.1 | 41.1 | 13.3 | 36.0 | 18.3 | 28.8 | 22.1 | | |Glycera | Cutter | May 15, 1890| 4.93 | 30.97| 957| 657| 300 | -- |29.3 |19.3 | -- | 21.5 | 40.7 | 16.7 | 35.8 | 17.7 | 28.0 | 21.4 | | |Archee | Cutter |Aug. 21, 1890| 4.96 | 30.43| 980| 675| 305 | -- |30.5 |19.5 | -- | 21.4 | 40.5 | 17.25| 36.0 | 18.1 | 29.0 | 21.0 | | |Quinque | Cutter | May 29, 1890| 4.99 | 31.56| 951| 645| 306 | -- |28.8 |19.0 | -- | ? | 40.0 | 16.7 | 35.3 | 17.6 | 25.9 | 23.6 | | 5- |Windfall |Lug. cut.| May 19, 1891| 4.97 | 32.89| 909| 659| 250 | -- |30.4 | -- |27.0 | 17.7 | 47.0 | 19.1 | 33.8 | 12.4 | 25.0 | 20.0 | | raters|Savourna |Lug. slp.|June 2, 1891| 4.94 | 33.40| 888| 669| 219 | -- |31.65| -- |28.6 | 12.0 | 47.0 | 20.5 | 34.0 | 11.0 | 26.5 | 16.53| | |Iernia |Lug. slp.|June 5, 1891| 4.99 | 31.48| 953| 774| 179 | -- |35.75| -- |29.3 | 12.0 | 48.0 | 22.6 | 37.5 | 11.5 | 26.05| 13.75| | |Cyane |Lug. slp.|June 3, 1892| 4.95 | 33.75| 880| 668| 212 | -- |35.5 | -- |28.0 | 13.25| 46.0 | 19.5 | 33.0 | 12.2 | 29.2 | 14.5 | | |Quinque |Lug. slp.|July 21, 1892| 4.96 | 33.15| 898| 677| 221 | -- |35.95| -- |29.6 | 12.75| 46.3 | 21.0 | 33.5 | 11.4 | 27.45| 16.1 | | |Dacia |Lug. slp.|June 15, 1892| 5.00 | 33.83| 888| 700| 188 | -- |31.87| -- |31.6 | 13.0 | 49.4 | 20.2 | 33.0 | 12.2 | 28.13| 13.33| +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | |Thalassa | Sloop | 1887| 2.46 | 20.94| 706| 422| 208 | 76 |22.58|15.82| -- | ? | 31.5 | ? | 27.8 | 14.5 | 25.41| 16.33| | |Thalassa | Sloop | May 17, 1889| 2.49 | 22.95| 652| 452| 200 | -- |22.6 |14.8 | -- | ? | 34.8 | 12.5 | 29.8 | 15.7 | 24.9 | 16.1 | | |Humming Bird |Lug. slp.|July 12, 1889| 2.44 | 25.90| 567| 432| 135 | -- |23.46| -- |23.2 | 11.5 | 39.0 | 15.2 | 26.5 | 10.2 | 23.54| 12.0 | | |Mliss | Sloop | May 15, 1890| 2.50 | 24.97| 603| 448| 155 | -- |24.5 |16.0 | -- | 17.7 | 32.5 | 14.2 | 29.5 | 14.7 | 22.2 | 14.0 | | |Cock-a-Whoop |Lug. slp.|June 18, 1890| 2.50 | 25.00| 600| 438| 162 | -- |24.1 | -- |23.0 | ? | 36.2 | 16.8 | 26.8 | 10.0 | 24.1 | 13.4 | | |Babe |Lug. slp.|1890 and 1891| 2.48 | 26.76| 557| 429| 127 | -- |23.6 | -- |22.9 | 11.6 | 36.5 | 15.6 | 25.4 | 10.5 | 21.7 | 11.7 | | | | {June 12, 1891| 2.49 | 28.00| 536} { 111 } | | | | | | | | | { 10.8 | | |Fiera |Lug. slp.{ | | | } 425{ } -- |23.8 | -- |23.0 | 11.3 | 38.0 | 15.5 | 26.2 | 10.0 | 20.5 { | | | | {June 18, 1892| 2.45 | 27.36| 539} { 114 } | | | | | | | | | { 11.1 | | 2-1/2- |Avadavat |Lug. slp.|June 10, 1891| 2.49 | 28.00| 536| 425| 111 | -- |23.8 | -- |23.0 | 11.3 | 38.0 | 15.5 | 26.2 | 10.0 | 20.5 | 10.8 | | raters |Janetta |Lug. slp.|Aug. 14, 1891| 2.48 | 26.45| 563| 430| 133 | -- |23.8 | -- |23.0 | 11.6 | 38.0 | 15.5 | 28.8 | 10.5 | 22.6 | 11.8 | | |Molly |Lug. slp.| 1892| 2.49 | 28.26| 531| 439| 92 | -- |25.3 | -- |24.5 | 9.5 | 38.0 | 17.0 | 26.7 | 8.7 | 17.1 | 10.7 | | |Stork |Lug. slp.| 1892| 2.50 | 28.52| 527| 442| 85 | -- |25.3 | -- |24.5 | 9.1 | 38.4 | 17.0 | 27.0 | 8.5 | 15.7 | 10.8 | | |Faugh-a-Ballagh |Lug. slp.| May 30, 1892| 2.48 | 27.48| 543| 433| 110 | -- |23.8 | -- |23.7 | 11.3 | 38.5 | 15.3 | 25.8 | 10.3 | 20.0 | 11.0 | | |Cockatoo |Lug. slp.|June 28, 1892| 2.41 | 27.24| 533| 436| 97 | -- |23.3 | -- |24.0 | 12.3 | 40.3 | 14.5 | 25.6 | ? | 20.1 | 9.7 | | |Papoose |Lug. slp.|June 11, 1892| 2.50 | 27.65| 543| 446| 97 | -- |23.6 | -- |24.0 | 12.5 | 40.5 | 14.8 | 26.2 | 11.2 | 20.1 | 9.7 | | |Polynia |Lug. slp.|July 1892| 2.47 | 28.15| 528| 431| 97 | -- |23.6 | -- |24.6 | 10.75| 39.4 | 15.4 | 25.4 | 10.0 | 18.5 | 10.5 | | |Gareth |Lug. slp.|July 30, 1892| 2.48 | 28.02| 533| 442| 91 | -- |24.9 | -- |24.5 | 10.6 | 40.3 | 15.4 | 26.2 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 9.7 | | |Wenonah | Sloop | Aug. 3, 1892| 2.40 | 25.05| 577| 449| 128 | -- |27.4 |14.9 | -- | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 19.6 | 13.1 | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | | | { 1890| 0.99 | 18.21| 328| } | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Pup |Lug. slp.{ | | | | 272} 72 | -- |20.0 | -- |18.4 | 7.8 | 29.5 | 13.2 | 21.2 | 7.3 | 15.2 | 9.4 | | | | {July 1892| 0.99 | 17.37| 344| } | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Rogue |Lug. slp.|Aug. 18, 1892| 0.99 | 20.91| 285| 238| 47 | -- |18.5 | -- |18.3 | 7.00| 28.0 | 12.5 | 19.4 | 6.5 | 13.5 | 7.0 | | 1- |Barbet |Lug. slp.|Aug. 23, 1892| 0.97 | 20.27| 288| 249| 39 | -- |19.0 | -- |18.9 | 6.25| 29.0 | 12.9 | 20.0 | 6.2 | 10.2 | 7.6 | | raters|Doushka |Lug. slp.|June 30, 1892| 0.98 | 21.07| 281| 245| 36 | -- | ? | -- |19.0 | 5.75| 28.8 | 13.2 | 20.0 | 5.5 | 10.0 | 7.2 | | |Nansheen |Lug. slp.| May 28, 1892| 0.99 | 20.24| 297| 251| 46 | -- |19.5 | -- |17.0 | 8.00| 28.0 | 12.4 | 20.5 | 7.5 | 12.8 | 7.2 | | |Mahatma |Lug. slp.|Apr. 27, 1892| 0.99 | 20.61| 289| 242| 47 | -- |18.4 | -- |17.7 | 6.5 | 27.0 | 13.1 | 20.0 | 5.9 | 14.7 | 6.5 | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | |Coquette |Lug. slp.| May 14, 1891| 0.50 | 15.58| 192| 192| -- | -- |16.8 | -- |14.9 | 7.6 | 25.2 | 10.3 | 17.8 | 7.0 | -- | -- | | |Dee Dee |Lug. slp.|July 14, 1891| 0.50 | 17.17| 177| 149| 28 | -- |14.8 | -- |14.9 | 4.6 | 21.5 | 10.8 | 15.8 | 4.2 | 11.00| 5.1 | | |Jeanie |Lug. slp.|June 18, 1891| 0.50 | 16.25| 187| 162| 25 | -- | ? | -- |12.7 | 6.1 | 22.9 | 9.7 | 17.0 | 5.6 | 12.3 | 4.1 | | |Spruce | Yawl |Aug. 27, 1891| 0.41 | 16.20| 154| 123| -- | -- | ? |12.9 | -- | 4.75| 17.0 | 10.4 | 13.8 | 4.4 | -- | -- | | 1/2- |Eileen |Lug. slp.| May 13, 1891| 0.49 | 15.90| 185| 144|(mizz.|30.5)| 5.95| 7.0 | | 2.83| 8.5 | 5.2 | 6.5 | 2.6 |mizzen| -- | | raters|Narua |Lug. slp.| May 19, 1891| 0.49 | 15.97| 183| 143| 41 | -- |14.5 | -- |14.9 | 4.8 | 20.3 | 11.0 | 15.0 | 4.3 | 12.6 | 6.5 | | | | { 1891| | | | } 40 | -- |14.6 | -- |14.8 | 4.8 | 20.0 | 11.0 | 15.0 | 4.3 | 12.6 | 6.4 | | |Dancing Girl |Lug. slp.{ | 0.50 | 15.99| 189| 167} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | {July 13, 1892| | | | } 22 | -- |16.4 | -- |15.0 | 4.8 | 23.4 | 11.0 | 17.1 | 4.5 | 11.1 | 4.0 | | |Daisy |Lug. slp.| Aug. 26 1892| 0.50 | 17.10| 176| 152| 24 | -- |15.6 | -- |14.1 | 5.3 | 22.2 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 5.1 | 9.0 | ? | | |Wee Winn | Sloop |July 23, 1892| 0.46 | 15.61| 178| 141| 37 | -- |15.1 | 9.16| -- | 8.6 | 18.8 | 8.2 | 16.6 | 7.7 | 10.9 | 6.7 | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+

Some of these town regattas are managed in a most remarkable manner, the fireworks at night being perhaps the most important matter for consideration in the eyes of the Committee.

A year or two back, the raters at Cowes were started in a line with the committee vessel, with no outside limit! On the day of the race it was a lee shore; consequently Lord Dunraven, Mr. Perceval, and one or two others who were wider awake than the rest, started in the dim distance, well to windward, and romped down full and bye to the first mark.

At Lymington the 5-raters are started from a line at the river-mouth from a little boat, by a little man, with a little gun and a big flag, and the finish is right up the river, in a narrow place thronged with small boats, with probably a four-oared race in progress. After an accident has taken place and a few people are drowned, this may be altered.

At Totland Bay in 1892 there was a handicap for which two very unequal boats had entered. The sailing committee could not agree about the handicap; some bright genius therefore proposed that the difference of time between the boats at the end of the first round should be multiplied by 3 for the handicap on the three rounds, and it is said that this was actually done! And so on. These regattas are very good fun, if only because the unexpected usually occurs.

The men who have made the Solent racing what it is must now be mentioned:--

Mr. Wolff, the Hon. Sec. of the R.S.Y.C., and the late Mr. McCheane, Hon. Sec. of the R.P.C.Y.C., have already been alluded to. Colonel Bucknill, Hon. Sec. of the Castle Yacht Club; Mr. Blair Onslow Cochrane, Hon. Sec. of the Bembridge Sailing Club; Mr. Barrow, Hon. Sec. of the Island Sailing Club; Mr. Herbert Ridsdale, Hon. Sec. of the Hamble Branch of the Minima Sailing Club, have in like manner worked hard and very successfully in the cause. So also have many of the flag officers in the various clubs, and especially should be mentioned Mr. Frederick Cox, who for years has been a persevering patron of the sport--both in the Solent length classes and afterwards in the present Solent classes (Y.R.A. rating). Mr. Cox's sons and daughters have raced a number of yachts: 'Lil,' 'Verena,' 'Madcap,' 'Merrythought,' 'Kitten,' 'Ethel,' 'Mliss,' 'Troublesome,' 'Fiera,' 'Mosquito,' all under the protecting wing of the head centre, typified by the steamer 'Zinaida.' Mr. Cox is Commodore of the Royal Southampton, Rear Commodore (or is it Rear Admiral now?) of the Royal London, and Rear Commodore of the Castle Yacht Clubs. He is also a member of the Council Y.R.A.

[Illustration: SOLENT OWNERS' RACING COLOURS.]

Captain Hughes and his family of sons and daughters have followed the sport for a long time in the same enthusiastic way, and have raced the following boats: 'Lil,' 'Fairy,' 'Jenny Wren,' 'Madcap,' 'Flutterby,' 'Humming Bird,' 'Cock-a-Whoop,' and 'Cockatoo.' Captain Hughes was most active in starting the Castle Yacht Club, and for a short time was the Hon. Sec.

In addition to the above, the chief patrons and promoters of the sport during the past few years have been the Marquis of Exeter, the Marquis of Ailsa, the Earl of Dunraven, the Earl of Desart, the Earl of Dudley, the late Mr. Sidney Watson, Colonel the Hon. H. G. L. Crichton, Captain the Hon. J. M. Yorke, Colonel F. Dugmore, Captain J. R. F. Fullerton, R.N., Admiral the Hon. Victor Montagu, R.N., Mr. W. H. Forster, Mr. R. S. Hankinson, Mr. P. Perceval, jun., Mr. George Schenley, the Hon. G. Colville, Captain Cecil Drummond, Captain Du Boulay, Captain Davenport, Mr. Wilson Hoare, R.N., Mr. Granville Keele, Admiral Hallowes, R.N., Mr. Paul Ralli, Mr. W. A. Beauclerk, Mr. A. D. Clarke, Mr. H. R. Langrishe, Captain C. E. Haynes, R.E., Lieut.-Colonel Moreton, Mr. F. L. Popham, Mr. E. F. Quilter, Mr. W. S. Nicholson, Mr. J. P. Ranwell, Mr. L. M. Ames, Captain R. Alexander, Mr. G. F. Flemmich, Mr. H. L. Hewitt, Mr. A. Manning, Mr. R. Vogan, and a number more, whose names would fill a page.

The ladies who have taken an active part in the racing should also be mentioned, as their presence has done much to make the sport popular and fashionable.

Prominent among them are Ladies Fanny and Blanche Stanhope, Mrs. Sidney Watson, Mrs. Schenley and her sisters the Misses Hughes, Mrs. Rudston-Read and her sister Miss Cox, Mrs. H. Duff-Gordon and her sister Miss Hammersley, Mrs. Arthur Heygate, Mrs. Blair Onslow Cochrane, the Misses Sutton, and Colonel Bucknill's daughters.

Oilskins and sou'-westers are really very becoming, and if this fact were generally known, the ranks of the ladies might gain recruits, and this word leads to the next division of our subject:--

HINTS TO THE NOVICE

If a beginner wish to learn the art of small-yacht racing he cannot do better than start with a second-hand 1-rater, costing say from 50_l._ to 80_l._ Such a boat if new would cost from 100_l._ to 150_l._

The next step is to hire a good lad (sixteen or seventeen years old) for the crew, wages from 16 _s._ to 20_s._ a week, and some racing money, say 5_s._ for a first, and 2_s._ 6_d._ for a second or third prize. No prize, no racing money. The lad will ask for a suit of clothes, and if he seem likely to suit, the suit may be given on the distinct understanding that, should he leave the job voluntarily or on account of misbehaviour, the clothes will be kept by the owner. The clothes are part of the equipment of the yacht, and belong to the owner, who should see that they are worn on board, and not kept entirely for shore service. Nothing looks worse than a ramshackle, untidy fellow on a smart little yacht. Racing boats and crews should be as smart at the starting line as guns and gunners on parade.

The young owner must then settle how much racing he can manage, and on what days it will be most convenient. 'Thalassa's' Almanac, published by King & Co., High Street, Southampton, may be consulted with advantage, as an attempt is made therein to give the whole of the club programmes for the season, so far as they are known by the secretaries at the beginning of the year.

It will be found that Saturdays are practically secured by the Royal Southampton and the Royal Portsmouth Clubs; Mondays by the Royal London and the Castle Clubs; Wednesdays by the Royal Albert Yacht Club and the Island Sailing Club; Thursdays are chosen by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and Fridays by the Solent Yacht Club and the Minima Sailing Club.

Examine the Almanac again, note which of the clubs give 'open' races and which 'club' races; and then it will be easy to settle which clubs are most convenient, and to take the necessary steps for being entered as a candidate.

The next point to settle is the best headquarters for the little ship, and this depends on so many personal considerations that advice is impossible. Remember, however, that a 1-rater requires a sheltered anchorage, and that moorings keep mud off the decks, and save time and bother. The best anchorages for _small_ boats are: (1) the Itchen river, at or above the Floating Bridge; (2) the Hamble river, at or above the Salterns; (3) Calshot, up the Creek; (4) Portsmouth Harbour, especially up Haslar Creek; (5) Bembridge Harbour; (6) Wooton Creek; (7) Cowes, above the ferry; (8) Beaulieu river, inside the coastguard station; (9) Newtown river; (10) Yarmouth, the harbour; (11) Lymington river; (12) Keyhaven.

Do _not_ anchor for the night, or moor so small a boat as a 1-rater off the pier at Southampton, off Hythe, at Calshot (except up the creek), in Cowes Harbour (except up the river), off Ryde, off Southsea, in Yarmouth Roads, or in Totland Bay. If you do so, you will wake some stormy morning to find her more or less damaged, and possibly wrecked. The boy will have very strong opinions concerning the best place for moorings. Don't listen to him. Fix on the place that suits yourself and your friends best.

Next decide where you will go for the everlasting scrub, paint up, and frequent repairs. If on the Itchen, there are Fay & Co., Summers & Payne, and Field close to the Floating Bridge to choose from. If on the Medina, either White, Ratsey, or Sibbick. If on the Hamble, there are Luke & Co. If in Portsmouth Harbour, Camper & Nicholson at Gosport, or Reid on the Portsmouth basin. If sails give out, repairs can be quickly done at reasonable charges by Beaton of Bugle Street, Southampton; but new sails for racing should be obtained from Ratsey at Cowes or Lapthorn at Gosport.

The next step to take is very interesting. Collect your lady friends, and ask each of them to design a racing flag; paint each design full size, and examine them simultaneously from a distance, say one cable at least, as a flag should be easily distinguished at this distance in any weather. Two colours are generally sufficient. Black, or some dark colour, with white or yellow; also red, with white or yellow. If three colours be used, separate the red from the dark colours by white or yellow. Employ strong contrasts. Remember that a simple design shows best and costs least. Also that a flag with horizontal seams flies better than any other, except one with no seams at all. However small the boat, the racing flag should never be less than 10 inches wide by 8-1/2 inches high. The winning flags may be smaller, say 6 or 7 inches square, for a 1/2- or a 1-rater. The following dimensions may be regarded as 'suitable sizes' (see Rule 11, Y.R.A.) for the racing flags in the 'Solent classes':--

height width 1/2-raters and 1-raters 8 inches by 10 inches 2-1/2-raters 10 " " 12 " 5-raters 12 " " 14 " 10-raters 14 " " 17 "

Having settled on the size and pattern of flag, proceed to Mr. Wolff, High Street, Southampton, and order two or three, and (say) a dozen of the smaller size to hoist as winning flags. Make a solemn vow to win a dozen flags in the season, and if you fail the first year, stick to your colours and try again.

The boat must now be prepared for the racing; all ropes and gear carefully examined, her top sides and bottom carefully rubbed down, painted, and varnished, until everything is as fit as a fiddle, and the bottom smooth as a bottle.

Next buy a copy of the Y.R.A. Rules, Dixon Kemp's book on 'Yacht and Boat Sailing,' and King's 'Channel Pilot.' Study each carefully, especially