Yachting Vol. 2.

by R. T. Pritchett, Marquis Durrerin, Ava and James McFerran, C. L. Blake and T. B. Middleton.

CHAPTER I

ROYAL YACHTS AND ENGLISH YACHT CLUBS

ROYAL YACHTS

BY R. T. PRITCHETT

The innate love of the English for everything connected with seafaring, roving and adventure, burst prominently forth in the time of Queen Elizabeth, when Drake and Raleigh showed what could be done in small craft in 'ocean cruising,' and, with early Corinthian crews from Devon and the brave West, sallied forth and straightway laid the foundation of our navy, and our present numerous fleet of yachts. In 1604 an early designer, one Phineas Pett, built a yacht for Henry of Wales; and to him the Navy was much indebted for general improvement in line and build throughout the early part of the Stuart dynasty.

At the Restoration we begin in earnest the History of Yachting, and find King Charles II. taking most enthusiastically to yacht building and even racing. That mine of wealth for the details of every-day life, that minute recorder of modes and fashions, Samuel Pepys, Esq., F.R.S., Secretary to the Admiralty, first brings to our notice the aquatic taste of His Majesty. In his delightful 'Diary' we find:--

_July 15, 1660._--Found the King gone this morning by 5 of the clock to see a Dutch pleasure boat below bridge, where he dines and my Lord with him.

In a further notice we find His Majesty winning the first yacht race in the Thames, over the course of the R.T.Y. Club, Greenwich to Gravesend and back--a wager of one hundred guineas.

_January 13, 1660-1661._--Lord's Day. To the Globe to dinner, then to Commissioner Pett, to his lodgings there, which he hath for the present while he is building the King's yacht, which will be a very pretty thing and much beyond the Dutchman's.

_January 15._--The King hath been this afternoon to Deptford to see the yacht that Commissioner Pett is building, which will be very pretty, as also that his brother Christopher Pett (son of Phineas Pett) at Woolwich is making.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Dutch yacht. From drawing by Vandervelde dated 1640.]

_November 8._--On board the yacht, which indeed is one of the finest things that ever I saw, for neatness and room in so small a vessel.

_May 21, 1661._--To Deptford and took barge and were overtaken by the King in his barge, he having been down the river in his yacht this day for pleasure to try it; and I hear Commissioner Pett's do prove better than the Dutchman, and that his brother did build at Woolwich.

_October 1, 1661._--Between Charles II. and his brother the Duke of York for 100 guineas. Sailing match from Greenwich to Gravesend and back. The King won.

_July 22, 1662._--Lord Sandwich in yacht to Boulogne in foul weather.

_September, 1662._--By water to Woolwich, on my way saw the yacht lately built by our virtuosoes. My Lord Brunkard and others, with the help of Commissioner Pett also, set out from Greenwich with the little Dutch 'Bezan' to try for mastery; and before they got to Woolwich the Dutch beat them half a mile. And I hear this afternoon that in coming home it got above three miles, which all our people were glad of.

_July 31, 1663._--Sir William Petty's vessel, which he hath built on two keeles, a model whereof built for the King he showed me, hath this month won a Wager of 50_l._ in sailing between Dublin & Holyhead with the ... Pacquett boat. The best ship or vessel the King hath there, and he offers to lay with any vessel in the world.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 'Een Bezan Jagt,' 1670.]

It is about thirty tons in burden, and carries 30 men with good commodation, as much more as any ship of her burden also as any vessel of this figure shall carry more men. She carries 10 guns of about 5 tons weight. In coming back from Holyhead they started together, and this vessel came to Dublin by 5 at night and the Pacquett boat not before eight the next morning.[1]

[Footnote 1: Sloane MSS., Brit. Mus., and model sent to, and deposited by, Petty in Wadham College.]

_September 17, 1665._--Lord's Day. To church to Gravesend in the 'Bezan' yacht, and then to anchor for all night--and with much pleasure at last to sleep--having very good lodging upon cushions in the cabbin.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cutter, 141 tons, from Stalkart's 'Naval Architecture,' 1781.]

_October 1, 1665._--Lord's Day. Embarked on board the 'Bezan.' ... After supper on board the 'Bezan,' then to cards for a while and so to sleep; but Lord! the mirth it caused me to be waked in the night by the snoring around me.

1690.--Macaulay in his 'History' mentions a yacht. Caermarthen's eldest son--bold and volatile, fond of the sea, and living much among sailors--had a small yacht of marvellous speed.

1697.--Peter the Great is known to have added to the advancement of sailing and building yachts during his visit to this country.

1720-1737.--The Water Club of the harbour of Cork was established, to be held once every spring tide in April to the last in September, inclusive. The details of this doyen club will be found in its proper place, p. 99 _et seq._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Yacht stern, 1781.]

Amidst all the voluminous MSS. of the Admiralty secured and appropriated by Samuel Pepys, it is unfortunate that no sketch or drawing of the Royal yacht of Charles II. is to be found. Search is vain among the papers at Cambridge, where most of the Diarist's gleanings are preserved. We must, therefore, start with existing Royal yachts, beginning with that built for King George III. in 1814, and now lying in Portsmouth Harbour.

The Royal yacht 'Royal George' was laid down at Deptford, May 1814, designed by Sir Henry Peake, Surveyor of the Navy, and she was launched at Deptford in July, 1817. Her dimensions were as follow:

ft. in.

Length between perpendiculars 103 0 " keel for tonnage 84 4-1/2 Breadth, extreme 26 8 " for tonnage 26 6 Depth of hold 11 6 Burden in tons, 330 tons.

The 'Royal George' was used on Her Majesty's accession, 1837; she was rigged as a ship, and was remarkable for excellent sailing qualities.

The captain appointed was Lord Adolphus FitzClarence, G.C.B., &c. The 'Royal George' was laid up in Portsmouth Harbour, in charge of the Master and only fitted out when specially required for Royal service.

The lieutenants, mates, a.s.sistant-surgeon, and crew were stationed on board a 10-gun brig, H.M.S. 'Pantaloon,' attached to the Royal yacht as tender. This vessel was employed in looking after fishermen, carrying mails, and on other services that might be required.

'Esmeralda,' cutter, under command of the second master, was also attached to the Royal yacht as tender.

On November 7, 1842, a new steam yacht, 'Victoria and Albert,' was laid down at Pembroke Dockyard, and on April 26 next year she was launched. She was designed by Sir William Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy. Construction: diagonal principle, Dantzic oak without, horizontal planking of Italian larch. This yacht, it may here be stated, was subsequently, when a new 'Victoria and Albert' was built, known as the 'Osborne.'

_Dimensions_ ft. in.

Length 200 0 Extreme length 225 0 Beam 39 0 Over paddle-boxes 59 0 Speed 11.5 knots, and commissioned at Blackwall, July 1, 1843.

In 1844, it is to be noted, it was ordered that the Royal yacht should carry the Royal standard at the main, the Admiralty flag at the fore, and the Union Jack at the mizzen, which order remains in force at the present time. In this year, it should perhaps be added, the Queen stayed at Osborne House, and in the following year the estate was purchased from Lady Isabella Blatchford by Her Majesty. The steam yacht 'Fairy' (screw) was built at this period.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Her Majesty The Queen going to Scotland.]

ft. in.

Length 160 0 Beam 21 0 Burden, 317 tons. Speed, 13.25 knots, and carrying 18 tons of coal.

The paddle steam yacht 'Elfin' appeared in 1849. It was built at Chatham, from the design of Mr. Oliver Lang, of mahogany and on the diagonal principle.

ft. in.

Length over all 112 3 Length 103 6 Beam 13 2 Over boxes 25 6 Burden in tons, 96 tons. Speed, 12 knots. Draught, 4 ft. 10 in.

H.P. nominal 40. Indicated 192 H.P.

Amongst interesting details which should here be recorded, it may be remarked that in August of this year Her Majesty in the Royal yacht visited Cork, and the Cove was henceforth called Queenstown. As regards the speed and capacity of the 'Victoria and Albert,' her capabilities for long cruises were tested in 1850. Leaving Plymouth Sound June 26, 8.45, she arrived in the Tagus off Belem, June 29, 3.10. Distance 772 miles in 66 hrs. 25 mins. Average speed 11-6/10 knots. Tried at a measured mile with anthracite and Merthyr coal mixed, three years afterwards, her average speed was 11 knots.

A new yacht, under the temporary name of the 'Windsor Castle,' was started at Pembroke in February 1854, but a few weeks later its progress was suspended to facilitate work for the Baltic and Black Sea fleets.

On January 16, 1855, the 'new' 'Victoria and Albert' was launched and christened, and the name of the old yacht (built 1843) changed to 'Osborne.' The new 'Victoria and Albert' was designed by Oliver Lang, Master Shipwright at Pembroke Yard.

ft. in.

Length figure-head to stern 336 4 " between perpendiculars 300 0 Beam outside paddle boxes 66 6 Burden in tons 2,342 tonnage