BY EDWARD WALTER CASTLE AND ROBERT CASTLE

In the year 1775 was founded the 'c.u.mberland Fleet,' and as the Royal Thames Yacht Club is its lineal descendant, the latter may with all justice claim the t.i.tle of the 'Mother of Yacht-racing,' at least in Great Britain.

The year 1770 was a most important epoch in Thames yachting, and we think the lines and drawing of our first cup-winning yacht should be given here. The 'King's Fisher,' as the sketch shows, was clinker built. Her owner, Commodore Thomas Taylor of the c.u.mberland Fleet, was so thoroughly the practical founder of yacht racing on the Thames that his statue should be placed on the Thames Embankment--with a bronze plaque of his yacht and the cups he won--and if times are too bad to go that length, a medallion portrait plaque could go on the Temple Embankment Arch, for the 'King's Fisher' was built close by. Her dimensions, as shown in her lines, were, length 20 ft., beam 7 ft.

The c.u.mberland Fleet, or, as it is often called, the c.u.mberland Sailing Society, was founded under the following circ.u.mstances.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The 'King's Fisher,' 1776, midship section.]

In the year of grace 1775 the first rowing regatta that was ever held in England took place upon the Thames--on June 23. Previously to this, however, a meeting of 'several very respectable gentlemen, proprietors of sailing vessels and pleasure boats on the river,'[4] held their annual meeting at Battersea, and resolved that on the regatta day they would draw up in a line opposite Ranelagh Gardens, so as not to be in the way of the competing rowing boats. On July 6 of the same year an advertis.e.m.e.nt appears in the 'Advertiser,' that his Royal Highness Henry Frederick, Duke of c.u.mberland (a brother of George III., and an admiral in the British Navy) was about to give a silver cup[5] to be sailed for on July 11. The advertis.e.m.e.nt is as follows:--

A Silver Cup, the gift of His Royal Highness the Duke of c.u.mberland, is to be sailed for on Tuesday, the 11th instant, from Westminster Bridge to Putney Bridge and back, by Pleasure Sailing Boats, from two to five tons burthen, and constantly lying above London Bridge. Any gentleman inclined to enter his Boat may be informed of particulars by applying to Mr. Roberts, Boat-builder, Lambeth, any time before Sat.u.r.day Noon next.

[Footnote 4: _Public Advertiser_, June 1, 1775.]

[Footnote 5: The cup of 1775 was destroyed in a fire. _Morning Herald_, June 23, 1781.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lines of the 'King's Fisher,' of the c.u.mberland Fleet, 1776. Commodore Thomas Taylor's yacht.

Winner of Silver Cup, 1776.]

On account of the weather, however, the race was postponed until July 13, when it came off with great success, and the 'Aurora,' owned by a Mr. Parkes, described as 'late of Ludgate Hill,' won the cup. The second boat in was named the 'Fly,' but who owned her the newspapers of the day forgot to mention. From 'the Morning Post'[6] we get the information that only those boats 'which were never let out to hire'

would be allowed to enter, and also that 'the Gentlemen, about 18 or 20 in number, who sail for the prize have come to a resolution to be dressed in aquatic uniforms.' This seems to prove that the club had already been formed before the match, and was probably an outcome of the club at Battersea mentioned above. We also find from the old newspapers that the owners (who, by the way, were always styled 'captain') had to steer their respective vessels, and in the case of this first match were allowed two a.s.sistants; so it would seem that what nowadays are called 'Corinthian rules' were in the early period of yacht-racing a _sine qua non_.

[Footnote 6: _Morning Post_, July 10, 1775.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: b.u.t.ton, 1776.]

There were very solemn ceremonies attending all these early races. The Duke embarked on board his state barge from one of the stairs, and the royal standard was immediately hoisted at the bow. Another barge was in company with a band of music, and they then proceeded to the place of starting. The racing boats were anch.o.r.ed in line, with their sails furled; their places having beforehand been determined by lot. Each vessel, when racing, carried at her gaff a white flag with a red St.

George's Cross upon it, and with one, two, three, or more blue b.a.l.l.s, according to her position at starting. The captains were stationed in wherries, and on the arrival of the Duke's barge were by signal ordered on board their respective vessels. Then, on the firing of a gun, the race was started. Time allowance was an unknown quant.i.ty in those primitive days, and the boat which succeeded in pa.s.sing the winning-post first claimed the cup. The victorious captain was then taken on board the commodore's barge, and with great ceremony introduced to his Royal Highness. In the meantime the Duke's butler had filled the cup with claret and handed it to his Royal Highness, who thereupon drank the health of the winner, and then presented him with the cup. The captain then drank to the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess, with three cheers; the whole ceremony having been performed amidst the strains of martial music, salvos of artillery, and the huzzas of the crowd upon the river and its banks. The fleet then proceeded up the stream to Smith's Tea Gardens, which lay where the gasworks now are, on the Surrey side of Vauxhall Bridge, and dined together. The Duke himself was very often present at these festive gatherings, and later on in the evening they all visited Vauxhall Gardens and made a night of it. The first commodore of the club was a Mr. Smith, who, we believe, was the proprietor of Smith's Tea Gardens, and he probably held the office until 1779. That year the commodore's broad pennant was changed from red to blue, and the club dined at the Royal Oak, Vauxhall, which seems to show a change of officers. Anyhow, the following year, 1780, Mr. Thomas Taylor was commodore, as is shown by the cup he won,[7] and he held that office until the year 1816, when he gave up yachting. The c.u.mberland Fleet had the white ensign, but without the St. George's Cross in the fly, and their burgee was a white one, with an equal armed red cross on it; i.e. the cross did not come out to the point of the flag. At the Royal Thames Club House they have several relics of the ancient fleet; there is the chairman's ivory gavel with the inscription 'c.u.mberland Fleet,' which is still used at every annual meeting; there are also (besides some curious prints and pictures) a cap of one of the rowers of the commodore's barge, and a club b.u.t.ton, though it is not known whether it belonged to one of the rowers or to a member of the club. The c.u.mberland course originally was, as we have already shown, from Westminster Bridge to Putney and back, but in 1776 it was altered to Blackfriars Bridge, Putney, and back. Later on, the winning-post was at Smith's Tea Gardens, by that time called c.u.mberland Gardens.

[Footnote 7: This cup is in the possession of the Taylor family, as are those won in 1776 and 1782.]

The fleet evidently used to sail together and manoeuvre as well as race, for in 1776, in honour of His Majesty's birthday, 'they went up the river with colours flying and music playing'; and in 1793 a set of signals were printed (a copy of which may be seen framed at the Royal Thames Club House) whereby the commodore could manoeuvre the sailing boats like a fleet of men-o' war; indeed there is a print extant, dated 1778, wherein the fleet are being so manoeuvred off Sheerness.

[Ill.u.s.tration: First 'c.u.mberland,' 1780, midship section.]

The first private match, under the auspices of the club, seems to have come off, between two of the sailing boats, on April 20, 1776, but no mention is made of their names. Some of the expressions used in the newspapers about the different matches are very curious; in one paper it is called 'Fluviatic and Fresh Water Frolics,' and in another 'Thamesian Pleasantry,' and again, 'Water-racing Galloways,' but the best of the lot is in the 'Morning Post'[8] of 1782, where the race is described as 'a Fluviatic Cavalcade.'

[Footnote 8: _Morning Post_, July 26, 1782.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lines of Commodore Taylor's yacht, first 'c.u.mberland,'

of c.u.mberland Fleet (Thames), 1780.

Winner of Gold Cup, 1780.]

The yachts belonging to the c.u.mberland Fleet did not confine themselves to river sailing, for in one of the papers of 1777 it is stated that the 'Hawke' had been cruising about the Channel, and had been chased into Calais by an American privateer. The Duke of c.u.mberland gave a silver cup each year, of the value of twenty guineas; but in 1781, when the seventh became due, a silver-gilt cup of the value of fifty guineas was presented to the club by His Royal Highness. This was to be sailed for by the boats that had won the former prizes, and the advertis.e.m.e.nt goes on to say, 'The members of the Society do hereby, with the permission of His Royal Highness, challenge and invite all gentlemen, proprietors of pleasure sailing boats, within the British dominions, to join with them in the contention.'[9] The first attempt at this race on June 25 failed for want of wind, and the match had to be re-sailed on July 9, when the cup was won by the 'c.u.mberland,' belonging to Commodore Taylor. This race, the first open match ever sailed, seems to have caused a good deal of excitement, and the river and its banks were densely crowded.

The papers of the day speak of the many thousands present, of all sorts, 'from the peerless "Perdita" to the Princess "Ran."'[10]

[Footnote 9: _Morning Chronicle_, May 5, 1781.]

[Footnote 10: _Morning Herald_, June 27, 1781.]

For some unexplained reason, 1782 was the last year that the Duke gave a cup to the 'Fleet.'[11] He certainly remained its patron up to his death in 1790, but he ceased to take any personal interest in the affairs of the club. This cup was won by the 'Caroline,'[12] belonging to Captain Coffin, and seems to have had a curious history, as in 1886 it was discovered in a p.a.w.nshop at San Francisco, and, it is said, was bought and raced for by some yacht club in America. On August 10, 1782, the first below-bridge match of the c.u.mberland Fleet took place.

It was between the 'Caroline,' Captain Coffin, and the 'Eagle,'

Captain Grubb, for a wager of 40_l._: the course being from Cuckolds Point to the Lower Hope, and back again. The 'Caroline' won easily.

[Footnote 11: There is a print of the start for the 1782 match at the R.T.Y.C.]

[Footnote 12: _Times_, August 9, 1886.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lines of Commodore Taylor's yacht, second 'c.u.mberland,'

launched February 14, 1790.]

The years 1783 to 1785 have no matches recorded against the club. On August 21, 1784, the commodore's boat the 'c.u.mberland' went badly ash.o.r.e on the rocks off Margate.[13] She must, however, have been afterwards saved, as she was commodore's boat at the match of 1786. A new era opened to the 'c.u.mberland Fleet' in the year 1786.[14]

Jonathan Tyars became proprietor of Vauxhall Gardens, and to celebrate the jubilee of the Gardens (which had been open just fifty years), and also the new management, he gave an annual silver cup and cover, to be sailed for by the c.u.mberland Fleet, and a wherry to be rowed for by the watermen on the Thames.

[Footnote 13: _Public Advertiser_, August 25, 1784.]

[Footnote 14: _Morning Post_, July 5, 1786.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Yacht of c.u.mberland Fleet, 1781.]

The one thing curious about this match is that the 'Prince of Wales'

sailing boat was advertised for sale, and it goes on to say, 'which no doubt will have the best chance to win the Jubilee Silver Cup which will be sailed for on the 17th inst.' She won that cup!

The proprietors of Vauxhall Gardens continued giving an annual cup to the club until the year 1810, when the last prize offered by them was sailed for on August 6, and won by the 'St. George,' 7 tons, Captain James Gunston. The ceremonies attached to the giving of the Vauxhall Cup differed but slightly from those attending the Duke of c.u.mberland's prize. The race started, as before, from Blackfriars Bridge and sailed round a boat stationed near Putney Bridge and back past a boat moored off Vauxhall Stairs, next door to c.u.mberland Gardens.

The gardens in the evening were magnificently illuminated; a wonderful transparency of the sailing match was on show, and the former prize cups won by the club were arranged on pedestals in front of it. There are many incidents connected with the c.u.mberland Fleet during all these years. The 'Morning Chronicle'[15] says: 'There was an attempt of foul play against the "Prince of Wales," the winning vessel of 1786, by other boats getting in her way, but she got all clear by a liberal use of handspikes.' In 1787 the match on July 19 was ordered by the club to be re-sailed August 3, on account of some mistakes in the sailing directions made by the competing yachts; this was eventually won by the 'Nancy,' Captain Dore, but the 'Blue Dragon'

was disqualified for booming out her jib.

[Footnote 15: _Morning Chronicle_, July 19, 1786.]

There must have been some form of Admiralty warrant extant in those days, as we find that the members of the club are requested (in an advertis.e.m.e.nt) to meet at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand, and it goes on to say,[16] 'The gentlemen who enter their boats are to attend at the same time to draw lots for situation at starting; and are hereby informed that they are expected either to produce their licence from the Admiralty, or other proofs of being owners of the vessels they intend to sail.'

[Footnote 16: _Public Advertiser_, June 7, 1788.]

In 1791,[17] Commodore Taylor, with a party of friends, started in the 'c.u.mberland' for Bordeaux, but we have found no reference to his having arrived there. This year there was a dreadful accident at the race for the Vauxhall Cup, by the bursting of a cannon at c.u.mberland Gardens, at the moment that the 'Mercury,' Captain Astley, was winning; by this two persons lost their lives. This is also the first year in which a second prize was given, viz. a silver goblet. The year 1793 was kept as a septennial one, and a handsome silver-gilt cup was presented to be raced for; the club thereupon challenged the world.

[Footnote 17: _Star_, June 13, 1791.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Circular of c.u.mberland Fleet, 1775.]

On July 27, 1793, the 'c.u.mberland,' Commodore Taylor, and the 'Eclipse,' Captain Astley, had a match for a turtle, which the commodore won, and the members of the Club had a turtle feast on the strength of it. In 1794 the proprietors of Vauxhall put a wonderful car upon the river, on the match day. It was drawn by tritons and was moved by invisible oars. It contained, besides bands of music, Father Thames attended by his river G.o.ds; and for several years this appeared, but with different devices.

A curious light is let in by the newspapers of 1795[18] on the way they managed matters when racing. The 'Mercury,' which was the leading boat, somehow got foul of the 'Vixen'; whereupon the captain of the 'Vixen' cut away the rigging of the 'Mercury' with a cutla.s.s and fairly well dismantled her, another boat, the 'Mermaid,' winning the cup. We have failed entirely to find any sort of protest against such high-handed proceedings. There was another cup presented to the Club besides the Vauxhall one in 1796; it was given by the proprietor of c.u.mberland Gardens. A match for a wager of forty guineas took place on August 11, 1797,[19] between the 'Mercury' and the 'Providence,' from the Gun Wharf at Blackwall round the Nore Light and back; this was won easily by the 'Mercury,' which did the distance in 12 hrs. 5 mins., beating the 'Providence' by twenty miles.

[Footnote 18: _Times_, July 23, 1795.]