Walker's manly exercises: Containing rowing, sailing, riding, driving, racing, hunting, shooting, and other manly sportsWalker, Donald
Science
Walker's manly exercises: Containing rowing, sailing, riding, driving, racing, hunting, shooting, and other manly sports
Walker, Donald
Athletics; Sports
The Royal Yacht Squadron has nearly six hundred persons on its lists,
of which above one hundred are members, and about four hundred and
fifty honorary members. The number of yachts is one hundred and
nine[12]; of which eighty-seven are cutters, ten schooners, three
brigs, four yawls, two ships, two ketches, and one lugger. The
greater part of these vessels hail from Cowes or Southampton. The
shipping belonging to the club amounts to 7250 tons. Now, a vessel of
one hundred tons seldom perhaps stands the owner in less than from
five to six thousand pounds, varying from that to ten, according to
the profusion of ornamental parts, the internal fittings, and other
contingencies. At this rate, the shipping of the club would have cost
more than three millions and a half of money: but it is impossible to
speak decisively on this point, as the first cost of the yachts varies
much, and the numerous styles of rig are attended with expenses so
widely different. At a moderate computation, each vessel belonging to
the club carries ten men on an average: this gives the total number
employed 1090. During the summer months, then, while regattas are
celebrated, it may be said that the Royal Yacht Squadron alone employs
more than 1100 men. These, with some few exceptions, are discharged
on the approach of winter, and the yachts are laid up for the season,
retaining the master and one man in pay. The crews thus discharged
obtain employment in merchant-vessels, or otherwise, during the winter;
and in the middle of spring, are generally re-shipped in the yachts
in which they have previously served. On these conditions, active and
industrious men of good character are generally sure of employment
in the club; and many members justly pride themselves on the high
discipline, manly bearing, and crack appearance of their crews. The
situation of master, in particular, is one of much responsibility, and
is on all accounts respectably filled. In some of the largest craft,
junior officers of the navy are found to accept this office. The
sailing regulations of the Royal Yacht Squadron are as follow;
[12] As the number is constantly fluctuating, we had better take the
average at a hundred, which will be found quite as high a one as we
should be justified in suggesting.
First--Members entering their yachts must send the names of them to the
secretary one week previous to the day of sailing, and pay two guineas
entrance at the same time.
Second--All vessels starting or entering must be the _bonâ fide_
property of members, as well as their spars, sails, boats, &c.
Third--Each member is allowed to enter one vessel only for all prizes
given by the club.
Fourth--Cutters may carry four sails only, viz., mainsail, foresail,
jib, and gaff top-sail; yawls, luggers, schooners, and all other
vessels, in like proportion. No booming out allowed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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