Yachting, Vol. 2Dufferin and Ava, Frederick Temple Blackwood, Marquis of
History
Yachting, Vol. 2
Dufferin and Ava, Frederick Temple Blackwood, Marquis of
Yacht racing; Yachting; Yachts
The 20-rating class has not been patronised for some time in the
Thames, but 'Decima,' 'Fan Tan,' 'Dis,' and 'Corona' have had some
good racing between 1890 and 1892 in the 10-rating matches. The
entries in the numerous handicap matches have included the above four
yachts and such vessels as 'Gardenia,' 'Neaira,' 'Terpsichore,'
'Norman,' 'Mimosa,' 'Wenonah,' 'Cyclone,' 'Ildegonda,' 'Oenanthe,'
'Nadejda,' 'Alpha Beta.'
[Illustration: Lines and midship section of the 'Dis,' 10-rater, built
for A. D. Clarke, Esq., 1888. Designed by J. M. Soper.]
In 1888 an attempt was made by the club to encourage a class of small
cruising yachts by limiting the length and sail-area, and seven or
eight were built from the designs of Messrs. G. L. Watson, Fife, Dixon
Kemp, J. T. Howard, Douglas Stone, A. E. Payne, A. Watkins, and
others. This class, known as the Thames 21-foot class, has since then
furnished extremely close racing, and it is worthy of note that the
first boat built, the 'Tottie,' designed by Mr. Watson, successfully
held her own for five seasons. The season of 1892, however, showed
that the 'Eva,' designed and built by Mr. Stone, of Erith, was
quite as good as, if not better than, 'Tottie,' her new owner, Mr.
Wyllie, sailing her in first-class form. Much of the 'Tottie's'
success must be put down to her extremely skilful handling by the
brothers Simpson, who rank among the best amateurs of the day. While
the 21-foot class has undoubtedly been a most popular one in the
Thames, it is unfortunately the fact that the original idea of
encouraging a good useful cruising boat was not fulfilled, the
ingenuity of the designers being too much for the few restrictions
imposed. We believe that three of the original boats which were not so
successful in racing are now being used as cruisers, but the faster or
deep-keeled boats are hardly of the type that would be chosen for this
purpose.
[Illustration: 'Decima'
_A. E. Payne_, 1889.]
The names of the 21-footers are 'Tottie,' 'Eva,' 'Diskos,' 'Haze,'
'Dorothy,' 'Fancy,' 'Mehalah,' 'Genie,' 'Magnolia,' 'Saivnara,' 'March
Hare,' 'Narwhal,' 'Nyleptha,' and 'Macnab.'
[Illustration: 'Tottie,' Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, 21-ft. class.]
During the last two or three years prizes have been offered for
2-1/2-raters, but the class has not as yet taken any hold on the
Thames men, the only entries having been 'Camilla' and 'Cock-a-whoop.'
This club now offers a challenge cup for 1-raters, viz. the cup won by
the 3-ton 'Muriel,' and presented to the club by Captain H. C. Fox.
The Club received the Admiralty warrant to fly the Blue Ensign in
1884, and in 1893 Her Majesty the Queen was graciously pleased to
command that the club should be called the Royal Corinthian Yacht
Club.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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