The fastest yachts in the Royal Yacht Squadron are shown, of course, in the list of Queen's Cup winners, which forms a befitting annual history. Yachting in early days, however, was real yachting in its truest sense, cruising about, that is to say, for the sake of peace and rest; the vessels were generally schooners of considerable tonnage for sea cruising. We have no longer 'Alarm,' 248 tons, 'Aurora Borealis,' 252 tons; but the faithful 'Egeria,' 152 tons, belonging to Mr. Mulholland, now Lord Dunleath, is still with us. In 1852-53 there were only two steam yachts in the Squadron, which was averse to the new comers; but by degrees a fine schooner class with auxiliary steam was introduced, including, of well-known boats, 'Sunbeam,'[2] 1874; 'Czarina,' 1877; 'Wanderer' and 'Lancashire Witch,' 1878. New members from 1890 to 1892 added 7,000 tons to the fleet, principally steamers up to 1,000 tons and more. [Footnote 2: Described by Lord Brassey, in his chapter on Ocean Cruising, Vol. I.] [Illustration: 'Corsair,' R.Y.S., Winning the Queen's Cup at Cowes, 1892. _40-rater_ (_Admiral the Hon. Victor Montagu_).] The squadron at the time of writing is composed of 227 members, and the fleet consists of 107 vessels, as follows: 44 steam yachts, 10 steam schooners, 28 schooners, 13 cutters, 12 yawls, 107 vessels, making 20,367 total tonnage. The minimum tonnage is 30 tons register for sailing vessels, and 30 tons net for steamers (rule, May 1870). The Queen's Cups are sailed for by yachts belonging to members of the Royal Yacht Squadron only, but other prizes are given during the Squadron Week, generally the first week in August. _Names and dates of yachts owned by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales_ +----+------------+----------+---------+ |Date| Name | Rig | Tonnage | |----+------------+----------+---------+ |1865| Dagmar | Cutter | 36 | |1871| Alexandra | " | 40 | |1872| Princess | " | 40 | |1873| Zenobia | S.-steam | 38 | |1877| Hildegarde | Schooner | 205 | |1880| Formosa | Cutter | 104 | |1882| Aline | Schooner | 210 | |1893| Britannia | Cutter | 220 | +----+------------+----------+---------+ Beside several steam launches and sailing boats. The German Emperor, who became a member in 1891, in that year brought over the 'Meteor,' _née_ 'Thistle,' to compete for the Queen's Cup, and evinced the greatest enthusiasm, sailing in her for the prize, August 3. The 'Meteor' finished first, but the 'Corsair,' 40 tons, Rear-Admiral Victor Montague, R.N., came up with a smart breeze, saved her time, and won. Much interest was also taken in the presence of a 40-tonner, designed by Mr. G. L. Watson for Prince Henry of Prussia, and steered by the Prince, who seemed thoroughly to enjoy it, and remained all day at the tiller--a sort of thing the British public fully appreciate. Unfortunately the wind was not true.