The Queen has always graciously encouraged yachting in every way. The list of challenge cups presented by Her Majesty will amply confirm the assertion. _List of Yacht Clubs to which the Queen has occasionally given Regatta Cups_ Royal Yacht Squadron (Cowes) Every year since 1843, annually Dublin Yacht Club 1849 Royal St. George's Club 1851, 1866, 1870, 1874, 1878, 1884, 1892 Royal Thames Club 1851, 1868, 1874, 1880, 1885 Royal Victoria (Ryde) Club 1851, 1852, 1856, 1888 Royal Southern Club 1851, 1857, 1870, 1891 Royal Irish Club 1852, 1865, 1871, 1877, 1881, 1885 Royal Cork Club 1850, 1852, 1858, 1865, 1869, 1889 Royal Yorkshire Club 1853 Royal Mersey Club 1853, 1857, 1861, 1866, 1881 Royal Western (Plymouth) Club 1858, 1861, 1867, 1878, 1882 Royal Northern Club 1859, 1869, 1882, 1890 Royal West of Ireland Club 1863, 1867, 1873 Royal Cornwall 1871, 1884 Royal Alfred Yacht Club 1872, 1879, 1886 Royal Albert Club 1873, 1890 Royal Cinque Ports Club 1875, 1891 Royal Clyde Club 1876, 1883, 1888 Royal Ulster Club 1880, 1887 Royal Harwich Club 1883 Royal London Club 1886 Royal Dorset Club 1887 Royal Portsmouth Corinthian Club 1889 Royal Forth Club 1892 _Cups given by the Queen to Clubs not Royal_ Canada Yacht Club 1891 Upper Thames Sailing Clubs (Challenge Cup) 1893 [Illustration: Royal Yacht Squadron. Queen's Course.] The majority of members of the Squadron own, and chiefly use, large yachts, but not a few of them are practical seamen. One prominent member, Lord Dufferin, is specially notable as a keen devotee of single-handed sailing, and is the owner of a famous boat, 'The Lady Hermione.' The Editor has thought this an appropriate place to insert a description of the pastime kindly contributed by his lordship, followed by an account of his well-known boat. SINGLE-HANDED SAILING BY THE MARQUIS OF DUFFERIN AND AVA The wind blows fair, the vessel feels The pressure of the rising breeze, And, swiftest of a thousand keels, She leaps to the careering seas. The following description of 'The Lady Hermione' has been written by my friend Mr. McFerran, who is a much better sailor than myself; but, as the Editor has asked me to prefix a few observations of my own on single-handed boat sailing, I have great pleasure in recommending to the attention of the readers of the Badminton Library that exceptionally pleasant form of sea adventure.