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 year 1882 was notable chiefly for the introduction of a new class
in the regatta programmes, viz. that for 3-tonners. Four of these
little vessels did battle in all kinds of weather and proved most
successfully how much power and what fine sea-going qualities can be
obtained by length and depth with almost a minimum of beam. Mr. Wynne
Eyton and Mr. Quilter designed and raced the composite built
'Mascotte,' Mr. A. W. Courtney the 'Naiad,' the late Lord Francis
Cecil the 'Chittywee,' and Lord Ailsa and Mr. Baden-Powell the
'Snarley Yow.' Of these the 'Chittywee' was the best all-round boat,
though the 'Mascotte' gave her all she could do to beat her.
In the small length classes, the 20-ft. 'Kate,' which had become the
property of the Honorary Secretary during the winter of 1881, came to
the fore in a remarkable manner, saving her time when necessary, and
giving all comers a fair beating. The next year, however, witnessed
her total defeat by Mr. Popham's little 'Bird of Freedom,' a boat that
is still to the fore.
The Annual Royal Regatta of 1883 was held as before at Osborne Bay,
and proved a complete success, and the club could now boast of a
patronage second only to that of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The
programme on August 11, the day of the regatta, exhibited a great
advance on those of the two previous years, as the classes ranged more
after the fashionable formulæ, viz. for yachts of 40 tons and under,
20 and over 14, 14 and over 9 tons. The race for 40-ton yachts fell
through, but was afterwards sailed on August 22, when the 'Annasona,'
'Tara,' 'Sleuthhound,' 'Phryne,' and 'Silver Star' crossed the line,
and 'Tara' and 'Silver Star' (their first appearance under the flag of
the Royal Portsmouth Club) came in first and second. Among the
twenties, which showed up for the first time, were the 'Freda' and two
well-known old warriors from St. George's Channel, the 'Quickstep' and
'Challenge.' In the race for 10-tonners the 'Ulidia,' designed by Mr.
W. Fife, jun., was the new addition to the club, and she fought it out
with the 'Buttercup,' this latter favourite being thoroughly beaten on
all points of sailing.
During the year of 1884 the prosperity of the club was decidedly on
the increase. In the first place, during the winter, the premises in
the High Street, Portsmouth, which had up to this time formed the
Prince of Wales's Club House, had been bought, altered and improved to
suit the club's requirements. As it stands now, it is one of the most
comfortable club-houses in the South of England.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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