The Clyde is, and always has been, the great yachting nursery and centre of the North. The very mention of the name arouses all who have pleasurable recollections of the great waters which lead up to the narrow Clutha, whence emerged those monsters of the deep, 'Lucanias,' and other triumphs of modern science. As recently as 1886 the steamer 'Industry,' built by Fife of Fairlie in 1814, was lying in the mud at Haulbowline, after running some sixty years between Greenock and Glasgow. Yacht-building has always been vigorously carried on in the Great Estuary for three generations. The Fifes of Fairlie have designed and built grand vessels there, though the flat shore presents immense difficulties, which are greatly added to by the present increase of draught and lead ballast in yachts of all classes. [Illustration: 1824. Northern Yacht Club Seal.] The Royal Northern Yacht Club is installed at that delightful spot, Rothesay, noted for its fine bay; and though Clyde weather is known to yachting men as being somewhat impulsive and petulant, whipping out spars, destructive to balloon canvas unless the skipper is very weatherwise indeed, still for real sailing the Clyde affords some of the best courses in the world and the grandest sport from 23-footers to 200-tonners. [Illustration: Royal Northern Yacht Club, Rothesay.] The Royal Northern Club had a very interesting origin. It dates from 1824, when it was founded by some gentlemen in the north of Ireland and west of Scotland who were devotees of yachting. A few years later the club was separated into two branches, an Irish and Scotch division, as will be perceived by the flags given here in illustration. One has the shamrock wreath, the other the thistles, each division having its own committee and officials. _Original Members_, A.D. 1824 No. 1. Thomas Pottinger (Admiral 1825) 2. John Turnley 3. J. E. Matthews 4. R. Kennedy 5. Robert Thomson (first secretary) 1824, and admiral, 1827 6. Gordon Thomson 7. G. Matthews 8. Henry J. McCracken 9. Edward S. Ruthven 10. Thos. Ch. Stewart Corry 11. George Russell 12, 13, 14. McCrackens, junrs. 15. J. Smyth, Helensburgh (for many years Commodore of R.N.Y.C.) 16. J. Carrick, Greenock 17. Robert Langtry 18. Robert Christian, Sligo 19. Claudius Armstrong, Dublin 20. Robert F. Gordon 21. Edward Forbes Orson, Balyreggan House, Stranraer 22. John Kennedy, Cuttra