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
Notwithstanding the liberal sums devoted by the club to match sailing,
there have always been at each regatta meeting a plentiful supply of
cups and purses forthcoming to swell the list of prizes, the gifts of
individual members. To enumerate all the donors would be out of place
here, but it is impossible to overlook such names as Bell, Buchanon,
Clark, Coates, Falconer, Ferguson, Forrester, Lockett, Ure, Wylie,
and York, names which will ever be linked with the club's successful
past.
The year 1890 was remarkable principally for the number of 10-raters
belonging to members, and entered for races in that class. It seemed
like a resuscitation of the old 10-tonner days. On the other hand, the
Clyde, the home of the 5-tonner, had not a single 5-rater to its name,
and a 6-rating class had to be formed to take in the Irish contingent,
which with Mr. Inglis's little 'Darthula' raced for the prizes
provided for them. The 2-1/2-rater class made its entry in the club
programmes, and started with a small fleet of seven yachts, including
four belonging to the Royal Ulster Yacht Club; but in 1891 this class
became the fashionable class of the year, and the club of itself could
boast of no fewer than eight of these small fry.
The fleet belonging to the club in the year 1857 numbered 56 yachts,
mostly of very small tonnage. By 1867 the number had risen to 87 only,
but then the gross tonnage was very much greater, viz. 1,200 tons. In
1877 there were 194 yachts, including a few screw steamers. In the
year 1887, 189 names appeared on the club yacht list, i.e. five fewer
than in 1877, but the total tonnage on the other hand amounted to
12,302 tons. The last half-decade, however, has quite eclipsed all
preceding years, for the yachts now flying the Royal Clyde Yacht Club
burgee number 267, which represent a gross tonnage of no less than
14,407 tons. Last year not far short of 1,000_l._ was given in prizes.
The club at the present time numbers 951 members, which will be seen
to be an increase of over 300 within the last five years. It is a
pleasure seldom accorded to writers of club histories to have to
record such an exceptional advance, and in bidding farewell to the
society, it may be firmly hoped and prophesied that long ere the close
of its fourth decade the R.C.Y.C. will have increased its list of
members to over four figures and its yachts and yacht-tonnage in
proportion.
THE ROYAL FORTH YACHT CLUB
BY R. T. PRITCHETT
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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