Towards the end of the season Lord Otho Fitzgerald, who had up to this time acted as captain of the fleet, gave up the office, and till it was eventually done away with, a Challenge Cup was instituted, open to all yachts of 15 tons (the largest size among the racing fleet) and under, to be sailed for annually. It was ruled that in future the holder of this cup should fill the office of captain of the fleet for the ensuing year. So far the club matches had been few and somewhat irregular. Three classes had been formed, consisting of yachts of 10 and not exceeding 15 tons, of 6 and not over 10, and of others under 6 tons. This year, however, was started the annual series of racing matches, which have for over thirty years been so popular with the racing fraternity of St. George's Channel and the Clyde; and each season's programme has only undergone such alterations as have been necessitated by the increased tonnage of the competing yachts, or as may further racing according to the fashionable sizes of the yachts of the period. About this date, too, it was found necessary to obviate the difficulty which was being felt with regard to manning and sailing yachts, owing to the number of large yachts, which already flew the club burgee; the original rule, that permitted members only to be employed, was therefore stretched, in order to admit of any member of a Royal Yacht Club, who had paid his subscription, or any gentleman amateur not a seafaring man, being entered as a racing hand. In 1864 the club advanced another step safely, and emerging from its chrysalis stage of a model yacht club, butterflied it in public as the Prince Alfred Yacht Club, keeping the same objects in view as hitherto, viz., the encouragement of match sailing and the acquisition of practical knowledge amongst its members of how to steer and handle their own vessels, especially while sailing. Commodores were appointed in place of a captain of the fleet, to carry on the more extended duties of the club; and Messrs. Putland, Scovell, and Bolton, whose names are household words throughout the yachting world, were the first officers to hold the appointments. No fewer than five classes had now to be created to take in the racing fleet; the class for yachts of 40 tons and over included all the big ones, that for 7 tons and under was open to the small fry. Two years later (1866) the Duke of Edinburgh identified himself more closely than heretofore with the club that bore his name, by becoming its patron, and presenting a cup to be sailed for; and it was during this season that prizes were instituted, in the shape of gold pins bearing the club burgee, to especially encourage the art of helmsmanship. 1866 is also worthy of being remembered as having witnessed the introduction of the annual Kingstown and Holyhead matches, with which, since that time, the racing programme of the season has nearly always started.