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 standing rule which specially distinguishes this club is that all
money received shall go towards racing expenses and prize funds. The
consequence follows that, limited though the club is to 300 members
(there were 200 in 1864), it is able to provide good prizes for all
classes, and can show more sport for its money than many another
richer club which is hampered with a house. The proof of the pudding
is in the eating, and the success of this homeless club, as many have
called it, should read a really useful lesson to the committees of all
young yachting or other sporting communities, not to be too anxious
about bricks and mortar or entering on the responsibilities of
housekeeping.
In 1868 another new feature, which at once became popular and is so to
the present day, was started by Mr. G. B. Thompson. This was a series
of matches to be held each year for yachts manned by amateurs only;
and it is in some of these races, which have taken place during the
past quarter of a century, that the capabilities of the members have
prominently appeared as first-class able seamen. This season, however,
will always be remembered for the race that was sailed on June 1 by
the 2nd class yachts--viz. those over 25 and under 40 tons, in which
the 3rd class yachts were allowed to enter at 26 tons. The 'Xema,'
35; 'Vampire,' 20 (rated at 26); 'Echo,' yawl, 37; 'Secret,' 31;
'Kilmeny,' 30; 'Wavecrest,' yawl, 35; and 'Amberwitch,' yawl, 52 tons,
started. Three paid hands were allowed to each yacht. The course lay
from Kingstown Harbour, round the North Bar buoy, Kish Lightship, and
the Hauling buoy in Kingstown Harbour--twice round, to start from
moorings. Though the weather was anything but satisfactory, all the
morning had been fine, and there had been scarcely any wind, so that
light muslin, in the shape of large topsails, balloon foresails, and
big No. 1 jibs, was donned by all the competitors, at all events for
the reach out to the Bar buoy. The old 'Bat' was the first to get
away, but she was soon overhauled by the 'Echo,' the rest following in
line abreast. As the day grew on, the wind, from being shifty and all
over the place, gradually settled down from the eastward, and the
'Wavecrest' being the first to feel the true wind, she very naturally
made use of it, and went through her vessels as if they had been at
anchor. She was not allowed, however, to have the game all to herself
for many moments, as the 'Amberwitch' and 'Xema' were soon on her
track, while the 'Kilmeny' and 'Vampire' indulged in a luffing match,
and almost allowed the 'Secret' and 'Echo,' which were doing
rearguard, to overtake them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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