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
Starting away again for the second round, the 'Xema' made use of the
lack of wind to set up her headgear and secure her bowsprit shroud,
but she had barely set things to rights before the wind came on with
double vigour. It was a reach this time out to the Kish, and weight
naturally telling, 'Kilmeny' was outpaced by the 'Xema,' which led
round the lightship, followed closely by the 'Amberwitch,' 'Kilmeny,'
'Echo,' and 'Vampire,' with 'Wavecrest' to bring up the rear. The
'Secret' had got into difficulties about a mile from the lightship by
her bowsprit snapping off close at the gammon iron, and with the sea
that was running its crew had their work cut out for them in clearing
the wreckage and sending out a jury spar. With the rest of the fleet
it was a case once more of up topmasts and topsails for the run home,
and a most exciting race was being sailed by the 'Xema' and
'Amberwitch' for the first place (the latter had to allow 'Xema' 2
mins. 12 secs., as she was a 51-ton yawl), when the wind, drawing off
the shore as before on nearing their destination, brought it to an
end. The sheets had accordingly to be hardened in, and a board to be
made into Scotsman's Bay to get the benefit of the young flood, which
was running in shore. A couple of short tacks now brought the 'Xema'
clear out on the weather of the 'Amberwitch' and 'Kilmeny,' so that,
gaining inch by inch, she managed to win at last. Nothing could have
exceeded the smart manner in which the shifting of sails and the work
aloft was carried out on board all the yachts.
In 1869, the honorary secretary, Mr. Lyle, to whom the Club will ever
be indebted for the care and interest he has shown in furthering its
welfare, gave a tankard as a prize for a one-handed race, the
conditions of which were: 'Only one man, and he a member of the Club,
shall be on board, and all others must leave before any canvas is set
or station taken.' Flying starts had not yet come into fashion, and
therefore buoys had to be picked up. No fewer than ten yachts started
for this race, five of which were over 10, and three over 5 tons. The
'Queen,' 15 tons, was the winner, but the season will be best known by
the introduction of the celebrated Champion Cups, which have ever
since shared the honours with the Corinthian matches in the Club
programmes. To secure the necessary funds for providing these
luxuries, members were permitted to commute their annual subscriptions
by the payment down of 10_l._ By this means the greater portion of the
handsome pieces of plate, for which so many flyers of their day have
competed, were obtained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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