Yachting Volume I Part 29

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | Royal | Royal | Royal | Royal | Royal | | Royal | | | | | | | ---- | Royal | London | Southern| Victoria | Albert | Southampton | Solent | Portsmouth | Castle | Bembridge | Island | Minima | Totals | | | Yacht | Yacht | Yacht | Yacht | Yacht | Yacht | Yacht | Corinthian | Yacht | Sailing | Sailing | Sailing | | | | Squadron | Club | Club | Club | Club | Club | Club | Yacht Club | Club | Club | Club | Club | | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Established | 1812 | 1838 | 1843 | 1844 | 1864 | 1875 | 1878 | 1880 | 1887 | 1886 | 1889 | 1889 | | | Head-quarters | Cowes | 1882 Cowes | Sthmptn | Ryde | Sthsea | Sthmptn | Yrmth | Prtsmth | Calshot | Bmbrdg | Cowes | Hamble | | | Entrance Fee | 100 | ... | 2g. | 5g. | 4g. | 2g. | 1g. | 2g. | 3 | 2g. | 1g. | 1/2 g. | | | Ann. subscription | 11 | {4g. | {3g. | 6g. | 4g. | {1-1/2g. | 1g. | 2g. | 3 | 1g. | 1g. | 1/2 g. | | | | | {6g. | {4g. | | | {2g. | | | | | | | | | 1892. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No. of members | 224 | 650 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 711 | 90 | 500 | 100 | 150 | 140 | 250 | | | Prizes, cash, won | 409 | 128 | 207 | 400 | 227 | 435 | 40 | 434 | 204 | 85 | 105 | 87 | 2,761 | | Cups, Value " | 110 | ... | 75 | 235 | 207 | Medals | 20 | 10 | 148 | 85 | 25 | 18 | 933 | | Races } | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | sailed } 60-R. &c.| 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 12 | | " 40-R. | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | ... | 1 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 14 | | " 20-R. | ... | ... | 1 | ... | ... | 2 | ... | ... | 2 | ... | ... | ... | 5 | | " 10-R. | 1 | ... | ... | 1 | ... | 4 | ... | ... | 1 | ... | ... | ... | 7 | | " 5-R. | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 12 | ... | ... | ... | 40 | | " 2-1/2-R. | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 65 | | " 1-R. | ... | 2 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 64 | | " 1/2-R. | ... | 2 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 75 | | Yachts' cutters | ... | ... | 2 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1 | 2 | ... | ... | ... | 5 | | Handicaps sailed | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ... | ... | 1 | 19 | | Other races " | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 22 | 4 | 6 | 32 | | Total races " | 10 | 10 | 16 | 36 | 28 | 47 | 11 | 34 | 47 | 38 | 31 | 30 | 338 | | Race days | 4 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 33 | 9 | 12 | 116 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

SOME SOLENT RACERS, PRIOR TO 1886

+--------------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----------+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | O.H. | | | | | | | | |Rig | Yacht | Owner and Designer | R. | S.A.|L.W.L.|-----+-----|L.O.A.| B. | D. |Drght.|Displ.|Ballast| When | | | | | | | |Fwrd.| Aft | | | | | tons | tons | built| +----|---------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | 21-FOOTERS | | | | S. | Fairy |{Capt. J. W. Hughes }|2.5 | 717| 20.8 | ? | ? | ? | 8.5 | 3.4 | ? | ? | ? | 1881 | | | |{Stockham }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Bird-o' |{Mr. H. L. Popham }| ? | ? | 21 | ? | ? | ? | 6.3 | 5.0 | ? | ? | ? | 1883 | | | Freedom |{Feltham }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Tootsie |{M. A. E. Payne }|1.25| ? | 16.5 | .25 | .16 | ? | 6.6 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 2.25 | 1.5 | 1885 | | | (Minnow)|{Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Minima |{Mr. St. J. Arabin }|4.65|1,333| 20.8 | ? | ? | 33.0 | 8.4 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 1886 | | | |{Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Volador |{Lt. A. H. Oliver, R.N.}| ? |1,300| 21 | 4.5 | 8 | 33.5 | 8.5 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 3.2 | 1886 | | |{Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Scylla |{Mr. L. Ergremont }| ? | ? | 21 | ? | ? | ? | 8.9 | 5.3 | ? | ? | ? | 1886 | | |{Luke }| | | | | | | | | | | | | +----+---------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | 25-FOOTERS | | | | C. | Frolic |{Mr. E. Bridges Webb }|7.26|1,741| 25 | ? | ? | ? | 9.0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1882 | | | |{Hatcher }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Lil |{Mr. F. c.o.x }|7.26|1,742| 25 | 4.6 | 6.3 | 35.9 | 9.1 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 8.6 | 5.3 | 1884 | | | |{Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Verena |{Mr. R. H. c.o.x }|7.96|1,910| 25 | 5.5 | 8.4 | 38.9 | 9.8 | ? | 7.2 | 9.4 | 5.3 | 1886 | | | |{Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | +----+---------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | 30-FOOTERS | | | | C. | Bonina |{Mr. A. O. Baylay }|9.14|1,830| 30 | ? | ? | 41 | 9.7 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 13.1 | 7.5 | 1882 | | | |{Dixon Kemp }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Keepsake|{Mr. H. W. Forster }|8.66|1,730| 30 | 4.4 | 6.3 | 40.7 | 9.7 | ? | 7.0 | 13.7 | 7.8 | 1882 | | | |{Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Eclipse |{Mr. A. Manning }|9.4 |2,090| 30 | 5.2 | 8.0 | 43.2 |10.1 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 13.5 | 8.0 | 1884 | | | |{Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Curtsey |{Mr. H. W. Forster }|10.8|2,180| 30 | 6.0 | 8.3 | 44.3 |10.5 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 13.8 | 7.6 | 1885 | | | |{Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | +----+---------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+

10-RATERS, 1882-92

+----+---------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----------+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | O.H. | | | | | | | | |Rig | Yacht | Owner and Designer | R. | S.A.|L.W.L.|-----+-----|L.O.A.| B. | D. |Drght.|Displ.|Ballast| When | | | | | | | |Fwrd.| Aft | | | | | tons | tons | built| +----+---------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Dolly |{Mr. T. W. Ratsey }|9.99|1,663| 36.09| 0.5 | 0.4 | 37 | 11.3| 4.6 | 6.10 | 13 | 6.5 | 1872 | | | Varden |{ J. S. White }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Frolic |{Mr. Bridges Webb }|7.21|1,704| 25.41| ? | ? | ? | 9.0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1882 | | | |{ Hatcher }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Doris |{Messrs. R. & B. Allan }|9.48|1,681| 33.86| ? | | ? | 5.6 | 6.6 | ? | ? | ? | 1885 | | | |{ Watson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Jenny |{Mr. R. E. Froude }|9.59|1,705| 33.79| ? | ? | ? | 5.5 | 6.8 | ? | ? | ? | 1885 | | | Wren |{ Owner }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Verena |{Mr. R. H. c.o.x }|7.10|1,716| 24.85| 5.6 | 8.4 | 38.9 | 9.8 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 9.4 | 5.3 | 1886 | | | |{ Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Wanderer|{Mr. J. Lee Barber }|9.00|1,580| 34.15| ? | ? | ? | 9.0 | 5.0 | ? | ? | ? | 1886 | | | |{ Brighton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Lollipop|{Mr. Arabin }|6.49|1,325| 29.3 | 0.2 | 8.0 | 37.5 | 9.2 | 7.3 | ? | 10.7 | ? | 1888 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Dis |{Mr. A. D. Clarke }|9.94|1,658| 36.0 | 6.0 | 9.1 | 51.1 | 9.1 | 7.1 | 7.7 | 14.8 | 8 | 1888 | | | |{ Soper }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Decima |{Mr. Arabin }|9.98|1,679| 36.0 | 1.0 | 9.4 | 46.4 |11.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 14.3 | ? | 1889 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Yvonne |{Mr. P. Donaldson }|9.80|1,726| 34.10| 5.5 | 8.5 | 48.1 | 8.9 | 6.6 | 8.1 | 12.9 | 7.75 | 1889 | | | |{ Fife }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Drina |{Prince B. Strattmann }|9.95|1,801| 33.17| 0.48| 7.80| 41.45| 9.8 | 6.7 | 8.4 | 15.0 | 7.2 | 1889 | | | |{ Dixon Kemp }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |{Admiral the Hon. }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Nety |{Victor Montagu, R.N. }|8.82|1,764| 30.0 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 40.7 | 9.5 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 8.6 | ? | 1884 | | | (Lil) |{ Clayton | | | | | | | | | | | | 1889 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.C.| Doreen |{Mr. J. Gretton }|9.96|1,572| 38.05| 8.2 |10.3 | 56.5 |11.2 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 14 | 8 | 1892 | | | |{ Fife }| | | | | | | | | | | | | +----+---------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+

5-RATERS, 1888-92

+---------------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----------+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | O.H. | | | | | | | | |Rig | Yacht | Owner and Designer | R. | S.A.|L.W.L.|-----+-----|L.O.A.| B. | D. |Drght.|Displ.|Ballast| When | | | | | | | |Fwrd.| Aft | | | | | tons | tons | built| +----|----------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. |Chittywee |{Mr. H. Farmer }|4.8 |1,213| 28.2 | ? | ? | ? | 4.8 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1882 | | | |{ Ash }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Fair |{Mr. L. M. Ames }|4.98|1,000| 30.0 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 42.0 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 4.6 | 1888 | | |Geraldine |{ Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. |Flutterby |{Mr. F. Hughes }|3.98| 938| 25.5 | ? | ? | ? | 8.1 | 4.5 | ? | ? | ? | 1888 | | | |{ Owner }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. |Lollipop |{Mr. Perceval }|4.98|1,000| 29.5 | 0.21| 8.08| 37.79| 9.2 | 7.3 | 7.0 | ? | ? | 1888 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Alwida |{Earl of Dunraven }|4.97|1,003| 29.75| 1.31| 1.79| 32.85| 8.4 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 8.2 | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Glycera |{Mr. Perceval }|4.98| 967| 31.16| 1.04| 1.41| 33.61| 8.6 | 5.6 | 7.0 | 8.3 | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Quinque |{Col. Bucknill }|4.99| 948| 31.61| 1.34| ? | ? | 9.0 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 8.6 | 5.3 | 1890 | | | |{ Owner }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Ditto | Ditto |4.98| 997| 30.02| 1.34| 1.9 | 33.26| 9.0 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 8.7 | 5.0 | 1891 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Ditto | Ditto |4.96| 898| 33.15| 1.45| 2.5 | 37.1 | 9.0 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 4.7 | 1892 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Archee |{Mr. J. McNish }|4.96| 980| 30.43| 6.67| 7.9 | 45.0 | 9.3 | 4.4 |{5.1} | 8.8 | 4.5 | 1890 | | | (C.B.) |{ Watson }| | | | | | | | |{8.0} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. |Valentine |{Mrs. Schenley }|4.95| 997| 29.83| 6.17| 8.0 | 44.0 | 7.2 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 8.2 | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Watson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.C.| Windfall |{Mrs. Schenley }|4.97| 909| 32.89| 1.11| 1.3 | 35.3 | 8.66| 6.0 | 7.0 | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Savourna |{Mr. Perceval }|4.94| 888| 33.4 | 1.18| 1.22| 35.80| 8.75| 6.0 | 7.2 | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. |Katherine |{Mr. W. A. Black }|4.99| 969| 30.94| ? | ? | ? | 7.5 | ? | 6.5 | ? | 5.4 | 1891 | | | |{ Owner }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Iernia |{Mr. H. R. Langrishe }|4.99| 953| 31.48| 6.0 | 8.42| 45.9 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 8.7 | 5.4 | 1891 | | | |{ Fife }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Cyane |{Earl of Dunraven }|4.95| 880| 33.75| 3.1 | 1.5 | 38.35| 8.4 | 5.5 | 7.75 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Dacia |{Mr. H. R. Langrishe }|5.00| 888| 33.83| 5.14| 9.17| 48.14| 8.3 | ? | 8.6 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Nicholson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | +----+----------+------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+

2-1/2-RATERS, 1887-92

+----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----------+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | O.H. | | | | | | | | |Rig | Yacht | Owner and Designer | R. | S.A.|L.W.L.|-----+-----|L.O.A.| B. | D. |Drght.|Displ.|Ballast| When | | | | | | | |Fwrd.| Aft | | | | | tons | tons | built| +----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Heathen |{Mr. W. A. Beauclerk }|2.34| 571 | 24.70| ? | ? | ? | 6.0 | 3.2 | ? | ? | ? | 1879 | | | Chinee |{ Mackenzie }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Bird-o'- |{Mr. H. S. Popham }| | | 21.00| | | ? | 6.3 | 5.0 | ? | ? | altd. | 1883 | | | Freedom |{ Feltham }|2.5 | 625 | | ? | ? | | | | | | | | | | |{ }| | | 24.00| | | | 6.3 | 6.0 | | | | 1886 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Fairy |{Captain J. W. Hughes }|2.5 | 723 | 20.77| ? | ? | ? | 8.4 | 3.3 | ? | ? | altd. | 1881 | | | |{ Pickett }| | | | | | | | | | | | 1887 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Thala.s.sa |{Col. Bucknill }|2.49| 714 | 20.94| ? | ? | ? | 7.4 | 4.9 | 5.8 | ? | ? | 1887 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Madcap |{Miss c.o.x }|2.49| 714 | 21.0 | ? | ? | ? | 7.3 | 4.0 | | | | 1887 | | | |{ Clayton }| | | | | | | | | 5.4 | 4.1 | 2.7 | | | | |{ }|2.49| 694 | 21.62| 0.2 | 6.3 | 27.5 | 7.3 | 4.0 | | | | 1888 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Ada |{Mr. A. Manning }|2.5 | 612 | 24.48| 3.5 | 4.35| 32.33| 7.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | ? | ? | 1888 | | | |{ Owner }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Chipmunk |{Mr. Sidney C. Watson }|2.48| 749 | 19.87| 4 | 8 | 32 | 7.7 | 4.5 | 6 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 1888 | | | |{ Luke }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Lady Nan |{Mr. W. Waller }|2.5 | 653 | 22.97| 0.5 | 1.25| 24.65| 8.3 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 4.1 | ? | 1888 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Trixy |{Mr. G. Sibbick }|2.4 | 600 | 20.0 | 3.95| 6.25| 30.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 1888 | | | |{ Ratsey }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Tottie |{Mr. Simpson }|1.75| 500 | 21.00| 4.2 | 4.6 | 29.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 | ? | ? | ? | 1888 | | | |{ Watson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. |Queen Mab |{Mrs. J. B. C. West }|2.49| 619 | 24.21| 5.0 | 6.2 | 35.4 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 4.3 | ? | 1889 | | | |{ Watson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Thief |{Mrs. G. A. Schenley }|2.45| 606 | 24.34| 4.9 | 6.2 | 35.4 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 4.3 | ? | 1889 | | | |{ Watson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Cosette, |{Earl of Dunraven }|2.48| 609 | 24.46| 4.8 | 6.0 | 35.3 | 5.7 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | ? | 1889 | | | C.B. |{ Watson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | G.G. |{Capt. G. W. Garrett }|2.48| 574 | 25.94| 2.9 | 2.0 | 30.8 |10.0 | 4.0 | {2.} | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1889 | | | |{ Stevens }| | | | | | | | | {7.} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Humming |{Capt. J. W. Hughes }|2.44| 567 | 25.90| 0.75| 0.72| 27.35| 7.41| 4.2 | 6.0 | ? | ? | 1889 | | | Bird |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | c.o.c.k-a- |{Lt. F. & Mr. A. C. Hughes}|2.50| 600 | 25.00| 1.25| 0.91| 27.16| 8.6 | 4.5 | 5.75| ? | ? | 1889 | | | Whoop |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Babe |{Mr. W. A. Beauclerk }|2.46| 553 | 26.76| 0.75| 1.25| 28.76| 6.7 | 4.25| 6.0 | ? | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. | Camilla |{Mr. G. Keele }|2.47| 563 | 26.45| 0.91| 1.16| 28.52| 7.2 | 4.0 | 4.8 | ? | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Janetta |{Mr. Newton Robinson }|2.49| 566 | 26.51| 0.92| 1.10| 28.53| 7.5 | 4.3 | 5.8 | ? | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Mliss |{Mrs. R. Read & Miss c.o.x} |2.50| 603 | 24.97| 1.0 | 1.25| 27.22| 7.0 | 4.5 | 5.8 | ? | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Dolphin |{Mr. A. C. Kennedy }|2.48| 581 | 25.08| 2.7 | 2.6 | 30.4 | 7.5 | 4.5 | 5.8 | 3.6 | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. |Troublesome|{Mrs. Rudston Read }|2.47| 566 | 26.3 | 4.8 | 6.2 | 37.3 | 7.3 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 3 | 1890 | | | |{ Soper }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Avadavat |{Mr. Wilson h.o.a.re }|2.49| 536 | 28.00| 0.75| 1.23| 29.98| 6.5 | 4.5 | 6.4 | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Fiera |{Miss c.o.x }|2.49| 535 | 28.00| ? | ? | ? | 6.5 | 4.5 | 6.4 | ? | altd. | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }|2.44| 536 | 27.36| 2.7 | 1.23| 31.29| | | | | | 1892 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Squirrel |{Sir W. G. Pearce }|2.50| 578 | 25.95| ? | ? | ? | 6.5 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Stone }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Undine |{Mr. E. N. Harvey }|2.49| 577 | 25.99| 2.5 | 3.2 | 30.7 | 7.2 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1891 | | | |{ Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Calva |{Mr. F. B. Jameson }|2.50| 565 | 26.55| 4.0 | 1.29| 31.84| 7.25| 4.0 | 6.0 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | c.o.c.katoo |{Lt. F. and Mr. A. C. }|2.47| 545 | 27.24| 3.66| 1.24| 32.14| 8.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Hughes }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Hoopoo |{Capt. Britten, R.N., & }|2.49| 539 | 27.83| 2.5 | 1.20| 31.53| 6.8 | 5.0 | 6.0 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ the Hon. G. Colville }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Papoose |{Mr. Paul Ralli }|2.50| 543 | 27.65| 3.5 | 1.25| 32.4 | 7.0 | 4.5 | 6.0 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Polynia |{Mr. W. S. Armitage }|2.47| 528 | 28.15| 3.7 | 1.22| 33.1 | 7.2 | 4.5 | 6.0 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Faugh-a- |{Mr. A. Hardie Jackson }|2.48| 542 | 27.48| 2.25| 1.16| 30.9 | 7.0 | 4.25| 6.5 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | Ballagh |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Mynah |{Lieut. F. Elwes }|2.50| 544 | 27.65| 2.25| 1.3 | 31.2 | 7.0 | 4.25| 6.5 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Molly |{Mr. Jessop }|2.41| 531 | 28.26| 3.98| 5.99| 38.23| 6.6 | ? | 6.5 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 1892 | | | |{ Nicholson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Stork, |{Capt. S. Y. H. Davenport }|2.43| 527 | 28.52| 3.66| 6.08| 38.26| 7.0 | ? |{3.7} | 3.6 | 2.2 | 1892 | | | C.B. |{ Nicholson }| | | | | | | | |{ ? } | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Gareth |{Mr. Henderson }|2.48| 533 | 28.02| 3.78| 4.9 | 36.7 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Nicholson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Bud |{Earl of Desart }|2.47| 534 | 28.0 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 32.5 | 7.3 | ? | 6.4 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 1892 | | | |{ Soper }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Modwen |{Mr. C. Mac Iver }|2.50| 564 | 26.69| 2.59| 5.99| 35.27| 7.33| 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 1892 | | | |{ Livingstone }| | | | | | | | | | | | | |----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Wenonah |{Mr. H. Allan }|2.40| 577 | 25.05| ? | ? | 37.5 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 6.1 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Herreshoff }| | | | | | | | | | | | | +----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+

1-RATERS, 1891-92

+----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----------+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | O.H. | | | | | | | | |Rig | Yacht | Owner and Designer | R. | S.A.|L.W.L.|-----+-----|L.O.A.| B. | D. |Drght.|Displ.|Ballast| When | | | | | | | |Fwrd.| Aft | | | | | cwt. | cwt. | built| +----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Pup (C.B.)|{Mr. T. W. Ratsey }|0.99| 343 | 17.37| 1.46| 2.32| 21.12| 6.6 | 2.9 | {1.9}| 22 | 7.5 | 1890 | | | |{ Clayton }| | | | | | | | | {5.0}| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -- | Unit |{Mr. G. F. Flemmich }|0.94| 308 | 18.40| ? | ? | ? | 5.4 | 4.0 | ? | ? | ? | 1890 | | | |{ Owner }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -- | Cobweb |{Mr. B. O. Cochrane }|0.75| ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 5.8 | 4.5 | ? | ? | ? | 1890 | | | |{ ? Designer }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Split| Cariad |{Dr. P. W. Hughes }|1.00| 285 | 21.00| ? | ? | 26.6 | 6.6 | 2.6 | ? | ? | ? | 1892 | | L. | |{ Sibbick }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Barbet |{Mr. Wilson h.o.a.re }|0.97| 288 | 20.97| 3.05| 1.00| 24.32| 5.95| 2.5 | 4.0 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Argula |{Mr. H. R. Langrishe }| over rating | ? | ? | ? | 5.9 | ? | 2.6 | 34 | 15 | 1892 | | | |{ and E. K. B. Tighe }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |{ Nicholson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Nansheen |{Mr. T. C. Burrowes }|0.99| 297 | 20.24| 4.18| 3.38| 27.80| 6.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 30 | 17 | 1892 | | | (C.B.) |{ Fife }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Rogue |{Mr. R. Vogan }|0.99| 285 | 20.91| 5.06| 2.51| 28.48| 5.75| 2.2 | 4.5 | 21 | 13 | 1892 | | |(Bulb Keel)|{ Ridsdale }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Doushka |{Mr. P. Perceval }|0.98| 281 | 21.07| 3.1 | 1.7 | 25.87| 6.0 | 2.5 | 4.5 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -- | Mahatma |{Mr. G. F. Flemmich }|0.99| 289 | 20.61| 2.67| 1.36| 24.64| 5.3 | 2.7 | ? | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Owner }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+

1/2-RATERS, 1890-92

+----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----------+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | O.H. | | | | | | | | |Rig | Yacht | Owner and Designer | R. | S.A.|L.W.L.|-----+-----|L.O.A.| B. | D. |Drght.|Displ.|Ballast| When | | | | | | | |Fwrd.| Aft | | | | | cwt. | cwt. | built| +----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Tiny |{Mr. Vogan }|0.50| 193 | 15.52| 1.25| 0.4 | 17.17| 5.0 | 2.45| 3.0 | 18 | 14 | 1890 | | | |{ Ridsdale }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Bairn |{Mr. E. F. Quilter }|0.49| 185 | 16.10| 1.65| 1.0 | 18.75| 6.1 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 14 | 4 | 1891 | | | |{ Clayton }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Coquette |{Mr. E. Jessop }|0.49| 191 | 15.58| 1.53| 1.97| 19.08| 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 15 | 9 | 1891 | | | |{ Nicholson }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Eileen |{Miss Sutton }|0.48| 185 | 15.90| 0.82| 0.61| 17.33| 4.8 | 2.7 | 3.0 | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Jeanie |{Mr. Cochrane }|0.48| 182 | 15.94| 0.88| 4.51| 21.33| 5.2 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 22 | 12 | 1891 | | | |{ Fife }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Narua |{Mr. Perceval }|0.48| 183 | 15.97| 0.81| 0.58| 17.36| 5.0 | 2.8 | 3.0 | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Dancing |{Mr. Hewitt }|0.50| 189 | 15.99| 1.03| 0.7 | 17.72| 4.8 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 16 | 12 | 1891 | | | Girl |{ Ridsdale }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Kittiwake |{Lt. L. C. Elwes }|0.50| 178 | 17.16| 1.25| 0.5 | 18.91| 5.0 | 2.7 | 3.0 | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Dee Dee |{Mr. Paul Ralli }|0.50| 177 | 17.17| 0.25| 0.71| 19.13| 4.41| 2.7 | 3.0 | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Mosquito |{Mr. Rudston Read }|0.49| 179 | 16.6 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 19.6 | 4.9 | ? | 2.9 | 20 | 6 | 1891 | | | |{ Soper }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Ladybird |{Miss Hammersley }|0.49| 176 | 17.04| 1.00| 0.4 | 18.65| 5.0 | 2.5 | 2.9 | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. | Spruce |{Mr. Brand }|0.41| 154 | 16.20| 0.15| 1.75| 18.1 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | ? | nil | 1891 | |Ywl.| |{ T. L. Smith }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Ywl.| Torpedo |{Mr. Stewart }|0.5 | 170 | 17.30| ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1891 | | | |{ ? }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Daisy |{Mr. Soper }|0.5 | 176 | 17.10| 4.23| 2.65| 23.98| 5.8 | ? | 3.3 | 15 | 7 | 1892 | | | |{ Soper }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S. | Wee Winn |{Miss W. Sutton }|0.46| 178 | 15.61| 3.78| 4.53| 23.92| 4.8 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 8 | 3 | 1892 | | | |{ Herreshoff }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Lilliput |{The late Mr. S. Watson }|0.5 | 180 | 16.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 20.0 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 3.0 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L.S.| Pique |{Miss Sutton }|0.5 | 176 | 17.0 | 3.12| 0.66| 20.78| 5.0 | 2.0 | 2.9 | ? | ? | 1892 | | | |{ Payne }| | | | | | | | | | | | | +----+-----------+---------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-------+------+

CHAPTER X

FITTING OUT A FIFTY-TONNER TO GO FOREIGN

BY E. F. KNIGHT

There is no reason why ocean cruising should be confined to those who are fortunate enough to possess big steam yachts, or schooners of considerable tonnage. A good 50-tonner, or even a smaller craft, is probably as safe under any circ.u.mstances as the larger vessel; she can go where the latter cannot, and in many ways gives her owner better sport.

When a man really fond of the sea--and he must be so to undertake the task--sets to work to fit out a 50-tonner for a lengthy voyage, to the South Atlantic for example, his method must necessarily be somewhat different from that of the owner of the large yacht. He has to rely a good deal on his own wits, for much of the work of preparation is quite out of the line of his s.h.i.+pwright and of the ordinary nautical tradesmen with whom he has to deal. He is not likely to employ one of the regular ocean-going skippers, who would of course know exactly what was required, and the yachtsman making ready for his first expedition of this nature is sure to do some things wrong; but he will gradually pick up many wrinkles to help him on another occasion.

Such a voyage must to a great extent be an amateur business, by which I mean one to be undertaken only by a pleasure sailor of experience, accompanied by friends of like tastes; for I can imagine nothing so remote from an amus.e.m.e.nt as for a novice to sail away on a vessel of this size with a purely professional skipper and crew on whom he has to implicitly rely. He is completely at the mercy of his servants; hands who are well enough when carrying their employer about in home waters and on short foreign cruises are apt, unless they are exceptional men indeed, to take advantage of his ignorance and helplessness in many ways when the vessel is thousands of miles from home and on coasts where--and they are thoroughly well aware of this--he cannot discharge them, since it would be impossible satisfactorily to replace them. To travel in such a fas.h.i.+on would be productive of so much annoyance and anxiety as to sicken one for ever of the sea. With a larger vessel it is of course a different matter; a first-cla.s.s skipper is engaged, the crew is carefully picked, all is properly ordered, and a discipline not altogether feasible on the small craft is maintained; and yet I have heard it whispered that discord and trouble are not always absent even from the big vessel on a lengthened cruise.

There is no man I would rather have at sea with me than the honest British yachting tar of the right sort; but it is difficult to get him to s.h.i.+p for a long voyage on a small craft, and as a rule one has to put up with an inferior article. The owner of our roaming 50-tonner therefore, if he wish to enjoy any comfort and have an easy mind, must know sufficient to be entirely independent of his crew; and if he is not his own skipper--which he ought to be--he should at any rate be entered on the s.h.i.+p's papers as captain, and every man on board should sign articles under him. Should the skipper choose to leave the vessel, the owner must be capable of taking his place. The men must be made to understand that their employer can do without them; that, in case of their attempting any nonsense, he is quite prepared to put all hands on sh.o.r.e and s.h.i.+p a crew of any sort of foreigners in any port if necessary; if he cannot do this, he had far better stay on sh.o.r.e, or only cruise in home waters. But when once the owner has attained this absolute independence, he will find there is no more fascinating pursuit than that of navigating his little vessel across the seas from country to country, to whatsoever corner of the world he may fancy to betake himself.

It is important that our cruiser should be so rigged and fitted out generally as to be capable of being handled by as small a crew as possible. Every trick of tackle, purchase, and what not that can economise labour should be taken advantage of, and it is astonis.h.i.+ng how few men can then work a vessel. One does not do everything in recognised yachting fas.h.i.+on when making ocean runs; there is comparatively little work to do, and the large crew that is required on the Channel cruise is not necessary on the long voyage. For several good reasons the owner should keep his crew as small as is compatible with the safety of the vessel. Crowding is thus avoided, a matter of moment when one is sailing the tropical seas; for there the confinement of several men on a small yacht is unhealthy for them, despite all arrangements that may be made for their comfort. When the mouths are few, it will be easier to carry a sufficiency of supplies, and the question of water, more especially, will not be so difficult to deal with; it will moreover be a much less troublesome business to get one's complement of men made up in a foreign port in the event of desertion or dismissal.

It must be remembered that the owner is very likely to have a few disturbances and to get rid of some of his men in the course of such a cruise. It would be strange if it were otherwise. It is a monotonous life for the hands cooped up in the small vessel. If they have no other reason for becoming discontented, they will do so merely because they have too much to eat and too little to do; there will be dissensions; each man will reveal what bad qualities he may possess; there may be that fearful thing a sea lawyer on board, but he should not be permitted to stay long. This period of trouble, however, will probably be only of short duration--else such a cruise would be a purgatory; the worthless are weeded out, others are s.h.i.+pped; and it is a man's own fault if he has not soon gathered around him a compact if miscellaneous crew, willing, cheery, ready to go anywhere he may choose to take them.

It is my opinion that there should not be a single yacht sailor on board the foreign-cruising 50-tonner. It is difficult, as I have said, to get the right ones, and it will be bad for the owner if he fall in with the wrong ones--men who have been spoilt by foolish employers, for instance; a numerous cla.s.s, I fear. We all know them.

Smart-looking fellows enough may-be, but s.h.i.+rkers of honest work, they prefer to s.h.i.+p on show yachts belonging to owners who like to exhibit themselves and their vessels in the fas.h.i.+onable yachting ports each season, but who are not sailors in any sense of the word, and have no real love of the sport, following it only for the swagger of the thing. Men who have served such owners would prove a great nuisance on an ocean cruise, and would not be likely to go far. I have heard such hands grumbling on a friend's yacht because they were to pa.s.s one night at sea instead of in some port where they happened to have friends. They look to frequent tips from the 'governor's' visitors, and to other less legitimate perquisites; these they cannot get in mid-Atlantic, so it is not the place for them.

Hands from fis.h.i.+ng-boats, sailing barges, and small coasters are the best men for the foreign cruiser of small tonnage. Among these one is not likely to come across spoilt and pampered mariners, and they are accustomed to roughing it, and to the s.h.i.+fts of short-handed craft.

But were I undertaking a lengthened tropical voyage, I think I should s.h.i.+p my English crew simply for the run over to my first West Indian or South American port, and there engage a negro crew. These blacks are excellent fore-and-aft sailors, easy to manage, and always happy and ready for any amount of hard work if kindly but firmly treated; while they are, of course, far better fitted than white men to withstand the debilitating influence of sultry climates, an influence which, as everyone knows, has caused the ruin of many a good British sailor, driving hitherto sober men to injure their health by excess whenever they get sh.o.r.e leave.

And now for our vessel, of what sort should she be? She must, of course, be of fair beam. We are beginning to believe in beam again, and are returning to the wisdom of our ancestors, recognising the fact that beam is not incompatible with speed, whilst it is indispensable for comfort both on deck and below on an ocean cruise. I remember, when we sailed away in the 'Falcon' to South America twelve years ago, yachting men shook their heads at our beam; I was a.s.sured that I should never get more than six knots an hour out of such a tubby craft, more especially as she was snugly sparred and could fly so little canvas. She had a length of 42 feet to a beam of 13 feet. As it turned out, we often got nine knots out of her, and made one voyage of 2,000 nautical miles in ten days, the current, it must be said, being favourable to us on this occasion. But the proportionate beaminess of the 'Falcon' is not necessary for the bigger craft, and the beam of our 50-tonner should be about a quarter of her length.

When choosing my vessel I should prefer, for other reasons than economy, to buy an old one that had been well cared for to building or purchasing a new one. Tropical climates soon develop defects in wood, and though it may be impossible to detect any flaws or signs of early decay in a new vessel, the timber of which she is constructed may have been put in sappy, and she may be ready to break out into dry rot on the slightest provocation. Tough old human beings who have weathered the ailments of youth are not likely to fall into consumption, and so it is with the s.h.i.+p. If she has knocked about for years and shown no symptoms of decay, then she has proved herself to have been put together of the right stuff, and she will remain sound in her good old age.

If one came across some old teak vessel, such as my 'Alerte' was, a quarter of a century old, constructed by a good builder in the strong, honest fas.h.i.+on of those days, not put together in a hurry, but leisurely; with not a plank in her that was not well seasoned and selected, and that had not been lying in the builder's loft for a year before it was used, and with timbers and deadwood stouter than are employed now, and if, after careful examination, she proved from stem to stern, from deck to keel, as sound as when she was put on the stocks, even in those treacherous and usually ill-ventilated corners inside the counter, then that vessel is the one to be possessed of by the man who would go foreign; for she can be more safely trusted than many a brand-new craft, scamped, pleasing to the eye, but of unsound const.i.tution, like some fair pulmonary with the germs of disease latent in her bones. The 'Alerte' was a vessel of this good old sort--I say was, for after I had left her, this yawl, which properly cared for would have completed her century of cruising, was lost by a piece of wicked negligence off the West Indian island of Trinidad, and is now lying at the bottom in one hundred fathoms of water.

A yawl is the favourite rig for the cruising 50-tonner; personally, I should prefer a ketch, the easiest vessel afloat to handle. A 50-ton ketch requires a very small crew indeed; a couple of men on deck can tackle any job that turns up. But a yawl is nearly as handy as the ketch. Two of us used to knock about for days at a time on the 'Alerte' in the South Atlantic, and she was a 56-ton yawl, with somewhat heavy spars. We never had any difficulty with her; but when we were short-handed, we used to employ 'un-yachty' methods. We could only hoist our mainsail by using our mast-winch, which we also employed for hauling out the reefing tackle when shortening sail.

There are many little dodges that soon occur to a sailor, and I have no doubt that if one man who knew what he was about were left alone in mid ocean on such a vessel, he would have little difficulty in taking her into port.

There should, of course, be a good supply of sails on board, not omitting a stout storm trysail and a handy spinnaker. The latter should have a boom short enough to pa.s.s under the forestay when topped up, so that it has not to be uns.h.i.+pped for a gybe. Such a spinnaker will be more effective than a big one on an ocean cruise. It can be carried when the wind is strong and the sea high--an important matter; for how often one has seen a fore-and-after, that has been rolling gunwales under when running under mainsail and head-sail alone, skim along steadily with dry decks as soon as the little spinnaker is put on her to balance the other canvas? When we left England with the 'Alerte,' we had with us her racing spinnaker only. We soon discovered we had made a mistake. Short-handed as we were, we often refrained from using it when it would have been of service; for the uns.h.i.+pping of its mighty boom was a heavy bit of work. Then we had a small boom made, and used the balloon-foresail as the working spinnaker. One man could handle this, and it was seldom allowed to lie idle when the breeze was aft.

It is better thus to provide oneself with a sail that can serve both as balloon-foresail and spinnaker, according to how the wind may be, than to enc.u.mber oneself with a large square-sail, such as yachts were wont to carry, and such as one still sees on revenue cutters.[17] But there is a square-sail of another sort that should be found in the sail-locker of every little foreign cruiser; this is the small stout storm square-sail, a sail which would be seldom used, it is true, but which, on certain occasions, would prove of inestimable advantage.

[Footnote 17: The 'Navahoe,' before returning to America, ordered a square-sail from Tilley, of Southampton.]

With the 'Falcon' we once ran on before a favourable gale till the gale became a hurric