Yachting Volume Ii Part 11

The 'Vampire' had quite as much as she liked with the broken sea she had to drive through, but it would have rejoiced the heart of the late Mr. Dan Hatcher, her builder, had he seen the way in which his little vessel stepped it out to windward and held her own with her larger sisters. The Kish was pa.s.sed by the 'Kilmeny' as leader of the van, and she was followed by the 'Xema,' 'Amberwitch,' 'Echo,' and little 'Bat' in the order named. Now that they had rounded the lightship topmasts were sent on end again by all, with the exception of the 'Echo,' whose crosstrees had come to grief; square-headers were once more seen aloft, and sheets were checked well off for the run to the harbour. On nearing the piers the wind lightened as quickly as it had got up; it left the leading yachts almost becalmed, and only just able to gybe round the mark.

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 sh.o.r.e 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 sh.o.r.e. 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.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who, as already remarked, had been patron, a.s.sumed in 1871 the duties of commodore, a post he is still holding; the club had become Royal in the previous winter. The limit in the number of members was increased from 200 to 300, and the club burgee also underwent a change. Up to this date the club had sailed under no fewer than four different burgees. The original flag consisted of a red anchor on a blue field, but this only enjoyed a short life, as the anchor was changed into an Irish crown before the first season was over. In 1859, the flag appeared with a white ground, a blue cross with four points at the intersection of the cross forming the design, and in 1861 the field was changed again from white to red, with the new device of a yellow foul anchor. Now for the last time the device was altered from the ordinary foul anchor to that of a foul patent Trotman under an Imperial crown. The patent improved anchor represents the club's leading position as a Corinthian yacht racing society.

Besides five champion cups of the several values of 120_l._, 60_l._, 35_l._, 25_l._, and 15_l._, one in fact for each cla.s.s, the Duke of Edinburgh presented a 50_l._ cup. A gale of wind sprang up during the race for this prize, which was won by Mr. George Putland in the 'Enid.' She was the only one of all the yachts that crossed the line--flying starts were inst.i.tuted this year--to finish the course, and it was the rounding of the Kish Lightship in this race by the 'Enid' that Admiral Beechy took as the subject of one of his most celebrated sea pictures. The 'Egeria,' schooner, was disabled very early in the race by the carrying away of the iron strop round her boom.

During the season of 1872 the club was presented with the first of the three Queen's Cups of which it has been a recipient. Matches during the summer alternated each Sat.u.r.day with cruises in fleet under one of the club officers, with regard to which one great point should be noticed, viz., that it has been the custom to sail only one match as a rule on each of the racing Sat.u.r.days. There are many other clubs which would do well to follow this example, as it is not infrequently next to impossible with some clubs for outport members and yacht-owners, when wishing to join in Corinthian matches, to obtain competent hands.

1872 was the last year in which single-handed racing received club support. A single-handed match had been sailed each season since their inauguration by Mr. Lyle, Mr. Alec Richardson winning twice (in 1870 and 1871) in the 'Naiad,' 10-tonner; but the sad loss of Mr.

O'Connell, one of the most popular and sporting members of the club, together with his yacht, and the narrow escape from foundering of another, emphasised the advisability to stop such races for the future. The race in which this disaster occurred took place on June 1.

The day was a peculiar one. A double-handed match had been sailed during the fore- and early afternoon, when a nice S.E. breeze favoured the compet.i.tors, which had one and all carried large topsails aloft.

This race was finished, however, in a heavy downpour of rain, and was won by the Vice-Commodore, Mr. George Thompson, in the 'Madcap,' 20 tons. After the race was over the rain came down in such torrents that there was some hesitation about allowing the single-handed match to start, though there was no appearance of any heavy weather setting in.

This fact, and there being no sea to speak of, settled the question, and accordingly the 'Petrel,' 10 tons, Mr. W. G. Jamieson; 'Moca.s.sin,'

10, Mr. Corrigan; 'Madcap,' 20, the Vice-Commodore; 'Torment,' 5, Mr.

Miller; and 'Peri,' 5 tons, Mr. O'Connell, most of them with reefed mainsails, made a start at 3 hrs. 5 mins. in the order named. The weather soon afterwards became very thick, and nothing was seen of the yachts till 6 hrs. 34 mins., when the 'Petrel' was discovered making for home. A number of yachts were out all the afternoon, and some of them on coming into harbour had pa.s.sed the word that things were not going on as sweetly as they might outside. The wind had shifted to the S.W., and a considerable sea was running, increased or rather broken by the flood-tide. The 'Moca.s.sin,' who had given up, corroborated the statement that was flying about, and soon after the 'Heroine,' 60-ton cutter, arrived with her topmast gone, followed by the 'Whirlwind'

yawl, with the loss of her gig washed away from her davits.

The danger was now clearly apparent, and a tug was immediately sent out to look for the yachts, as it was feared the small ones would be unable to beat up against the sea and make their port. The 'Pleione,'

schooner, had fortunately fallen in with the 'Madcap,' and put a hand on board her just in the nick of time, for she had shipped a heavy cargo of water below owing to her fore hatch having been washed overboard, and her head-sheets had gone. The 'Torment' ran for Howth, whence she was helped back to her moorings by a friendly tug, which was sent later on to her a.s.sistance. The 'Pleione,' however, reported that the unfortunate 'Peri' had been p.o.o.ped, and that she had immediately foundered, taking with her her plucky crew. The schooner had sailed on and about the spot for some time, hoping against hope to recover some memento of the catastrophe to carry back to Kingstown, and the tug was also employed in cruising round the locality, but to no purpose, as nothing was seen after she went down of either the 'Peri' or her owner. Though it is now more than ten years since this sorrowful occurrence, the name of Mr. D. O'Connell, beloved by all who knew him as a keen sportsman and a most genial friend, still remains green in the memory of Irish yachtsmen.

Useful as the single-handed matches were for bringing out a display of seamanship, confidence and independence, it was as well under the circ.u.mstances that at this time they should end; but it seems a pity that the two-handed matches should have received their death-blow as well. The extra hand means all the difference between danger and safety.

Of the work carried out by the club perhaps the programme for 1874 gives as fair a sample as it is possible to choose, taking one year with another. The list of matches was as follows:--

Nos. 1 and 2. Matches to and from Douglas, Isle of Man.

No. 3. Match for yachts not exceeding 7 tons. No. 5 Champion Cup, with 7_l._ added.

No. 4. Match for yachts not exceeding 20 tons. Corinthian Race. 25_l._ Helmsman 5_l._, with tankards for the crew.

No. 5. For yachts not exceeding 25 tons. No. 3 Champion Cup; with 25_l._ added.

No. 6. Open to all yachts. Corinthian Race, 50_l._ Helmsman 5_l._, and tankards for crew.

No. 7. For all yachts not exceeding 7 tons; 15_l._ given by Mr. Macartney.

No. 8. Match open to all yachts. No. 1 Champion Cup, 50_l._ added; two helmsmen's prizes of 4_l._ each.

No. 9. For all yachts not exceeding 15 tons; 1st prize 15_l._, 2nd prize 10_l._, given by Mr. Fulton. Helmsman 5_l._

No. 10. For all yachts not exceeding 40 tons. 2nd Champion Cup, with 35_l._ added.

No. 11. For all yachts not exceeding 15 tons. 4th Champion Cup, with 15_l._ added.

One more race, which was promoted this year, must not be forgotten, as it would prove a very advantageous item in all yacht-club programmes, viz. a swimming match in clothes. The conditions were as follows: 'Each member must wear woollen socks, a pair of slippers, shoes or boots, woollen or canvas trousers, a flannel shirt, with a guernsey or yachting jacket; the distance to be covered 200 yards.'

In the Corinthian matches it may be noticed that the club not only gives the customary helmsman's prize, and that a good one, but each member of the winning crew receives a tankard with the yacht's complement or the club burgee engraved on it, a principle again worthy of adoption by all Corinthian yacht clubs in races where no paid hands are permitted.

At this period the club had the fine total of 163 yachts to a list of fewer than 300 members; and to show how admirably everything was carried on to the furtherance of sport, prizes were given to the amount of 364_l._ out of an income of 521_l._, the club expenditure being more than covered by 78_l._ These statistics are of interest as showing what can be done by a club when not fettered by club premises.

The entry in the season of 1875 for the No. 1 Champion Cup is worthy of a notice here, since no fewer than seven of the large cracks of the year put in an appearance--'Fiona,' 75 tons; 'Cuckoo,' 92; 'Neva,' 62; 'Speranza,' yawl, 85; 'Latona,' yawl, 165; 'Egeria,' schooner, 147; and 'Gwendolin,' schooner, 197 tons; and as an example of a R.A.Y.C.

Corinthian match, that which took place on July 17, 1876, for 'Twenty Tonners' will long be remembered, not so much for its record of spar-breaking, as for the seamanlike way in which difficulties were overcome. The description of the race is here given almost in the words of an account for which the writer is indebted to Mr. James Drury, who was himself an active witness on the occasion. The weather was far from favourable owing to a strong gale during the previous night having raised a nasty tumbling sea on the banks, while the wind, though moderate in the early part of the afternoon, at times blew in fierce squalls, rendering it necessary to reduce canvas at awkward moments.

The entries were:--

'Hinda' 18 tons Mr. G. B. Thompson.

'Sheilah' 20 " Mr. Pascoe French.

'Challenge' 20 " Mr. Fred Thompson.

'Sunshine' 20 " Mr. D. MacIvor.

Prizes: Owner, 25_l._; helmsman, 5_l._; crew, tankards. Course No. 3 (24 miles), no paid hands allowed. Though the number of compet.i.tors was smaller than usual, the quality was extremely good, all four being well known as about the best of their cla.s.s. A nice southerly breeze was blowing, making it an easy reach to the South Bar buoy, and the tide was just beginning to flow to the northward. The 'Hinda' was the first away, steered by her owner, followed close astern by the 'Sunshine,' which had won so many prizes in 1874, with Mr. Henry Dudgeon at her helm. 'Sheilah' was third, with the late Mr. Pascoe French as pilot, and last, though only some 45 seconds behind the leader, came the 'Challenge,' with a crew who had come over from Liverpool in her or by steamer, and comprised the cream of the Mersey and Cheshire yacht clubs, among them Mr. Richardson, her designer, who now handled the lines. The 'Hinda' and 'Sunshine' each carried a crew of eight hands all told, while the 'Sheilah' and 'Challenge' had a complement each of ten hands, including the helmsman.

All the yachts had whole lower canvas and jibheaded topsails set, except the 'Sheilah,' who had a small square header aloft, and 'Sunshine,' who had prudently reefed her mainsail and foresail, although they still looked big enough for a 30 even thus reduced. The 'Sheilah' soon showed her speed off the wind, as, going through 'Sunshine's' lee like a dart, she led the fleet and placed herself some 50 seconds ahead of any other by the time she had made the first turning point, where it was 'gybe ho,' and she increased this lead to 2-1/4 minutes at the Rosebeg, the others having played at luffing and thus impeded each other.

Sheets were now hardened in for a close haul to the North and South Burford buoys, and 'Sheilah' soon found her topsail too much for her in the jumpy sea; but unfortunately it had been set with the tack to leeward, and was not therefore handy for shifting, while, worse than this, her big No. 1 jib was pulling her head off, and with a single sheet only it was more than her foremast hands could manage to get it properly aft. The 'Challenge' held a beautiful wind, and getting clear of the other two, weathered fast on 'Sheilah,' though she did not headreach on her. Mr. French, wishing to shift his topsail, went about on the port tack before he could weather the South Burford, but meeting the 'Challenge' on the starboard tack, and fearing he would not be able to clear her, stayed under her lee, with the effect of being dead covered for four or five minutes, when the first bitter puff that came clear of the after leach of 'Challenge's' mainsail whipped 'Sheilah's' topmast over her side. She was immediately hove about, and her crew set to work to clear away the wreck, Messrs.

Drury and Dunne running aloft and casting off the topsail lacing; but before they could get the sail down or the rigging secured, it was found necessary to go about again in order to pa.s.s the mark on the proper hand, and four or five minutes banging about of the wreck to leeward laced everything up into such a horrible state of confusion that it took the crew all they knew to get the topsail below, the broken mast on deck, and the rigging secured.

The 'Challenge' in the meantime, capitally sailed and handled, crept away steadily, and the 'Hinda' drew up on the 'Sheilah,' while the 'Sunshine' still kept the rear, not seeming to like the rough water.

At 2 hrs. 27 mins. 35 secs. the 'Challenge' stayed round the buoy in Kingstown Harbour, followed by the 'Sheilah' 2 hrs. 33 mins. 10 secs., having her tricolour flag flying from her crosstree. The 'Hinda'

rounded at 2 hrs. 34 mins. 55 secs., and the 'Sunshine' at 2 hrs. 37 mins. 30 secs. The wind was now much more westerly, and the squalls stronger. The 'Sheilah' set her balloon foresail for the reach out, in hopes of lessening the distance between her and the leader, and certainly gained a little. After the gybe Mr. French determined to shift his jib, especially as the starboard whisker had begun to buckle, and for this purpose gybed back and ran in under Howth--a great loss of time, for when the boom came over again the 'Hinda' was ahead.

The 'Sunshine,' after reaching Rosebeg, carried away her mast bodily, some 17 ft. from the deck, and the whole top-hamper fell overboard, leaving her helpless, and in anything but a pleasant predicament with so heavy a sea running, and the rocks of Howth under her lee. However, several yachts and a tug went off to her a.s.sistance, and after drifting round the Bailey, the tug got hold of her and brought her back, a sad wreck, to Kingstown Harbour. Meanwhile the squalls were becoming sharper, and the sea heavier and more broken, threatening destruction to bowsprits and bobstays, as the little vessels wallowed in the trough. The 'Sheilah,' showing her power, drew up abreast and close to the 'Hinda' between the Burfords, and all hands were admiring the way she was carrying her canvas, having her jib-topsail still aloft, and going like a bird, when crash! away went her mast, just under the hounds, leaving her quite as helpless as the 'Sunshine,' but in clearer and more open water. No one was hurt, and the 'Sheilah' at once triced up her tack, lowered her foresail, and hove to alongside her disabled consort in order to give help if required. Her crew employed themselves, while waiting, in hauling down a reef. This 'Challenge' perceived, and having matters quite safe, she at once followed suit, and made all snug for the thrash home of four miles; a happy matter for her, as her mast was badly sprung and might have gone at any moment. By the time the reefs were down, the 'Whirlwind,' 77-ton yawl, belonging to Mr. J. Townsend, had hastened to the a.s.sistance of her disabled little sister, and sending a warp to her, took her in tow. The 'Challenge,' on resuming her course, was well ahead, and eventually the race ended by her rounding the flagships at 4 hrs. 37 mins. 10 secs., winning the prize for her owner, the helmsman's prize for Mr. Alec Richardson, and tankards for her crew, who deserved them well for their pluck in coming from Liverpool and for the way they sailed and handled their vessel. In addition to other damages, it was discovered on reaching the Harbour that the 'Sheilah's' mast, with the rigging and all, had settled down 2 inches, having badly torn the wood of the mast, while 'Challenge's'

mast was also reported 'queer' aloft.

The No. 1 Corinthian Match, which took place in 1879, would also give subject for much interesting reading and reflection did s.p.a.ce permit, for smarter seamanship or a more exciting finish could not have been seen anywhere, not even in the bonny Clyde. It is only right to say that the members of this little club spare no energy or pains in order to become efficient racing yachtsmen; and to go out on a dirty afternoon to practise under difficulties shifting sail, reefing down, sending up and housing topmast, reefing in bowsprit and seamanship in general, is one of the means that have been before now employed to bring about the state of perfection which is exhibited by its leading hands, and for which the club is and always has been so famous.

At the beginning of the eighties the courses underwent some slight alterations, and as these hold good at the present day it may be found useful information if they are given here.

No. 1 Course.--From outside Kingstown Harbour to the South Bar buoy, thence to Rosebeg Bank buoy, the Kish Lightship, to a flagship moored off the East Pier End; three times round--48 miles.

No. 2 Course.--The same as No. 1; only twice round--32 miles.

No. 3 Course.--Kingstown Harbour to South Bar buoy, thence to Rosebeg Bank buoy, North Burford buoy, South Burford buoy, to flagship moored off the East Pier End; twice round--24 miles.

No. 4 Course.--Same as No. 3, only once round, thence to South Bar buoy and the flagship off the Pier--16 miles.

No. 5 Course.--Kingstown to South Bar buoy, thence to a flagboat moored two miles S.E. half-E., and to the flagship; twice round--4 miles.

Of the various new cla.s.ses that have sprung up within the last ten years, perhaps that in which the 3-tonners 'Rival,' 'd.u.c.h.ess,'

'Senta,' 'Currytush,' and 'Mimmie' are chiefly prominent has given about the most sport. Of these little ships, the 'Currytush,' one of the late Mr. Payton's greatest successes, could not only show her tail to the flyers of her cla.s.s wherever she presented herself, but she gave the Solent 30-ft. cla.s.s a good dressing in a thrash to windward against a nasty head sea and in a hard blow. The small cla.s.s for yachts of seven or six tons and under has always been a great favourite in Dublin Bay, but for two or three years a regular 5-ton cla.s.s held sway, and the season of 1885 witnessed its dying kick in the coming together of the 'Shona,' 'Luath,' 'Delvin,' and 'Doris.'

The 'Luath' and 'Doris' were new this season. The 18-ft. and 25-ft.

open-boat cla.s.ses, however, both have run these very fine in public favour, especially the latter. The rule of measurement adopted, and the conditions of sailing, are as follows:--