SOME FAMOUS RACES
BY R. T. PRITCHETT
[Illustration: 'Waterwitch,' 331 tons (Earl of Belfast) and 'Galatea,'
179 tons. The start for a race for 1,000 guineas, September 1, 1834.]
In former days, matches were made between yachts as between horses on
the turf, and the stakes were often heavy, but such events are now
almost unknown; the increase in the number of craft has divided the
attention of the public, and the performance of each vessel is so well
known that there are no dark sea-horses to bring out as a surprise.
The records of bygone matches are, however, far from easy to obtain,
if, indeed, they are obtainable. Newspapers were formerly less
numerous than they are at present, nor did there apparently exist much
thirst for information and minute detail on the part of the public.
Accounts remain, however, of some few of the most important matches.
One for a thousand guineas, August 29, 1771, sailed between the Duke
of Richmond and Sir Alexander Smith, the course being from Brighton to
Beachy Head and back, has been already mentioned, but from this date
much search has yielded scanty results. The war must have interfered
greatly with the sport, for there is a long lapse of time when
yachting scarcely came at all under the notice of the press. The Royal
Yacht Squadron's fine class of schooners and vessels of large tonnage,
however, created and revived rivalry. On September 1, 1834, a great
race for one thousand guineas took place between 'Waterwitch,' brig,
331 tons, belonging to the Earl of Belfast, and 'Galatea,' schooner,
179 tons; in this race Mr. Charles Ratsey sailed, and he is now hale
and hearty in Cowes. The course was from the Nab Lightship, round the
Eddystone Lighthouse, and back. The start took place at 10 A.M., on
the Monday morning, when the weather was fine, wind tolerably fresh
from south and west. The first day, in the afternoon, the wind fell
light, almost a calm at 7 P.M., the yachts being then only off
Dunnose, Isle of Wight. The schooner at this time was two miles to
windward. On Tuesday, at 7 P.M., the two yachts were off Berry Head,
Torbay, the schooner 'Galatea' still to windward. About this time, as
the breeze freshened, she had the misfortune to carry away her
jibboom, and got too close under Bolthead by the Start, thereby losing
her tide. They rounded the Eddystone nearly together; from which
point, both running large, the brig gradually drew away from the
schooner, and finally reached the Nab Lightship at 2 P.M. on
Wednesday, September 3, 'Galatea' coming in at 2.20 P.M. The course
was about 130 miles, and the time occupied 52 hours. The race, in
August 1842, also round the Eddystone, in an easterly gale, between
'Corsair,' 80 tons, and 'Talisman,' 84 tons, is justly celebrated.
'Corsair' won by 1 min. 30 secs. Two pictures of this race were
painted by Condy, of Plymouth. Running down channel 'Corsair' is
represented with a mizzen, which Mr. Charles Ratsey informed the
writer was stuck in at the last minute and was carried away turning to
windward; she is therefore shown without one on her return.
[Illustration: 'Corsair' and 'Talisman' race round Eddystone, August
1842, 'Corsair' winning.]
There was talk of a race between the Marquis of Anglesey's 'Pearl' and
Mr. J. Weld's 'Alarm' for a thousand guineas, but it never came off;
in fact, the Marquis never raced her from the time 'Pearl' was built
in 1821 to the year of his death, 1854. The 'Mosquito,' with Captain
John Nichols at the tiller, once came out on his weather, and the
Marquis very politely dipped his ensign to the yacht that weathered
him for the first time in all his years of cruising. The 'Arrow' and
'Mosquito' once finished a fine race, which was a marvellously close
thing between them, 'Arrow,' 6 hrs. 59 mins. 30 secs., 'Mosquito,' 6
hrs. 59 mins. 31 secs.!
[Illustration: 'Talisman,' 84 tons, and 'Corsair,' 80 tons, race,
1842.]
A very good account is handed to us of how yachtsmen more than half a
century since--in 1830--enjoyed a real rough day's sailing on the
Thames. A cup had been subscribed for of the value of fifty guineas,
and all the cracks of the day entered for it:--
tons
Matchless 19
Vixen 19
Lady Louisa 13
Fairy 13
Daisy 19
Venus 13
Rob Roy 16
Brilliant 8
Donna del Lago 9
Ariel 8
[Illustration: Lines and midship section of 'Corsair,' built by M.
Ratsey, Cowes, 1832. Length for tonnage, 57 ft. 9 in.; breadth, 18 ft.
6 in.; tonnage, 84-84/94.]
[Illustration: 'Yseult'
_10-rater_ (_P. Donaldson, Esq._) _Designed by Fife_, 1892.]
The race was from Greenwich to Gravesend and back, and it certainly
was not lacking in interest. The sport began early. 'Matchless'
carried away her boom, running into 'Lady Louisa's' quarter; 'Lady
Louisa's' bowsprit caught 'Rob Roy's' backstay, and she followed
'Matchless' ashore, dragging 'Lady Louisa' after her. At this time
'Daisy' was leading. Soon after 'Brilliant' became first and 'Ariel'
second boat. In Erith Reach on the return 'Venus' was waterlogged.
'Donna del Lago' carried away her bowsprit; 'Vixen' carried away
outhaul, and when she got into Erith Roads 'Vixen's' mast went by
the board. Finally 'Brilliant' won by 1 minute from 'Ariel,' who was
second. They were both reefed down to the balance-reef, as shown in
the illustration taken from an old print. Balance-reefs are seldom
seen nowadays, although they are occasionally carried by fishing
craft.
[Illustration: 'Brilliant' and 'Ariel' race, 1830.]
There was one day's racing in 1892 which should be handed down as a
remarkable instance of what the new boats can do in a stress of
weather. It was Largs Regatta, July 12, when the Largs men witnessed
and took part in the kind of sport they so dearly love; they are
severe critics, but give honour where honour is due, especially to
weatherly craft and good seamanship. The wind was from the east,
freshening up towards the time for the start. Unfortunately 'Meteor'
and 'Iverna' were not competing, the former having damaged her gaff.
The forties were there, four in number--'Queen Mab,' 'Corsair,'
'Varuna,' and 'White Slave'--the 'Mohican' was flagship, in line with
a flag on Largs Pier. It was a truly wild morning, white squalls being
frequent and severe. The Firth was all spoondrift; 'Queen Mab' and
'Varuna' had housed topmasts, one reef down, 'Corsair' topmast on end.
Under Knockhill the squalls were tremendously heavy, very patchy and
local. Off Skelmorlie the racers got the true east wind hard, and
found the flagboat dragging her anchor. They rounded, however: 'Queen
Mab' was timed 11 hrs. 8 mins. 16 secs., 'Varuna,' 11 hrs. 8 mins. 52
secs. Coming over towards Largs they got into a lull, when 'Corsair'
set her gaff-topsail, 'Mab' and 'Varuna' getting topmasts on end; the
latter set her topsail, the former did not. Soon a mighty rush of wind
burst down from between Tomont End and Largs. At the 'Knock' again
there was a kind of vacuum-cum-Mäelström. Soon after, in a wilder
phase of Clyde weather, 'Mab' and 'Varuna' were caught by a fierce
squall and laid down to it. 'Corsair,' unfortunately, was the victim
of a squall spout, which carried away her mast close to the
board--such was the strain that something must have gone. The 'White
Slave,' belonging to Mr. F. W. L. Popham, was at this time off the
Knock; she took in her topsail, and nearing 'Corsair' further reduced
her canvas, lowering her mainsail to assist her. Ultimately 'Corsair'
was towed by Duncan, of 'Madge' fame. Skelmorlie mark was rounded at
12 hrs. 42 mins. 30 secs. by 'Queen Mab,' at 12 hrs. 45 mins. 12 secs.
by 'Varuna.'
After this all was flying spoondrift and canvas reduced to two
sails--the wind harder than ever. Smoking bows were the order of the
day, clouds of spray soaked the mainsails nearly to the peak, gaffs
were like rainbows in curve, all hands were warily standing by to
lower foresail or meet the next emergency. 'Queen Mab' finished in 1
hr. 43 mins. 35 secs., 'Varuna' 1 hr. 49 mins. 33 secs.
Parker sailed 'Queen Mab,' Gould 'Varuna,' Sycamore 'Corsair.' It was
indeed a hard blow, and a fine display of yacht handling and good
seamanship under most trying circumstances; the 'Yseult,' 10-tonner,
lost her bowsprit, and everybody lost something. All credit to the
skippers, who never lost their heads.
[Illustration: 'Iverna' (J. Jameson, Esq.) and 'Meteor' (H.I.M. The
Emperor of Germany).
_Dead heat in the Clyde, July 4, 1892._]
The '6-rater' match seemed to be the joy of Largs, especially on this
occasion, when the weather enabled the crews to show what the Irish
boats could do. So much damage had been done that three only were left
to start: 'Red Lancer,' Col. Crawford, 'Savourna,' Mr. H. L.
Mulholland, and 'Windfall,' Mr. Gubbins. They seemed to revel in the
storm; 'blow high, blow low,' was all the same to them. More would
have started had they not been unhappily crippled in one way or the
other, but those that did were nearly blown out of the water. The
maxim of 'Batten down' was in every case emphasised. After a
tremendous experience of what the Clyde can do to encourage real
seamanship and fearless daring 'Savourna' came in at 2 hrs. 3 mins.,
and 'Red Lancer,' 2 hrs. 3 mins. 39 secs; 'Red Lancer' taking 1st
prize, 'Savourna' 2nd prize. Largs Regatta in 1892 will long be
remembered; it was no flat racing, but real steeplechasing in the
Clyde.
1892 also leaves us a dead heat between the two champions of the
season, the 'Iverna' and the 'Meteor.' This occurred at the Royal
Clyde Club, July 4, 1892; wind W.N.W., a fine breeze, both carrying
jibheaders at the finish, as shown in the illustration. 'Iverna' led
by 19 seconds--3 hrs. 25 mins. 28 secs., allowing 'Meteor' 19 seconds;
'Meteor' finished at 3 hrs. 25 mins. 47 secs. Dead heat.
This was sailed off, July 8, in the Wemyss Bay programme, and resulted
in a very fine race, topmasts struck, first reef down in
mainsail--real going, both vessels made the most of and thoroughly
well handled. Mr. William Jameson and O'Neil were on 'Iverna,' and
Gomes was at the tiller of 'Meteor.' It was a grand exhibition of
yacht-racing, and finished, 'Iverna,' 4 hrs. 18 mins. 26 secs.,
'Meteor,' 4 hrs. 21 mins. 22 secs.