RACING IN A 40-RATER IN 1892
BY R. T. PRITCHETT
Most of the races described in these volumes are from the standpoint
of the looker-on ashore, or else on board some vessel which was not
competing; the present chapter describes a race from that point of
vantage, the deck of the winning yacht.
[Illustration: Going aloft.]
Cowes in the early morn is not generally known to visitors. The 'wood
and brass work'--a term better known on board than on shore--is now in
full swing, for this admirable function must be completed by eight
bells. If cleanliness be next to godliness, surely yachts have very
much to commend them, with their spotless decks, bleached runners, and
immaculate canvas. In leaving the pontoon for the offing, the various
craft increase in size as the water deepens. First the small raters
are passed, 1/2-, 1-, 2-1/2-raters, 'Wee Winn,' 'Polynia,' 'Hoopoo,'
and 'Kitten'--described by 'Thalassa' in his Solent chapter. Passing
the tens and twenties the French yachts are reached, for of late years
the burgee of the French club is often seen at Cowes, and the American
flag is more frequent than of yore. The Guard-ship now looms. The
Royal yacht, 'Victoria and Albert,' is at her buoy, the Royal Yacht
Squadron nobly represented. Eight bells now strike. Immediately the
morning flutter of bunting flies to the mastheads, where all the
burgees should arrive simultaneously, taking the time from the
flagship--but they do not, unfortunately. (N.B.--Racing flags can be
lashed before eight bells, as they have no halliards.) By this time we
see the 40 just astern of a yawl and ahead of a Frenchman. 'Queen Mab'
is basking and glistening in the bright morning sunshine, in perfect
repose, yet rather fretting to be off, for with her colour she knows
what is coming. Having come alongside very carefully, without touching
the varnish, we are soon on board, and find all in motion. The
business of the day has begun, the preliminary functions are
completed, such as sending the gig away with the superfluous gear of
squeegees, mops, oars. The 12-ft. dinghy is already lashed over the
skylight, with the stem wedged up to the coaming abaft of the
companion. The tyers are off the mainsail, and it is soon on the
hoist. The crew are going aloft, to string down on the throat
halliards; gradually the peak rises, well up, about 45°, and with the
modern lacing down to the boom the sail soon becomes fairly set. Next,
the gaff topsail. In America, in the 'Puritan' and other racers,
photography shows that they start with two, jibheader and jackyarder
or club foresail, so called from the club or yard at the foot. In the
'Vigilant,' the jackyarder was set most cleverly over the jibheaded
topsail when running back in the final race. In joining a racer there
is nothing so comfortable for host and guest too as being on board in
good time. With a flying start it is very important to be under way
to the minute, especially in light winds and with a tide running, such
as the swill in Cowes Roads generally is, whether spring or otherwise.
It is no joke for a boatman to catch a racer once under way, even
without her head sails, in the offing, to say nothing of the anathemas
of the owner, and the skipper's suppressed comments.
Soon comes the welcome of the owner of 'Queen Mab,' Col. T. B. C.
West, well known in the yachting world in connection with that grand
yawl 'Wendur,' 143 tons, T.M., built in 1883, his famous 10-rater
'Queen Mab' in the Clyde, and now the 'Queen Mab' of 1892. The forties
are a very prominent class and justly so; they emphasise the sport of
class racing over handicaps.
About this time the racing flags of other craft are a subject of
intense interest, and the crew are immensely keen. Should an old
adversary not be getting under way, the why and wherefore will be at
once discussed; this generally brings out prominently any hand of the
'sea lawyer' class, if the owner has unfortunately shipped one. The
head sails have now been set, and we are curvetting and pirouetting
about waiting for preparatory gun. There is no doubt that wonderful
skill is shown in the handling of the various craft. A dexterity and
firmness are apparent which could never be secured with the American
system of adjusted time: thus if 'Vigilant' were four minutes late at
the start, that time would be deducted from the winner at the finish.
Now comes the full excitement of the start. 'First gun, sir; fifteen
minutes to go!' is the word, and for the next eighteen minutes all is
extra wariness, sometimes fourteen yachts under way, manoeuvring, and
keenly watching each other. 'Blue Peter, sir, five minutes!' is next
heard. The owner, watch in hand, by the skipper, records the fleeting
moments as they pass, calling out the minutes: at length it comes to 1
min., 50 secs., 40 secs., 30 secs., 20 secs. 'How much, sir?' 'Ten
seconds'; then 'Let her go!' and she goes--with her cranse iron over
the line directly after the gun. Everyone now turns attention to the
recall numbers. Are there any? There has been such a thing as three
over the line out of four starters, so great is the eagerness for a
lead.
[Illustration: Old Style.]
[Illustration: New Style.]
[Illustration: 'Reverie,' 1891.]
[Illustration: 'Corsair,' 1892.]
[Illustration: 'Queen Mab,' 1892.]
[Illustration: 'Doreen,' 1892.]
Among the larger classes everyone looks out for Mr. Jameson being
first over line, with O'Neil at the tiller, famed for his special
gift for quick starting and weather berths. A good start is a grand
beginning. So long as one is leading no explanation is required why
the good ship is not showing her best form, or how it is that she is
not in her right trim. By this time the fleet is getting sorted; with
a good sailing breeze the large craft draw out ahead in many cases,
and it is well to do so; the large cutters are started, say, a quarter
of an hour ahead, and the forties together. In 1892 the forties were
very strongly represented, 'Thalia,' 'Reverie,' 'Queen Mab,'
'Corsair,' 'Creole,' 'Varuna,' 'White Slave.' This gave most
interesting sport, far preferable to handicapping, which is only
adopted to bring vessels of different tonnage together. A curious
instance of this occurred at Cowes, when 'Irex,' 'Genesta,' and
'Lorna' all came in together within five minutes, and having brought
up, stowed canvas and dined, it was discovered that 'Sleuthhound' was
coming in, almost saving her time allowance of about 53 min. It is
certainly most uninteresting to the spectators on shore to see the
first fine craft come in close together, and returning from afternoon
tea to perhaps discover that the real winner is just sailing in round
the flagboat and getting the gun.
[Illustration: 'Irex,' midship section.]
By this time the 'sun is over the foreyard' and all are settling down
for a fine race. Sailing in a race affords excellent opportunity for
noticing the other competing craft and admiring the goodly company
assembled around. The big cutters are leading, and some of the forties
astern. That 'Queen Mab' will hold her own with the best is a point
upon which we feel happily confident, her racing flags being proof of
her capacity--thirty-six is the number she showed at the end of the
season. This yacht, as mentioned elsewhere, was built with a
centreboard, but instead of a huge partition in the centre of the
saloon, the board came under the main companion, and was quite
unnoticeable. As with Mr. Jameson's 'Irex,' 'Mab's' centreboard was
discarded, and each became the crack of her respective season.
'Varuna,' also a new boat this year, designed by Mr. G. L. Watson with
a Watson bow, as in 'Mab,' was a beautiful craft, really perhaps the
designer's favourite. These bows, with those in 'Corsair' and others,
elicited sighs and groans from the old school of yachting men; for
what with the schooner bow, the Viking bow, the inverted Roman nose
bow, the bottle-nose bow, the Fife bow, and the canoe bow, one's idea
of what a bow should be became somewhat confused. However, overhang
forward carries the day up to 200 tons. 'Corsair,' 40-rater, designed
by Mr. Arthur Payne of Southampton, was a grand boat, with less beam
than 'Mab,' beautiful counter, long boom, very workmanlike all round.
She was built for that enthusiastic yachtsman, Admiral the Hon. Victor
Montagu, a dear lover of all good English sports. 'Thalia' was a fine
craft, by Fife of Fairlie, a splendid sea boat. Many is the good
race Mr. Inglis has sailed in her, with Carter, who sailed
'Britannia,' 1893, at the tiller.
[Illustration: 'Irex,' built for John Jameson, Esq., 1884.
Length B.P. 88'0"; length L.W.L. 83'6"; beam extreme 15'0".
Tonnage R.T.Y.C. Rule 88. tons; tonnage register 74.67 tons; Y.R.A.
Rating 98 tons.]
[Illustration: Longitudinal elevation.]
[Illustration: Cabin plan.
Corsair (Admiral the Hon. Victor Montagu), 40-rater, 1892. Designed by
Arthur E. Payne.]
We live in an age of rather rapid development; 1892 becomes ancient
history in 1893, still it seems sad that when one has a good vessel
like 'Thalia,' she should so soon be outclassed. Fashion always runs
to extremes; now that fashion has attacked yachting, the belle of one
season is extinguished in the next. 'Sic tempora et naves mutantur.'
In old days enthusiastic yacht-owners lengthened their pets, almost
rebuilt them sometimes, as in the cases of 'Alarm' and 'Arrow'; the
associations were retained and duly cherished.
[Illustration: 'Corsair,' midship section.]
We have started, it should have been said, for the Australian Cup,
value 50_l._, presented by Mr. Gibson Miller for yachts exceeding 20
tons and not exceeding 40 tons. The second prize, 30_l._, is given by
the Royal Squadron. The westerly wind turned out very light, and
without a good sailing breeze racing becomes peaceful repose. Much
interest, however, is felt in the performance of 'Irene,' 40-rater,
designed by Mr. G. L. Watson for Prince Henry of Prussia, who was at
the tiller all day, heart and soul in it, longing for a breeze, and
probably keeping up the old superstition by giving an unintentional
whistle for one; but still it would not come. At 4 hrs. 0 min. 35
secs. 'Queen Mab' came in the winner, 'Thalia' taking second prize.
For real racing a true wind, such as we had in the race for prizes
given by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, August 6, is indispensable.
This was a small but sporting muster. 'Iverna' and 'Meteor' were sent
away at 10.45 A.M., 'Iverna' crossing the line to a second. The
forties, 'Corsair,' 'Queen Mab,' and 'Thalia,' were despatched half an
hour later at 11 A.M., to a perfect start and a whole-sail westerly
breeze, 'Mab' crossing two seconds after the Blue Peter was hauled
down. The gun missed fire. We hailed the Committee Boat, 'Are we all
right?' when the pleasant echo returned, 'All right, go on,' and away
we went.
[Illustration: Lashing the Emperor's racing flag.]
[Illustration: Our masthead man.]
It was a fine reach down Southampton Water, the three close together
in single file. Passing Calshot Lightship we hauled our wind and stood
over for Cowes, feeling the westerly breeze which came sweeping up
from the Needles; below Egypt we went about and took our jumps
merrily--a nasty sea, if the sea can be nasty; our working topsail
relieved her somewhat--for 'Corsair' and 'Thalia' were carrying
jackyarders. It was a grand beat down to Lymington; the rain was
heavy, but after a few hard squalls the sun came out and the Lymington
mark-boat was rounded, 'Queen Mab' 12 hrs. 45 mins. 10 secs.,
'Corsair' 12 hrs. 46 mins. 20 secs., 'Thalia' 12 hrs. 47 mins. 35
secs. As the mark-boat was neared all were astir. 'Get your gear on
your spinnaker boom, my lads, and top him as soon as you can. Will you
take the time, sir, of "Meteor" and "Iverna" rounding?' Before this
our masthead man George had gone aloft by an acrobatic performance
which is always interesting to the beholder: on the port tack with
the port foot on a hoop, and the starboard foot on the sail, as
indicated in the illustration. George was a good compact cheery hand,
and must have been born for this particular function. By this time we
are round.
[Illustration: 'All aft, my sonnies!']
[Illustration: 'Another pull at the mainsheet, my lads!']
[Illustration: Close hauled.]
'Down spinnaker boom,' and now every thread draws and the whole sail
is pulling hard. 'All aft, my sonnies!' and the skipper Parker seems
to smile upon his pet. At this time bread and cheese and beer are
served out, and form a very pleasant pendant to 'all aft' except the
look-out, who took his mid-day in solitude by the unfilled foresail. A
splendid dead run from the Lymington mark back to Cowes now takes
place. See! 'Corsair's' spinnaker is here suddenly taken in, Sycamore,
her skipper, having discovered that her mast was sprung, and he
therefore went into Cowes. This was a great disappointment to us, and
must have been to Admiral Victor Montagu, who so dearly loves racing,
especially in a true wind. We were now cracking on for the Warner, our
enjoyment only once disturbed by a hail from the look-out, 'Boat right
under bow, sir,' and in the same breath, 'Only a photogger, sir,' and
on we sped. Rounding the Warner 'Thalia' carried away her throat
halliards, but soon continued the race. Rounding mark-boats and
lightships is thrilling work, and beautifully it is done on 'Queen
Mab.' It is delightful to see the judgment and decision, and how
cheerily the hands haul on to the mainsheet; truly this is sport and
excitement not easily beaten. 'Queen Mab' bends gracefully to it, and
well it suits her; we are hissing through it. It is generally supposed
that racing yachts are regularly gralloched and cleared out below; it
is so in America and was done to 'Navahoe' in her races; but it is not
so here. Everything is in its place, and when the head of the steward
appears at the companion with the welcome words, 'Lunch, sir!' we find
that all is well--but look out for the swinging table: touch that and
there will be a ghastly crash. The 40-rater has the owner's cabin and
the lady's cabin, with a very comfortable one for a guest, to say
nothing of accommodation for sea bachelors who do not require shore
luxury. The ladies' conning tower is generally the top step of the
companion, but in the 'Seabelle' Mrs. Taylor had an armchair swung
like a gimbal compass, in which she knitted comfortably at whatever
angle the yacht might be in a seaway. After lunch we are close-hauled
lying for Calshot Castle, hissing through it with a pleasant swish of
spray, ever and anon making some of the hands duck their heads as they
lie up to windward. Many is the dry remark and cheery yarn that one
hears under these circumstances; not many words but much to the
purpose, old recollections are revived, and there is always something
to be learnt.
[Illustration: Real business.]
Each hand is on the look-out in calm weather, scouring the horizon for
a wandering catspaw, or in bad weather, watching the other craft to
see how they take it. To note the skipper's face is a study; his eye
on every leach and every sheet, keen and ready for any emergency,
entirely absorbed in 'her' and how she is going and how he can best
cosset her. Such was the impression left of Ben Parker at the tiller
of 'Queen Mab.' He had done good work in Mr. Hill's 'Dragons' of the
20's. His first command was the 'Ulidia,' Fife's 10-tonner, after
having sailed for some years under Tom Diaper and O'Neil, and his
Channel race from Dover in 1892 will never be forgotten. It was a
merry close haul back from the Warner to Southampton Water. As the
wind was drawing down the river we had a beat up to the
Committee-boat, which was reached, 'Queen Mab' 4 hrs. 9 mins. 57
secs., winner, 40_l._ and silver medal; 'Thalia,' 4 hrs. 58 mins.,
second prize 10_l._ 'Thalia,' built by Fife of Fairlie, had a rare
good crew, and Mr. I. A. Inglis has sailed many a famous race in her
with his skipper, Carter, whose season of 1893 in H.R.H. the Prince of
Wales's 'Britannia' speaks for itself. We get the 'gun,' that great
joy at the end of a good race. 'Down foresail,' and round she comes.
The cheering is over, so now to clear up. Unlash the dinghy, get back
the cutter and gear, and fill in the Declaration, which has to be sent
in by every owner or his representative immediately after a race is
won. It runs thus:
_Y.R.A. Declaration that Rules have been observed_
I hereby declare that . . . . . . . . yacht whilst sailing in the
. . . . . . . Race this day has strictly observed the sailing Rules and
Regulations.
Date . . . . . . Signed . . . . . . .
The gig is by this time alongside, and it must have been delightful to
the owner as he stepped into her and left the side of the victorious
'Queen Mab,' to look up and see five winning flags flying,
representing five first prizes in five starts in one week.
It is not the purpose of this chapter to record all 'Queen Mab's'
victories, but it may be noted that she won the 40_l._ prize given by
the Royal Dorset Yacht Club in August of this year--1892. The club
was founded in 1875, and holds forth many inducements to yacht-owners
to visit Weymouth. For small raters it is admirably adapted, as the
Esplanade is of immense length, and the short courses can be seen from
one end to the other.
[Illustration: Torquay.]
At Dartmouth also 'Queen Mab' had two fine races, in a hard wind round
the Skerries. The first, August 26, was very good, but the second,
August 27, was better, though only one round, at the end of which we
found the flagboat bottom up. 'Queen Mab' won first prize on both
days. At Plymouth, in the following week, continuing the 'Westward Ho'
procession, 'Mab' sailed over, with double-reef mainsail No. 3 and
jib, no foresail, 'Thalia' and 'Corsair' not caring to start. Outside
the Breakwater it was very grand, and outside Rame Head grander still,
as the rollers came in after a 48 hours' gale. The pilot admired
'Mab' immensely, she made such good weather of it. The gale was great
sport for us, and it was surprising to see how the small boats
thrashed through it. 'Dis' carried away her bowsprit, and there was
much harmless wreckage of gear. One lesson might be learnt, that with
the short bowsprit produced by the overhang forward there is much
strain taken off that very important spar. Plymouth often gets a hard
blow about this time, which is the more to be regretted from the
extraordinary variety of boats and classes, from the 'Britannia' class
down to the rowing matches of the bum-boat women. Devonport and the
Navy training brigs and colleges all join the water frolic, and great
is the disappointment when the weather is unfavourable.
[Illustration: 'Queen Mab'
_40-rater_ (_T. B. C. West, Esq._) _Designed by G. L. Watson_, 1892.]
[Illustration: Channel Racing Westward.]
[Illustration: A close finish, 'Queen Mab' and 'Corsair,' R.T.Y.C.,
May, 1892.]