ORIGIN OF YACHTING.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 25, 1 September 1894, Page 28

ORIGIN OF YACHTING.

CHANGES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS IN 300 YEARS.

Evolution In the Popularity of the Sport. The First luternational Race Was Between English and Dutch Vessels. Charles II Among the Earliest Patrons. The term “yacht” is derived from the Danish word “jaght,” meaning a chase; hence yachting is the chasing of one vessel after another, and accordingly yachting and yacht racing are synonymous expressions. A yacht is and always has been essentially a pleasure craft, but .in the early days no yacht of ary size existed. Tims we find a writer in 1706 referring to a yacht as “a small shipbnilt for swiftness and pleasure rather than for merchandise or warlike service.” History does not tell us where, when or under What circumstances yachts were first built, but it is certain they are of ancient origin and were only owned by royal persons and great nobles. The latter fact receives corroboration from an ancient but carefully compiled dictionary of singular words, where a yacht is described as “a pleasure craft of not more than 100 tons for the king’s use.” The earliest mention of a yacht in this country was as far back as the AngloSaxon period, when King Athelstan received from the king of Norway a present of a magnificent state barge, rigged with purple sails and decorated with wrought gold. .Queen Elizabeth, we know, frequently used a otate barge, and so have successive sovereigns to this day. Iu is curious to relate, and goes far to show thci primitive nature of our early resources, that while foreigners were able to build yachts their example was not followed in this country till 1688, when the first English yacht was constructed at Cowes and launched from that port. But while 1688 maybe fixed as the commencement of yacht building in England, it cannot be said that during the next half century much progress was made with the newly acquired industry. Indeed, had it not been for Charles H, it is probable that the trade would not have been established for some time to come. King Charles, however, was very

fond of sailing, and the Dutch East India company, with the view of gaining royal favor, presented him with a small sloop rigged, vessel. The advent of the foreign built vessel evidently stimulated native talent, as we find Evelyn, in his diary of Oot. 1,1661, writing, “I sailed this mom- : ingwithhismajesty in oneof his yachts or . pleasure boats,wessels hot known among L,us till the Dutch East India company j

presented that curious piece to the king.” But the king was not only a yachtsman; he was also a designer, and drew the lines of the Jamie, a 25 tonner, built at Lambeth, and raced her against the Bezan, a small Dutch built vessel belonging to the Duke of York. The course was from Greenwich to Gravesend and back and the prize £IOO, which was won by the Bezan. As the ships were designed and constructed in different countries the race may fairly claim to have possessed an international character, while from the fact that the royal owners steered their own boats it was clearly an amateur match. Unfortunately with the death of Charles II came another lull in the history of yachting, and it was not till early in the eighteenth century that any real revival took place. During this long interval, however, yachting had gradually become a more democratic amusement, and the sport of kings had descended to the level of commoners. Cork harbor became a favorite yachting ground and during the summer months was crowded with diminutive pleasure vessels. Indeed, so popular did the sport become that in 1720 the Cork Harbor Water club was formed to encourage yacht racing. The club ultimately developed into what is now the Royal Cork Yacht club. Here, then, we have the first authentic attempt at organization in the yachting world. A few years later the sport came into favor in the south of England, and Maitland, in liis “History of London” (1739), refers to sailing as one of the amusements to be met with on the river Thames, while later still (1801) Strutt, in his well known work on “Sports and Pastimes,” mentions the existence of a society consisting of certain gentlemen who gave a silver cup to be sailed for annually in the vicinity of London. Toward the close of the eighteenth century Cowes became the favorite, resort of yacht racing, but still the contending vessels were of small size, none being over 86 tons. It was not until the foundation of the yacht club, afterward the Royal Yacht club and now the world renowned Royal Yacht squadron, that yachting in this country may fairly be said to have established itself as a national sport, and even then (1812) the number of yachts afloat only reached 50, all told. But from this time the popularity of yachting rapidly grew, and club after club followed in quick succession.

Hunting Lions. Among the Arabs, where the lion is hunted with success, the hunter studies his beast before engaging in battle. If he is very fat, there is little danger in pot shots. If he is lean and spry, the Ai;ab will maneuver for a coign of vantage from which he can pour in three or four shots before coining to close quarters. —Exchange.