SPECIAL RACING, 1887
Two new boats were built for class (a), Miss Cox's 'Madcap' and Colonel Bucknill's 'Thalassa' (see table). They were well matched, the rig being the same, viz. sloop with a small topsail of about 80 square feet. They were capital 'day boats,' with roomy wells, and fairly good performers in a sea-way. At first 'Madcap' proved the faster, but towards the end of the season 'Thalassa' won most prizes, and captured the class medal of the R.S.Y.C.
Mr. Campbell's 'Merrythought' was the only new boat in class (b), but she failed to beat 'Tootsie' (afterwards named 'Minnow'), which belonged to Mr. Payne, and was altered to fit the class. On the whole, the racing in the new classes was somewhat disappointing, owing to the small number of competitors and of races. See the following table, which also includes the races for the 'Solent Classes' in 1888 and 1892, and shows the great development of the sport during the past five years.
The actual races only are recorded, as clubs deserve but little credit for offering prizes hedged in by such conditions that owners will not compete for them.
Races in the Solent Classes
| Yacht Clubs and Sailing Clubs | 1887 | 1888 | 1892 | ||||||||||
| 21'2½ | 17'1¼ | Total | 10 | 5 | 2½ | Total | 10 | 5 | 2½ | 1 | ½ | Total | |
| Royal Yacht Squadron | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Royal London | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Royal Southern | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Royal Victoria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
| Royal Albert | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 24 |
| Royal Southampton | 7 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 36 |
| Solent Yacht Club | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| Royal Portsmouth Corinthian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 29 |
| Castle Yacht Club | (started) | 5 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 41 | ||
| Island Sailing Club | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
| Minima Sailing Club | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 23 |
| Bembridge Sailing Club | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 16 |
| Totals | 10 | 7 | 17 | 26 | 6 | 34 | 66 | 7 | 40 | 65 | 64 | 75 | 251 |