Royal Irish Yacht Club Cup, Kingstown, July 24, 1873
(from a picture by Admiral Beechy).
'Smartness' might have been the motto of the newly launched club, for within a few weeks of the above date the Irish Model Yacht Club—thus it was christened while yet on the ways—had taken on board all the essentials necessary for a lengthened and prosperous voyage. Acker's signals were its code, and words of wisdom in the form of club rules had been duly got out and printed. A captain of the fleet, secretary, and treasurer, backed up by a very able committee of thirteen, constituted the 'powers that be'; and under their auspices, on May 21, the yachts of the club made their début in company in Ireland's Bay of Naples.
It was during the following year that one of those rules was framed which proved for so many years such a notable club feature. It ran as follows: 'Every Saturday shall be a Fleet day unless there be notice to the contrary, and all yachts on the station, under a fine of 5s., shall be bound to join the fleet at a given hour, unless a satisfactory reason for the yacht's absence be given to the Sailing Committee. No yacht is to join unless the owner, or a member of a Yacht Club, be on board.' Of course this regulation has had to be rescinded in order to allow of club matches taking place, and the cruises in company have become less frequent; but it is impossible to estimate the value to seamanship of fleet sailing, because there is no method by which the sailor can more readily attain to the complete command of his vessel, and make her answer to his bidding. Sailing as he will be on such occasions in company with yachts of various sizes, sail-carrying power and speed, the yachtsman who can keep station will have learnt not only to have a confidence in himself and his vessel, but also how to vary her degrees of sailing from the reeling off of knots to an up and down log line.
In 1859 the club was practically reorganised. A new book of amended rules and regulations was printed, and a book of signals produced and compiled by Mr. Jas. A. Lyle, who had been appointed honorary secretary. Among these new rules was this very useful and simple one: 'Each owner is to lodge with the secretary a duplicate of his racing flag, and this flag is to be carried on board the Commodore's yacht of the day, to facilitate signalling and avoidance of mistakes.'
Towards the end of the season Lord Otho Fitzgerald, who had up to this time acted as captain of the fleet, gave up the office, and till it was eventually done away with, a Challenge Cup was instituted, open to all yachts of 15 tons (the largest size among the racing fleet) and under, to be sailed for annually. It was ruled that in future the holder of this cup should fill the office of captain of the fleet for the ensuing year.
So far the club matches had been few and somewhat irregular. Three classes had been formed, consisting of yachts of 10 and not exceeding 15 tons, of 6 and not over 10, and of others under 6 tons. This year, however, was started the annual series of racing matches, which have for over thirty years been so popular with the racing fraternity of St. George's Channel and the Clyde; and each season's programme has only undergone such alterations as have been necessitated by the increased tonnage of the competing yachts, or as may further racing according to the fashionable sizes of the yachts of the period. About this date, too, it was found necessary to obviate the difficulty which was being felt with regard to manning and sailing yachts, owing to the number of large yachts, which already flew the club burgee; the original rule, that permitted members only to be employed, was therefore stretched, in order to admit of any member of a Royal Yacht Club, who had paid his subscription, or any gentleman amateur not a seafaring man, being entered as a racing hand.
In 1864 the club advanced another step safely, and emerging from its chrysalis stage of a model yacht club, butterflied it in public as the Prince Alfred Yacht Club, keeping the same objects in view as hitherto, viz., the encouragement of match sailing and the acquisition of practical knowledge amongst its members of how to steer and handle their own vessels, especially while sailing. Commodores were appointed in place of a captain of the fleet, to carry on the more extended duties of the club; and Messrs. Putland, Scovell, and Bolton, whose names are household words throughout the yachting world, were the first officers to hold the appointments. No fewer than five classes had now to be created to take in the racing fleet; the class for yachts of 40 tons and over included all the big ones, that for 7 tons and under was open to the small fry.
Two years later (1866) the Duke of Edinburgh identified himself more closely than heretofore with the club that bore his name, by becoming its patron, and presenting a cup to be sailed for; and it was during this season that prizes were instituted, in the shape of gold pins bearing the club burgee, to especially encourage the art of helmsmanship. 1866 is also worthy of being remembered as having witnessed the introduction of the annual Kingstown and Holyhead matches, with which, since that time, the racing programme of the season has nearly always started.
The standing rule which specially distinguishes this club is that all money received shall go towards racing expenses and prize funds. The consequence follows that, limited though the club is to 300 members (there were 200 in 1864), it is able to provide good prizes for all classes, and can show more sport for its money than many another richer club which is hampered with a house. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the success of this homeless club, as many have called it, should read a really useful lesson to the committees of all young yachting or other sporting communities, not to be too anxious about bricks and mortar or entering on the responsibilities of housekeeping.
In 1868 another new feature, which at once became popular and is so to the present day, was started by Mr. G. B. Thompson. This was a series of matches to be held each year for yachts manned by amateurs only; and it is in some of these races, which have taken place during the past quarter of a century, that the capabilities of the members have prominently appeared as first-class able seamen. This season, however, will always be remembered for the race that was sailed on June 1 by the 2nd class yachts—viz. those over 25 and under 40 tons, in which the 3rd class yachts were allowed to enter at 26 tons. The 'Xema,' 35; 'Vampire,' 20 (rated at 26); 'Echo,' yawl, 37; 'Secret,' 31; 'Kilmeny,' 30; 'Wavecrest,' yawl, 35; and 'Amberwitch,' yawl, 52 tons, started. Three paid hands were allowed to each yacht. The course lay from Kingstown Harbour, round the North Bar buoy, Kish Lightship, and the Hauling buoy in Kingstown Harbour—twice round, to start from moorings. Though the weather was anything but satisfactory, all the morning had been fine, and there had been scarcely any wind, so that light muslin, in the shape of large topsails, balloon foresails, and big No. 1 jibs, was donned by all the competitors, at all events for the reach out to the Bar buoy. The old 'Bat' was the first to get away, but she was soon overhauled by the 'Echo,' the rest following in line abreast. As the day grew on, the wind, from being shifty and all over the place, gradually settled down from the eastward, and the 'Wavecrest' being the first to feel the true wind, she very naturally made use of it, and went through her vessels as if they had been at anchor. She was not allowed, however, to have the game all to herself for many moments, as the 'Amberwitch' and 'Xema' were soon on her track, while the 'Kilmeny' and 'Vampire' indulged in a luffing match, and almost allowed the 'Secret' and 'Echo,' which were doing rearguard, to overtake them.