Outward bound.
In this boat the passengers are converted into 'crew'; all must work, all obey the lawful commands of the skipper for the time being, though perchance he may not be the best sailor; and although some of the members are crack yachtsmen, all loyally avoid offering nautical advice unasked. Each is allotted some particular duty. One is medical officer, another is second in command, and the most onerous task is that accepted by the 'steward.' He is generously assisted by the advice of such of the crew as have had experience, and has 'Billy' and 'the boy' to carry out his behests; neither of the latter appearing much on deck, for the boat is worked in easy watches by the 'crew.'
It would almost appear that some insidious apology should prelude a description of such a homely and slow craft as that selected for this occasion; but, as she fills a space in the different classes of yachts, and has proved an unspeakable comfort for the purposes intended, these, and the means adopted, may have an interest for many who enjoy quiet pursuits. The crew was a typical one. There were several artists, several ardent naturalists, and a photographer (a lawyer, who could prove to demonstration that a photographer might also be an artist), and all practised music.
The cruise was limited to Dublin Bay and a few harbours north and south.
Some of the most beautiful spots, from an artist's point of view, cannot be reached in a deep boat, and so our draught was limited to less than 3 ft. 6 in., a condition complied with by the 'Iris.' She is 60 ft. long over all, with a beam of 12 ft. 6 in., diagonally built of mahogany, with a metal keel, as well as internal ballast cast to fit her. Her mid-transverse section shows a rather barrelled bottom, but her form forward and aft is such that she rolls very little; and, for this reason, and also from the fact that her saloon table is not far from the plane of her centre of rolling motion, the swinging apparatus of the dining-table has been removed, and it is now a satisfactory fixture.
As it was intended to frequent shallow waters and dry harbours like Howth, Lambay, Rush, Skerries, Wicklow, &c., provision had to be made for taking the ground comfortably. It is not possible to do this with 'legs.' There is always a doubt on the mind of the responsible officer as to which side she is likely to cant, and whilst on one side of the boat there may be good hard sandy ground, on the other may be a patch of soft mud, into which the leg may gently subside if she unfortunately happen to cant in that direction. Again, the time when the tide will leave her may be some hours hence, and a weary waiting ensues, perhaps after a stiff passage, when all hands long to 'turn in.' Of course, when you have a paid crew, they do the waiting; but a paid crew in this cruise would in great measure defeat the main object of the expedition.
