The Hawk was a successful racer, and secured many cherished prizes, but the Clarence was her superior, and was the first of a long line of prize-winners which have brought renown to the Clyde. Indeed, in all she won over thirty challenge trophies, and in her best season never suffered defeat. Robert Sinclair, the owner, was himself a keen and accomplished yachtsman.

Plate XXII.

From a painting at Halkshill.

THE "CLARENCE": AN EARLY RACING CUTTER.

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In the races held in 1833-34—most prominent years—John Scott, with the Hawk, won the Anglesey Cup at Dublin, and the Oban and Helensburgh Cups; while Robert Sinclair, with the Clarence, won the Ladies' Cup at Oban, the Kintyre Cup at Campbeltown, the Dublin, Adelaide, and Booth Cups at Dublin, the Stewart Cup at Greenock, the Largs Cup and the Dunoon Cup. These two yachts were indeed close rivals, although the principal honours rested with the Clarence. On one occasion, however, the Hawk unexpectedly defeated the Clarence in an important race at Dublin, and the owners were anxious to have the cup in Greenock as soon as possible for a special reason. Recognising that the Clarence was really the faster boat, they handed over the trophy to her crew to take to the Clyde port; but the luck which enabled the Hawk to win the cup stood by her on the passage home, and she made the port a considerable time before her rival.

The Clarence became a pilot boat, and was unfortunately run down off Garroch Head, while the Hawk was transferred to the fishing trade. In later years John Scott, C.B., had the laudable desire to secure as a relic the vessel his grandfather had owned, but the negotiations failed; and the boat is probably still at work among the islands of Scotland.

The Royal Northern Club's fleet in the 'thirties numbered about fifty, but there were no steam vessels on the list until 1855. Among the principal boats in the club were the Duke of Portland's ketch, the Clown, of 156 tons; the Duke of Buccleuch's cutter, the Flower of Yarrow, of 145 tons; Mr. John Scott's cutter, the Lufra, of 81 tons; Mr. Robert Meiklem's schooner, Crusader, of 126 tons; and Mr. Lewis Upton's cutter, Briton, of 91 tons. The membership was about one hundred and fifty, the aggregate tonnage of the fleet about 2000 tons, and its cost, at a fairly generous estimate, about £20,000.