Design for a centreboard 1-rater by J. M. Soper, 1892.
'Mahatma,' designed by her owner Mr. Flemmich, also went well. She now belongs to the Ladies Fanny and Blanche Stanhope.
The 'Argula,' built at Gosport from a design by Mr. C. Nicholson, was a fast boat, but proved to be over rating. She was similar to the 2½-rater 'Molly' in general arrangement and appearance.
'Barbet' was a good boat designed by Mr. Payne for Mr. Wilson Hoare.
All these boats have the fashionable rig, Ratsey's lug, and a small—very small—foresail. Dr. Hughes, of East Cowes, however, re-introduced the split lug in his 1-rater 'Cariad,' and she went well when this severe handicap is allowed for.
The 'Kitten,' built by Mr. Sibbick for the Hon. W. Ruthven, won a few second prizes; but 'Oretta' and 'Minuet,' built at Cowes for Mr. Lancaster Owen and his son, were not so successful, and the other boats which occasionally started—viz. 'Query,' 'Anaconda,' 'Dorothy,' and 'Tramp'—failed to score.
Nearly twenty 1-raters competed during the season—pretty good for the first year of a class, and indicative that the class is popular.
A 1-rater is, or ought to be, a good wholesome boat, costing but little more than a ½-rater, either to build or maintain.
Most of the clubs limit the crew to three hands—an excellent rule—to prevent the introduction of a racing canoe with the Malays' system of ballasting.[12]
The racing in the 1-rater class is not fully reported in the sporting press, and the records given in our table have been obtained from the owners.