Close Finish, 'Queen Mab' and 'Corsair'

R. T. Pritchett 348 'Iverna,' 1890 Designed by Alexander Richardson 354 'Iverna'—Lines and Midship Section " 355 Chart of the Thames, Harwich and Cinque Ports Courses F. S. Weller 357 'Calluna' From a Kodak photograph 361 Chart of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, Belfast Courses From Club Card 367 Chart of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dublin Bay Courses " 371 'Navahoe,' N.Y.Y.C. From a Kodak 372 Chart of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, Warner and Lymington Course Club Card 379 Chart of the Royal Albert Yacht Club, Southsea Course " 381 Chart of the Torbay Regatta Course " 383 'Satanita' From a Kodak 385 Chart of the Start Bay Yacht Club, Dartmouth, Course Club Card 387 Chart of the Royal Dart Yacht Club, Kingswear, Courses " 389 'Dragon III.' From a Kodak 398 Chart of the New York Yacht Club. Regatta Course N.Y.Y. Club Sec. 405 'Vigilant,' Cup Defender From a photograph by Stebbins, Boston, Mass. 406 'Valkyrie' Adamson, of Rothesay 408

CHAPTER I
ROYAL YACHTS AND ENGLISH YACHT CLUBS

ROYAL YACHTS
By R. T. Pritchett

The innate love of the English for everything connected with seafaring, roving and adventure, burst prominently forth in the time of Queen Elizabeth, when Drake and Raleigh showed what could be done in small craft in 'ocean cruising,' and, with early Corinthian crews from Devon and the brave West, sallied forth and straightway laid the foundation of our navy, and our present numerous fleet of yachts. In 1604 an early designer, one Phineas Pett, built a yacht for Henry of Wales; and to him the Navy was much indebted for general improvement in line and build throughout the early part of the Stuart dynasty.

At the Restoration we begin in earnest the History of Yachting, and find King Charles II. taking most enthusiastically to yacht building and even racing. That mine of wealth for the details of every-day life, that minute recorder of modes and fashions, Samuel Pepys, Esq., F.R.S., Secretary to the Admiralty, first brings to our notice the aquatic taste of His Majesty. In his delightful 'Diary' we find:—

July 15, 1660.—Found the King gone this morning by 5 of the clock to see a Dutch pleasure boat below bridge, where he dines and my Lord with him.

In a further notice we find His Majesty winning the first yacht race in the Thames, over the course of the R.T.Y. Club, Greenwich to Gravesend and back—a wager of one hundred guineas.