Nowadays anyone can become a yachtsman.....

Kukri

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When Queen Vic asked where Prince Albert was, she was told

"He is sailing with your grocer, Maam"

I don’t think so. Albert didn’t sail and the “grocer” in question was Sir Thomas Lipton, who was much too young and too poor when Albert was alive.

The usual version of this is attributed to Kaiser Wilhelm II - “My uncle is boating with his grocer” - alluding to the fact that King Edward VII really was a friend of Thomas Lipton and really did go sailing with him.

Things didn’t always go according to plan:

D290E469-4887-407C-B668-A2CF59121619.jpeg

King Edward is on board in this picture as is Thomas Lipton. The King calmly asked if anyone had been hurt and on hearing that everyone was safe, he lit a cigar.
 
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dulls

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Hornet Services Sailing Club is not RNSA although RNSA functions may often be held there as the facilities are excellent.
But was it not once the RNSA club house? The old coastal command HQ?
The bridge was known as Pneumonia Bridge, I used to cycle over it. The higher deck was added when the MTB yard was active.
I was hoping someone would remember the MTB or MGB that was placed at the entrance in the 70s..
 

Carib

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I went to a dinner at the RYS once, very pleasant surroundings they were too..

There was an interview with the RYS commodore in Classic Boat a year or so ago, and he essentially made out that the main qualification for membership was being good company over dinner. If you believe that...
 

Sharky34

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Some years ago, I was at anchor outside Newtown for lunch (west side). Weather was clement, with fairly flat sea.
We were regailed by a 'fleet' of RYS yachts, who arrived & anchored for lunch on the position line into Newtown ( along the olive in the glass line).
After lunch, a race seemed to be organised, with at least 8 RYS yachts, who crossed the startline to the east of our position, obviously heading back into Cowes.
Strange I thought, its approaching low water springs & within minutes, at least 5 were aground on the shallow area just east of their startline, with tide ebbing.
Several RYS launches eventually attended but at least 3 were unable to be refloated until much later.
Were we smug & amused? I'm afraid we were,
 

doug748

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Des Sleightholme said it was the end when you started to repeat your anecdotes, still here we go:


About 8 years ago I was on a cross Channel race to France. As we entered the new marina we were greeted by ribs and escorted into our berths they were the best in the place and fit for 15 metre boats. The welcome was effusive, not quite flowers and pomagne but very pleasing.

Later in the day our ragged arsed boats were asked to move as the RYS race began to arrive : -)

They seemed ok, but I like a toff, it all adds to the mix. I wouldn't like to join and would be lousy company over supper; much prefer a pasty.

.
 

Resolution

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I don’t think so. Albert didn’t sail and the “grocer” in question was Sir Thomas Lipton, who was much too young and too poor when Albert was alive.

The usual version of this is attributed to Kaiser Wilhelm II - “My uncle is boating with his grocer” - alluding to the fact that King Edward VII really was a friend of Thomas Lipton and really did go sailing with him.

Things didn’t always go according to plan:

View attachment 99126

King Edward is on board in this picture as is Thomas Lipton. The King calmly asked if anyone had been hurt and on hearing that everyone was safe, he lit a cigar.
RVYC on the stern, if my eyesight is working. Would that be the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on the IoW?
 

Resolution

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I will never enter the RYS castle or step on its lawn, but the rather agreeable chap who bought my “ex” is a member, and she appears as the centerfold in their 200th anniversary publication.
Gosh, for a moment I thought you were referring to a previous wife. o_O
 

Kukri

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RVYC on the stern, if my eyesight is working. Would that be the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on the IoW?

I think it might be “RUYC” - the Royal Ulster Yacht Club - Sir Thomas was a member and issued his challenges in the name of the RUYC. I once dined there as a guest of a member ; they have a notably good Model Room, with models of his challengers and the defenders.
 
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flaming

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Many years ago I did a Cowes week as the Tac/Nav on an RYS member's yacht. It was quite an experience. The member in question was one of those people who absolutely personify the word "Gentleman". At the end of every race he would go round the whole crew thanking them individually and shaking their hand. He also paid for all of us to attend the squadron crew dinner, hosted by Prince Philip. Which was really quite an experience. And he also paid for all of us to attend the fireworks party at the Squadron. And the squadron lawn, whilst being handed glasses of Champagne, is the absolute best place to view the fireworks. Sadly the boat was wildly uncompetitive, but it was a fascinating one off way to experience Cowes in a totally different way.
I have absolutely no asperations to ever join the squadron, but that whole week definitely gave me a different perspective on the Squadron and their members than I had previously had.

Since then I've been in the castle to prize givings etc on a few occasions, and whilst the whole setup of the place is not to my taste it's hard not to be a little bit in awe of the history and the setting.
 

Kukri

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Three less known things about Lipton are that he was gay, that he was a man of very great personal charm, and that he really did love sailing, just as long as racing was involved. It is often said that he set out to win the America’s Cup, but came to realise that being a good loser was really, really, good for his business in the United States, a nation that he knew very well, having spent five years travelling around it and working at a range of jobs before he returned to Edinburgh and his parents’ shop, with which he went on to make his fortune.
 
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