tonybarebones
Well-Known Member
HINTS TO THE NOVICE
Reproduced from Small yacht racing on the Solent written by “Thalassa” 1894
In a small craft, the owner is more his own master and frequently steers and sails his own boat. Corinthian hands can form all or a large portion of the crew. Ladies can take an active part and the sport is less costly and better fun than with large craft. There are more races, fouls and accidents are less dangerous and people can get home to dinner.
If a beginner wishes to learn the art of small-yacht racing, he cannot do better than start with a second-hand 1-rater, costing say from £50 to £80. Such a boat, if new would cost from £100 to £150.
The next step is to hire a good lad (sixteen or seventeen years old) for the crew, wages from 16/- to 20/- a week, and some racing money, say 5/- for a first and 2/ 6d for a second or third prize, no prize, no racing money.
It is a mistake to give racing money for losing. At present, it is only done by a few wealthy and thoughtless owners, who will soon ruin the sport unless the majority combines to put a stop to their extravagance.
Losing money is legitimate enough in the large racers, where the yachts make long passages by night and day in all weathers from regatta to regatta. By such crews the losing money is earned, but the crews of small Solent racers, who sleep comfortably at home in their beds, and often have little or nothing to do between races, should not get it.
The lad will ask for a suit of clothes, and if he seems likely to suit, the suit may be given on the distinct understanding that, should he leave the job voluntarily or on account of misbehavior, the clothes will be kept by the owner. The clothes are part of the equipment of the yacht, and belong to the owner, who should see that they are worn aboard, and not kept entirely for shore service. Nothing looks worse than a ramshackle, untidy fellow on a smart little yacht. Racing boats and crew should be as smart on the starting line as guns and gunners on parade.
The next point to settle is the headquarters for the little ship. This depends on so many personal considerations, that advice is impossible. Remember however, that a 1-rater requires a sheltered anchorage and that moorings keep mud off the decks and save time and bother.
Do not anchor for the night, or moor so small a boat as a 1-rater, off the pier at Southampton, off Hythe, at Calshot, (except up the creek), in Cowes harbour, (except up the river), off Ryde, off Southsea, in Yarmouth roads, or in Totland Bay. If you do so, you will wake some stormy morning to find her more or less damaged and possibly wrecked. The boy will have very strong opinions concerning the best place for moorings, don’t listen to him, fix on the place that suits yourself and your friends best.
Next decide where you want to go for the everlasting scrub, paint up, and frequent repairs. If on the Itchen, there are Fay &Co, Summers & Payne, and Field, close to the Floating Bridge to choose from. If on the Medina, either white, Ratsey, or Sibbick. If on the Hamble, there are Luke & Co. If in Portsmouth Harbour, Camper & Nicholson at Gosport, or Ried on the Portsmouth basin. If sails give out, repairs can be quickly done at a reasonable charge by Beaton, of Bugle Street, Southampton; but new sails for racing should be obtained from Ratsey at Cowes or Lapthorn at Gosport.
The boat must now be prepared for the racing and all ropes and gear carefully examined, her top sides and bottom carefully rubbed down, painted, and varnished, until everything is as fit as a fiddle and the bottom smooth as a bottle.
The next step to take is very interesting. Collect your lady friends and ask each of them to design a racing flag, paint each design full size and examine them simultaneously from a distance, say one cable at least. A flag should be easily distinguished at this distance in any weather. Two colours are generally sufficient. Black, or some dark colour, with white or yellow. If three colours are to be used, separate the red from the dark colours with white or yellow, employ strong contrasts. Remember that a simple design shows best and costs least. Also, remember that a flag with horizontal seams flies better than any other, except one with no seams at all. However small the boat, the racing flag should never be less than 10 inches wide by 8 inches deep. The winning flags may be smaller, say 6 or 7 inches square, for a ½ - or a 1-rater.
The day before the race give very distinct instructions to crew as to the time and place of meeting on the morrow and keep the appointment punctually. Provide yourself with a chronograph, and it may help you to win prizes by means of good starts. Get to the starting line half an hour before you start if you can and get a card of the races if one has not already reached you through the post . Read it carefully, and, should anything appear to be doubtful, have it cleared up by the racing officer, or by the club secretary. If other races start before you, do not get in the way of the starting boats.
One caution to the unwary. Some of the senior clubs are very proud of their ordnance, but racing boats of modern construction should give them clear berth, or the concussion may cause damage. One of the “cracks” had to proceed to the builder’s for repair soon after a race, at which the great artillerist, the hall porter of the Royal Yacht Club shook Cowes to its foundations. Certain it is, that some racing boats are now built far too light for safety if caught in a gale on the open sea.
Reproduced by Barbara Vaikla CBYC
Reproduced from Small yacht racing on the Solent written by “Thalassa” 1894
In a small craft, the owner is more his own master and frequently steers and sails his own boat. Corinthian hands can form all or a large portion of the crew. Ladies can take an active part and the sport is less costly and better fun than with large craft. There are more races, fouls and accidents are less dangerous and people can get home to dinner.
If a beginner wishes to learn the art of small-yacht racing, he cannot do better than start with a second-hand 1-rater, costing say from £50 to £80. Such a boat, if new would cost from £100 to £150.
The next step is to hire a good lad (sixteen or seventeen years old) for the crew, wages from 16/- to 20/- a week, and some racing money, say 5/- for a first and 2/ 6d for a second or third prize, no prize, no racing money.
It is a mistake to give racing money for losing. At present, it is only done by a few wealthy and thoughtless owners, who will soon ruin the sport unless the majority combines to put a stop to their extravagance.
Losing money is legitimate enough in the large racers, where the yachts make long passages by night and day in all weathers from regatta to regatta. By such crews the losing money is earned, but the crews of small Solent racers, who sleep comfortably at home in their beds, and often have little or nothing to do between races, should not get it.
The lad will ask for a suit of clothes, and if he seems likely to suit, the suit may be given on the distinct understanding that, should he leave the job voluntarily or on account of misbehavior, the clothes will be kept by the owner. The clothes are part of the equipment of the yacht, and belong to the owner, who should see that they are worn aboard, and not kept entirely for shore service. Nothing looks worse than a ramshackle, untidy fellow on a smart little yacht. Racing boats and crew should be as smart on the starting line as guns and gunners on parade.
The next point to settle is the headquarters for the little ship. This depends on so many personal considerations, that advice is impossible. Remember however, that a 1-rater requires a sheltered anchorage and that moorings keep mud off the decks and save time and bother.
Do not anchor for the night, or moor so small a boat as a 1-rater, off the pier at Southampton, off Hythe, at Calshot, (except up the creek), in Cowes harbour, (except up the river), off Ryde, off Southsea, in Yarmouth roads, or in Totland Bay. If you do so, you will wake some stormy morning to find her more or less damaged and possibly wrecked. The boy will have very strong opinions concerning the best place for moorings, don’t listen to him, fix on the place that suits yourself and your friends best.
Next decide where you want to go for the everlasting scrub, paint up, and frequent repairs. If on the Itchen, there are Fay &Co, Summers & Payne, and Field, close to the Floating Bridge to choose from. If on the Medina, either white, Ratsey, or Sibbick. If on the Hamble, there are Luke & Co. If in Portsmouth Harbour, Camper & Nicholson at Gosport, or Ried on the Portsmouth basin. If sails give out, repairs can be quickly done at a reasonable charge by Beaton, of Bugle Street, Southampton; but new sails for racing should be obtained from Ratsey at Cowes or Lapthorn at Gosport.
The boat must now be prepared for the racing and all ropes and gear carefully examined, her top sides and bottom carefully rubbed down, painted, and varnished, until everything is as fit as a fiddle and the bottom smooth as a bottle.
The next step to take is very interesting. Collect your lady friends and ask each of them to design a racing flag, paint each design full size and examine them simultaneously from a distance, say one cable at least. A flag should be easily distinguished at this distance in any weather. Two colours are generally sufficient. Black, or some dark colour, with white or yellow. If three colours are to be used, separate the red from the dark colours with white or yellow, employ strong contrasts. Remember that a simple design shows best and costs least. Also, remember that a flag with horizontal seams flies better than any other, except one with no seams at all. However small the boat, the racing flag should never be less than 10 inches wide by 8 inches deep. The winning flags may be smaller, say 6 or 7 inches square, for a ½ - or a 1-rater.
The day before the race give very distinct instructions to crew as to the time and place of meeting on the morrow and keep the appointment punctually. Provide yourself with a chronograph, and it may help you to win prizes by means of good starts. Get to the starting line half an hour before you start if you can and get a card of the races if one has not already reached you through the post . Read it carefully, and, should anything appear to be doubtful, have it cleared up by the racing officer, or by the club secretary. If other races start before you, do not get in the way of the starting boats.
One caution to the unwary. Some of the senior clubs are very proud of their ordnance, but racing boats of modern construction should give them clear berth, or the concussion may cause damage. One of the “cracks” had to proceed to the builder’s for repair soon after a race, at which the great artillerist, the hall porter of the Royal Yacht Club shook Cowes to its foundations. Certain it is, that some racing boats are now built far too light for safety if caught in a gale on the open sea.
Reproduced by Barbara Vaikla CBYC
