The Development of Yachting Since the War.—Owing to the increased cost of the sport, the progress of yachting from 1919 until the present time has been gradual. For a few years class racing for new yachts under the international rule has been chiefly confined to the smaller classes of 12 metres and under. A 6-metre yacht built in 1914 cost about 1500, and in 1928 she cost about ii,i00. The 75-foot or 23-metre "White Heather" and "Shamrock," built in 1907 and 1908, cost about £9,000 or £9,500. The new 23-metre yachts "Astra" and "Cambria," built in 1928, cost between £24,000 and £25,000. It is, therefore, not a matter for surprise that yachtsmen now cruise and race in yachts of smaller tonnage than in former times. Notwithstanding the cost of building, an enormous number of racing yachts have been built to the second international rule from 1920 to 1928, as is shown by the following table : These yachts have been built in Great Britain, Scandinavia, America, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Spain. The British 23-metres (built in 1928) are the "Astra," built by Nicholson for Sir Mortimer Singer, and the "Cambria," by Fife, for Sir William Berry. The most famous i2-metres have been the "Vanity," built by Fife for J. R. Payne, and the "Norisca," built by Johan Anker at Oslo.
Great contests for the British-American Cup were sailed in the years 1921-22, —23 and –24 between "teams" of British and Amer ican 6-metre yachts. Each country was represented by four selected yachts to form its team. Two contests were sailed in America and two in Britain, and the British won the rubber after many exciting and close races. William Fife the Scottish designer showed his superiority with "Polly," "Reg," "Betty" and "Zenith," and Frederick Stephen, another eminent Scottish yachtsman, de signed and built his own yacht, "Coils III.," and competed with great success in these sporting races. Under the second inter national rule, however, no individual country has carried off the palm. Norway, Sweden and America have shared the honours with Britain. For the first time in the history of yachting it ap pears that yacht designers are unable to make certain of defeating an old yacht, under the rules, with a new vessel.
The King's Yacht "Britannia."—Encouragement has been given to the pastime of yacht racing since the war by the King's taking the lead in the sport in British waters and re-fitting the old cutter "Britannia" for racing. This yacht, designed by G. L. Watson, and built in the year 1893 has a hull form very similar to that fostered and developed by the new rating rules of 1920. The chief difference between the "Britannia's" hull form and that of modern yachts being that the latter have greater free board, and are consequently able to develop higher speed when pressed by fresh wind. The form of modern yachts is also some what more elongated and more easily driven in light winds. Nevertheless, with the aid of a small handicap allowance in her favour, the "Britannia" has been raced with much success from 1920 to 1928. She is of larger tonnage than "Astra," "Cambria," "Shamrock," "White Heather," "Lulworth" or "Nyria," and she has been re-rigged with stronger and more substantial gear than most of her newer opponents. Consequently, although not so fast for her size, she has often won many races on her merits in the heavy weather which occurs during the summer round the British coast. The King has personally won many famous races with "Britannia" against the modern yachts, in what is known by sailors as "Britannia's weather." The "Britannia" has thus had two distinct careers. First, from 1893 to 1897, and second, from 1920. No other vessel in the world has won so many prizes or
The Speed of Sailing Yachts.—It may be said that the speed of sailing yachts of normal dimensions varies according to the square root of their length. In judging the speed of modern yachts a comparison thereof is usually made through the "rating measurement." A yacht of 20-metres or 65.6 rating length, in a strong wind can maintain a maximum speed of about 12 knots. The time allowance in seconds per mile between yachts of different "sizes," "ratings" or "lengths," is usually found by the formula : where R is the rating length of the large yacht and r that of the smaller yacht.
It is interesting to recall some old records of speed over courses inside the Isle of Wight.
The First Contest for the America's Cup.—The international trophy was originally a cup given by the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes, Isle of Wight, on Aug. 22, 1851, for a race open to all yachts, with no time allowance of any kind, the course being "round the Isle of Wight, inside the No Man's buoy and Sand Head buoy and outside the Nab." Fifteen vessels took up their stations off Cowes and started from moorings. In the table fol lowing are the names of the competitors.
The fleet started at so o'clock. Abreast of Ventnor the American schooner was a mile ahead of "Aurora," which was the last British craft to keep her in sight in a thick haze that blew up from the south-west late in the afternoon. At the Needles the wind dropped until it was very light, and the "America" was then some 6 m. ahead of "Aurora," the time being about 6 P.M. The finish was :— The "America" was built at New York by the firm of George and James R. Steers for the special purpose of competing with British yachts. The principal dimensions of the "America" were: tonnage 171; length over all 94 ft.; on the keel 82 ft.; beam 22 ft. 6 in. ; foremast 79 ft. 6 in. ; mainmast 81 ft. (with a rake of 2; in. to the foot in each mast) ; hollow 17 ft. out board only; foregaff 24 ft.; maingaff 28 ft.; mainboom 56 ft. She was ballasted with pig-iron; 21 tons of the iron were per manently built into the vessel and the rest stowed inside. Below deck she was comfortably fitted for the living accommodation of the owner, guests and crew, and a cockpit on deck was a feature that few English yachts of the period possessed.
The cup won at Cowes by the "America," although not originally intended as a challenge cup, was afterwards given to the New York Yacht club by the owner of the "America" as a challenge trophy and named the "America's cup." In 1887 the sole surviving owner of the cup, George L. S. Schuyler, attached to the trophy a deed of gift which sets forth the conditions under which all races for the cup must take place. In brief the conditions are : (I) That the races must be between one yacht built in the country of the challenging club and one yacht built in the country of the club holding the cup. (2) That the size of the yachts, if of one mast, must be not less than 65 ft. L.W.L. and not more than 90 ft. L.W.L. If of two-masted rig not less than 8o ft. L.W.L. and not more than 115 ft. L.W.L. (3) The challenging club must give ten months' notice of the race, and accompanying the challenge must be sent the name, rig and the following dimensions: length L.W.L. ; beam and draught of water of the challenging vessel (which dimensions shall not be exceeded), and as soon as possible a custom-house registry of the vessel. (4) The vessel must pro ceed under sail on her own bottom to the place where the contest is to take place. For results of subsequent contests see table, p. 87o.