British Ocean Racing , livre ebook

BRITISH
OCEAN RACING
By
DOUGLAS PHILLIPS-BIRT
A.M.R.I.N.A.
With an introduction by the Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club
PLATE 1
Jolie Brise . The famous cutter owned first by George Martin, the first Commodore of the R.O.R.C. and later by Bobby Somerset, who was Commodore in 1951-52. Designed and built in France by Paumelle. L.W.L. 48 ft., beam 15 ft. 9 in., draught 10 ft. 2 in., sail area 2,400 sq. ft. Photo: Beken, Cowes .
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. THE IDEA
Notices of the Ocean race in the Press-The Ocean Race Committee-The Royal Cruising Club and the amateur spirit-Speed under sail-Smugglers and revenue cutters-Baltimore clippers and the clipper ship era-The American obsession with fast ships-Alice crosses the Atlantic-The race of Henrietta, Fleetwing, and Vesta-The loss of six hands-Is ocean racing dangerous?-The Transatlantic race of 1870-Two hands lost off the bowsprit-Comparison of Cambria s performance in 1870 and Dorade s in 1931-Another Transatlantic race in 1887- Colly Colt and the modern spirit in offshore racing-The Kaiser s Cup race and Atlantic s record crossing-Comparison of Atlantic in a gale in 1905 and the J-class Yankee in 1935 .
2. BERMUDA AND HONOLULU
The Bermuda and Fastnet, two founder events-Thomas Fleming Day s belief in the seagoing ability of small yachts-The first offshore race in 1904 organized by him-His initiation of the Bermuda race and the general disapproval of it-The only partial success of the first Bermuda-The first race to Honolulu in the same year-The pre-1914 series of Bermudas-Day s disapproval of the Bermudian rig-Declining interest in Bermuda races-Their failure after 1911-The renewed interest in offshore racing after World War I-Why should this have been?-The Cruising Club of America founded, and offshore racing not among its interests-The circular for the first post-war Bermuda-The large entry-The delights of the Pacific compared with the North Sea and Channel-The pre-war series of Honolulu races and the large yachts involved-Revival in 1923-Still no ocean racing in Britain but the Royal Cruising Club preparing the way for it-Claud Worth .
3. OCEAN RACE COMMITTEE AND OCEAN RACING CLUB
Weston Martyr s account of the origin of British ocean racing-Pipe dreams that came true-Arguments about the course to be used-The nature of the Fastnet course-Public criticisms of the Ocean race-Sail carrying at night, then and now-The first safety regulations-H. R. Barrett-The first Fastnet race-The fleet-Good and bad conditions-An enthusiastic letter from Ireland-The Ocean Race Committee becomes the Ocean Racing Club-Its rules-Officers and Committee-More discussions about the course-The Fastnet retained-The second Fastnet-Log of Saladin-Light winds in the Channel-Then heavier winds-Hallowe en in trouble, and Gull too .
4. YACHTS AND FASTNETS
1927 and a classic Fastnet-Fifteen enter and two finish-The past and the present-Lord Stalbridge s account of the race-Tally Ho and La Goleta fight it out alone-Introduction of the Channel race and the bigger size limit for the Fastnet-Working boat cruising yachts-American working craft the better models on which to base ocean cruisers-The development of the semi-fisherman type-Descriptions of the yachts in the first Fastnet-Jolie Brise-E. G. Martin s beliefs and criticisms of the semi-fisherman type-Ocean cruisers and ocean racers-Lack of reserve buoyancy-Fulmar s demonstration of the old type s longevity-Yachts in the second Fastnet-Faults in rig at that period-Hallowe en and the attitude of seagoing yachtsmen to the Bermudian rig-The faults of the rig at that time-The semi-fisherman type comes to England for the third Fastnet-The old tradition in design passing through its last stage .
5. FASTNETS, CHANNEL RACES, AND SPAIN
A good entry for the 1928 Fastnet-Nina-Lassie and Ilex lose topmasts-Nina loses chronometer time and her taffrail log-Her outstanding victory-Features of this unusual yacht-The pure offshore racer-British criticisms of Nina and the ill-feelings they caused-American entries in the Fastnet-Sherman Hoyt s letter justifying Nina-Dangers of a rift between British and American offshore yachtsmen-Sherman Hoyt made Rear-Commodore of the Ocean Racing Club-Maitenes II sails in the 1929 Fastnet-The roll call of the regulars-Light airs, and Jolie Brise wins for the second time-The 1930 race almost as bad as that of 1927-Four boats complete the course-Surf riding-Spica s record-The results of casual steering-Lady Maud wins the Channel race-The second Channel race postponed owing to gale-Spica alone finishes-A change in the course-The first Santander race-Money and Royal munificence-The big yachts and H.M.S. Royal Oak-A quiet race-Ilex s trophy and where to put it-The second Santander in 1930-Troubles in the Bay .
6. FROM OCEAN RACING CLUB TO ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB
Hostility to ocean racing persists-Daily Telegraph articles- . . . the dullest company even in a second-rate cruisers match . . . -The new attitude to sailing-Small membership and little money in 1929-Rating systems and the O.R.C. rule-Early systems of time allowance-The rating formula and early modifications in it-Depth and displacement and the length measurement-Possibilities of a common rule between Britain and the U.S.A.-The new types of offshore yacht-Rosemary and Maitenes II-The bad Bermudian rigs of the period-The Royal Warrant received-Crown and seahorse .
7. FASTNET-1931-1939
1931 the largest Fastnet entry up to this date-Notable features of the race-Light winds-Conditions become harder-A fast passage home for leading yachts-A close finish-Then a gale for the rest of the fleet-The Fastnet becomes biennial-Six boats and only three British in 1933-A light weather race-Dorade wins again-Apparently the swan song of the Fastnet-Press criticisms-Followed two years later by the most successful Fastnet yet to be sailed-The light weather start-More wind and a beat to the Rock-The performance of Stormy Weather-Olin and Rod Stephens-A bigger Fastnet entry still in 1937, and nineteen British boats-The betting odds-Mainly light winds-Calms at the finish-The last Fastnet before the war and the end of the first series after eleven races-Ocean racing firmly established-Press tributes .
8. THE OCEAN RACING YACHT BECOMES ESTABLISHED
Achievements in yacht architecture still slight by 1931-The American influence-Dorade and her success-Her hull and rig-The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club s designing competition-A study of the designs submitted-Matters of rig-Mast positions and fore-triangles-Olin Stephens and the influence of Stormy Weather, Zeearend, and Trenchemer-Bloodhound-Charles Nicholson and the young men-Maid of Malham and Ortac-John Illingworth and the foretriangles-The unsatisfactory state of the scantling rule-Its modification .
9. MAINLY TRANSATLANTIC AND BERMUDA
Ocean racing highlights-Jolie Brise goes to America-She wins her class for fisherman type yachts-The first amateur ocean race-No British yachts appear for it-The great Transatlantic race of 1931-Maitenes II and Ilex-The northerly route and the southerly-Low speeds and high-Ilex celebrates-The duel between Landfall and Highland Light-Why the race was notable-Jolie Brise, Bobby Somerset, a rescue, and a Blue Water medal-Yet more about Jolie Brise and Nina-A Transatlantic race to Norway-Tragedy-A mainly German Transatlantic race-Latifa, the Bermuda of 1938, and genuine ill-luck .
10. FROM PEACE TO WAR
The last summer-Complications with the Germans-The membership and fleet in 1939-A shortage of crockery-Olympic Games ruling-Fifteen years of racing reviewed-The return, thanks to offshore racing and the rating rule, of the seagoing racing yacht-War and the clubhouse-The policy in regard to the clubhouse-First wartime activities-The extension of honorary memberships-The clubhouse bombed-Hospitality of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, and then a new clubhouse-20 St. James s Place opened by H.M. King Hakon of Norway-The First Lord of the Admiralty and guests at Annual Dinner-Designing competitions for prisoners of war-Peace in sight and a questionnaire to members-Members views on the revival of racing in 1945 and 1946 .
11. THE RETURN TO OFFSHORE
The first post-war race-The Bermuda race and Latifa-The clubhouse again-Holes in floors and roofs-The secretaryship-The Secretary a managing director-Colonel H. G. Hasler and light displacement-A description of Tre Sang-The rule still apparently watertight-Adlard Coles and light displacement-The revolution of the Myth of Malham-The lessons she offered in yacht architecture-The rule cheater-Further developments in light displacement, and its limitations-The R.N.S.A. Twenty-fours and the influence of John Illingworth-Blue Disa and the Rio de Janeiro race-The more normal types-Mindy-Eilun-The rule of rating revised .
12. FASTNETS-1947-1957
The Fastnet story re-opens-No American yacht appears in 1947-Nevertheless a large and international fleet-A light weather race-The thirteenth Fastnet more in the traditional manner-The fleet-Initial casualties-John Illingworth and his navigator talk-The gale and further casualties-Light winds for the tail-Description by Ian Rutherford-A depressing prospect two years later-A rough start and again the Needles Channel takes its toll-The other mishaps-Circe and Bloodhound meet at the Rock and Jocasta hits it-The reach to the Bishop-The achievements of Zeevalk, Yeoman and St. Barbara-Class III in the Fastnet for the first time-A quiet race-Regatta sailing round the Rock-A five second lead after sailing 605 miles-The sixteenth Fastnet-The largest fleet ever-Honours to America-Good sailing and later fickle winds-1957 and forty-one entries; also hard winds-Twenty-four boats retire-Some experiences among the survivors-Boat-against-boat