British Ocean Racing

British Ocean Racing

Description

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 14 juillet 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781528763431
• Langue: English

Extrait

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