The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-07-23 00:00:00

INTENDED MERSEY YACHT CLUB.

We learn that it is the intention of the yachtmen on
our river, and other gentlemen favourable to, and inter-
ested in, nautical affairs and improvements, to establish a
Yacht Club on the Mersey, something similar to that on
the Thames, for the purpose of promoting yacht-sailing
and yacht-building. The Thames Yacht Club, which
may be considered the parent of the river clubs, has, from
a small beginning, risen to its present important position,
and is now a source of great pleasure and gratification to
the original promoters as well as to the vast numbers con-
nected with the institution—so fully have their exertions
been crowned with success. There all parties unite in
one social feeling to further the object of the society.
It is to be hoped that a similar institution for the same
purpose, and conducted on the same principles, (which
have for many years stood the test of experience,) will
meet with due encourag.ement from the pubic spirit of the
second great sea-port in the world. We have already
many fine yachts on our river, sufficient to form into a
club; and, no doubt, when this society once gets to work
in a properly organized manner, other parties will be in-
duced to build, so that we may soon see a fine "fleet" to
contend for the prizes given by the club. There are many
beautiful little craft on the Thames of about ten tons bur-
then (and even under), and these, together with the yachts
of larger tonnage, afford excellent, healthful, and, we may
add, safe recreation to the admirers of yacht-sailing. We
hope soon to see a few of the former size added to the pre-
sent number of our large vessels of that cla,s, which h,..ve
already become an ornament to our noble river.
Those gentlemen who have yachts on the river will, we
trust, unite to promote the undertaking, as without their
aid, and the due enforcement of proper regulations, the
public generally cannot be expected to give the society
their support.
It has been acknowledged in both houses of parliament
that the naval and mercantile interests of this country are
much indebted to the yachtmen of England for the expe-
riments they have made, and the improvements they have
effected, in the building, general construction, and ma-
nagement of their vessels, with a view to swift sailing ;
and so well aware is the government of this fact, that,
with allrhe immediate oppor tutritieswithin theirown reach,
they have given, as a further means of promoting the
naval greatness of our country, the most fostering encou-
ragement to the fine science of yacht-sailing.
No country c an furnish so large a flea of vessels of this
description as Great Britain, and this alone is truly cha-
racteriAic of a nation possessing the greatest " naval"
and maritime resources in the world. Her yachts only
—vessels merely used for swift sailing and pleasure on
our rivers, estuaries, and coasts—would, if all combined,
form a very powerful fleet, well entitled to be dignified by
the name of " squadron." The recreation itself is highly
national, manly, and healthful, and, moreover, beneficial
in keeping up the spirit of our youth who aspire to be the
defenders, on that element so especially subject to our en-
terprise, of our national honour and integrity.
We understand that the funds of the club about to be
instituted are, after paying the current expenses, to be ap-
propriated to the purchase of cups and other prizes, to be
sailed for in matches by the yachts cla-sed within a stated
tonnage. And as order and regularity are the main-stay
of such a society, we doubt not but that when we have a
well organised club belonging to our river, the officers ap-
pointed will be enabled to make such arrangements and
regulations for sailing and (should their patronage he re-
quested) rowing matches, as shall effectually prevent the
recurrence of those accidents that unhappily sometimes
attend aquatic sports, and throw a damp upon those in-
vigorating recreations. From what we can learn their
motto will be " stout vessels and stout hearts," and they
will discourage all adventures on our somewhat perilous
river or offing, that may by possibility involve a loss of
human life.

As in the Thames Club, they purpose to solicit the sup-
port—by a small annual subscription only—of their towns-
men at large, and while they hope to receive the encou-
ragement of the wealthy, and especially of our " merchant
princes" and ship-owners, they will receive with equal
cordiality and respect the names and contributions of the
middle classes who may be favourable to the object they
have in view, which it is not too much to assume is not
only blameless but patriotic.