The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-09-10 00:00:00

THE MERSEY YACHT CLUB.

The monthly meeting of the members of this new and
rapidly-rising club was held on Tuesday evening last, at
the club-room, Mersey Hotel, and was well attended,—
the COMMODORE in the chair.

The secretary. Mr. H. Melling, read the minutes of the
previous meeting, and they were confirmed. A number
of new members were ballotted for, and were all unani-
mously elected. The Commodore then read the names
of thirty-one gentlemen for nomination, proposed either
by themselves, or by members, including several noble-
men, and other distinguished individuals ; also several
yacht-owners and others, who from their experience and
love of the art of fine sailing and building, will be a great
acquisition to the club. It was also announced that seve-
ral new vessels were in course of building, to join the pre-
sent fleet, which, already, in our river alone, numbers
about twelve fine yachts.
The SECRETARY read a letter from Lord Francis
Egerton, M.P., in which his lordship states, in the hand-
somest terms, that he will accept the office of Patron
of the Club. His lordship's offer was very cordially re-
ceived, and the Secretary was instructed to convey to him
the thanks of the meeting for his prompt and friendly
attention to the invitation transmitted to him. Letters
were then read from Lord Sandon and Sir H. Douglas,
our borough members, expressing their warmest wishes
for the success of the club, and the pleasure they felt in
becoming members of a society the objects of which were
so truly national and important.
A code of sailing regulations, which had previously
been carefully prepared by a committee, was read and
approved. The closing day of the present, season was
next fixed for the 20th instant, on which occasion the
yachts now " in commission " will make a trip down the
river, and probably to the outer lightship and back, start-
ing from the Rock Ferry.
A number of very beautiful models of cutter yachts
were then exhibited to the meeting by their talented and
scientific constructor, Mr. Edward Melling, Professor of
Naval Architecture at the Collegiate Institution in this
town, and builder of the ship " William Sharpies," and
other very fast vessels of this port and others. They are
all built from drafts as fine as engravings, after the most

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approved principles hitherto known or suggested,—the
grand desideratum being that the vessels so constructed
should carry the greatest possible quantity of sail with
the least possible displacement, so as to ensure the utmost
weatherliness and speed. Although, on a cursory view,
these models appear to be nearly similar in form, they
will be found to be all very different in various points, as
suited to the proposed tonnage of each. They range from
8 tons to 35, within which respective burthens, it is con-
sidered by experienced yachtmen, they would be best
suited for pleasure or experiment in the waters of our
river and estuary. It should be remarked, however, that
this proposition does not exclude contests at the annual
races of the Club between vessels of a larger burthen, as
on each sailing day, besides the Club sailing matches, a
challenge cup will be given for an open race, in which
yachts of a larger tonnage may compete.
A vote of thanks was passed to the Secretary, and other
officers and members, who had by their exertions brought
the Club thus early to its present gratifying state of ad-
vancement. Thanks were also heartily awarded to Mr.
E. Melling for the pains and trouble he had taken in
producing the models alluded to, for the encouragement
and assistance of gentlemen who may determine to build.
The Club now numbers upwards of seventy members, and
as we doubt not but it will ere long be considered an ho-
nour to have been amongst the first to promote it, we
would counsel all gentlemen who purpose to join it to
make early application to the Secretary.
The models above alluded to, and also a model of a
larger one, of 52 tons burthen, " a regular out. and-out
clipper," may be seen at the office of this paper, as may
also the beautiful drawings from which they were re-
spectively built.