Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-11-14
ORIGIN OF YACHTING.
CHANGES IN THE CONSTRUCTION or
VESSELS IN 900 YEARS.

VESSELS IN 800 YEARS.
nvolutIOn In the Popularity Of the sport.
The First international Race was ne
tween Engiish and Dutoh vessels.
Charles II Among the Earliest Patrons.
The term yacht" is derived from the
Danish word "jaght," meaning a chasel
hence yachting is the chasing Of one yes
sol after another, and accordingly yacht
ing and yacht racing are synonymous
expressions.
A yacht Is and always has been essen
TALLY q pleasure craft, but in the early
days no yacht Of any size existed. Thus
we fnd q writer in 17O8 referring TO a
yacht as - small ship built for sviftnoss
and pleasure rather than for merchana
disc or warlike service" History does
not tell as where, when OF under what
circumstances yachts were first built,
but It IL certain they arc of ancient ORR
gin and were only owned by royal per
sons and great mobiles. The latter fact
receives corroboration from an ancient
but carefully compiled dictionary Of sim
gular words, where yacht is described
as 90 pleasure craft of not more than
100 tons for the kings use."
The earliest mention Of 3 yacht In this
country was as far back as the Anglo
Saxon period, when King Athelstan re.
ceived from the king of Norway pres
ent Of magnificent state barge, rugged
with purple sails and decorated with
wrought gold. Queen Elizabeth, we
know, frequently used a state barge,
and 30 have successive sovereigns TO this
day. It Is curious to relate, and goes
far 70 show tho primitive nature Of our
early resources, that while foreigners
were able to build yachts their example
was not followed In this country till
1888, when the frst English yacht was
constructed at Cowes and launched
from that port.
But while 1888 may be hxed as the
commencement Of yacht building in
England, it cannot be said that during
the next half century much progress was
made with the newly acquired industry.
Indeed, had it not been for Charles II,
It is probable that the trade would not
have been established for some time to
come. King Charles, however, was very
fond Of sailing, and the Dutch East India
company, with the view Of gaining royal
favor, presented him with a small slooI
rugged vessel. The advent Of the foreign
built vessel evidently stimulated native
talent, as we find Evelyn, in his diary Of
Oct. 1, 1861, writing, 81 sailed this morn
ing with his majesty in one of his yachts ol
pleasure boats, vessels not known among
us till the Dutch East India company
presented hatcurious piece tothe king.
But the king was not only yachtsman
he was also q designer, and drew thu
lines Of the Jamie, 25 tonner, built al
Lambeth, and raced her against the Be
San, small Dutch built vessel belong
ing to the Duke Of York.
The course was from Greenwich Il
Gravesend and back and the prize e100
which was won by the Bezan. AS the
ships were designed and constructed il
different countries the race may fairly
claim to have possessed an internationa
character, while from the fact that the
royal owners steered their own boats 4
was clearly an amateur match. Unfor
tunately with the death OF Charles 4
came another lull In the history Of yacht
ing, and it was not till early in the eight
eenth century that any real revival tool
place. During this long interval, how
ever, yachting had gradually become {
more democratic amusement, and the
sport of kings had descended to the leVe
Of commoners. Cork harbor became Z
favorite yachting ground and during
the summer months was crowded will
dininutive pleasure vessels. Indeed, 81
popular did the sport become that in 112I
the Cork HarboR Water club was formeI
to encourage yacht racing. The club ul
timately developed into what Is now th'
Royal Cork Yacht club. Here, then, vi
have the first authentic attempt at organ
iEstion Ia the yachting world.
A few years later the sport came int,
favor In the south Of England, and Matt
land, In his History Of London" (1T80)
refers 10 sailing IS one Of the amuse
ments TO be met with on the rive
Thames, while later still Qe01) Strut
In his well known work on sports Rnt
Pastimes," mentions the existence Of I
society consisting Of certain gentlemen
who gave a silver cup TO be sailed TO
annually in the vicinity of London. To
ward the close Of the eighteenth centur-
Cowes became the favorite resort o
yacht racing, but still the contendinl
vessels were Of small size, none beinl
over 80 tons. II was not until the foun
dAtion Of the yacht club, afterwaFd th
Royal Yacht club and now the world re
nOwned Royal Yacht squadron, tina
yachting in this country may fairly b
said TO have established itself as q na
tionRl sport, and even then Qe12) th
number Of yachts ahoat only reached %
all told. But from this time the popu
laTity Of yachting rapidly grew, and olu'
after club followed In quick succession
London TimeA