Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-11
BRITISH ROYAL YACHTS
KING EDWARD HAS REDUCED
THE FLoTILLA IN NUMBER
Some Of the Famous Pleasure Ships
Of Queen Victoria's
Reign.
From Golfers Weekly.

From Golfers Weekly.
Since his accession to the throne King
Edward has entirely remodeied the consti-
tuition of the Royal Yachts service. The
fiotilla has been reduced in number and
fresh rules put in force for the appoint
ment Of officers thereto. In Queen Vic
tortas time the vessels coming under this
designation were the Royal George launch
ed in 1910. the Elfin Launched in 1S+a), the
Victoria and Albert Launched in 1S55). the
Alberta Launched in 1898 and the Osborne
Launched in 1S7D. OF these the Alberta is
practically the only one remaining in COM
mission at the present date, for the others
have either already been broken up or are
on the point of being so. The Royal
George. however. is still afoat, although
degraded to employment a receiving
hulk in Portsmouth harbor When Queen
Victoria visited Scotland in 1912 1t in
this vessel that she made the voyage, be-
ing lowed along the coast by fleet of
paddle steamers.
The Osborne.
With regard to the Osborne there is
possibility of her being retained for further
use On this account she was sent into
dry-dock to undergo a thorough overhaul
ing. She is said to have been permeated
with dry rot and should. accordingly. have
her timbers bored. Commissioned just
thirty years ago, this vessel has ever
proved lamentable failsre. For example.
almost Immediately after she had been
launched her hull had to be entirely renew
ed. Since then, although a large sum has
been spent in keeping her In repair she has
never been fit for anything but very short
voyages in perfectly smooth water. Queen
Alexandra, however, has great affection
for the Osborne, having frequently sailed
in her. and prefers this yacht to any of
the others. For many years while he was
Prince of Wales. King Edward had almost
entire control Of the vessel, Queen Victoria
even giving him permission to nominate the
officers thereto.
A royal yacht that remained in use for
upward OF fifty years was the Elfin. This
was a small paddle boat OF ninety-three
tons displacement. She was never employed
for any very exalted purposes, however. her
services being chiefly utilized for conveying
servants and stores between the Isle of
Wight and Gosport. Queen Victoria's In
dian attendants. for example, always trav-
eled by her when their presence was re-
quired at Osborne. AS a small child, too.
King Edward made his first voyage in this
vessel. All that Is left of her nowadays has
been transferred to the new Victoria and
Albert. The relics In question consist of
silver bell, figurehead and a stern decora-
ton
Victoria and Albert.
Perhaps the most serviceable OF all the
royal yachts ever yet launched-for King
"oiu hc" NcSoel hdS Hol YET btell eh-
haustively tested-was the Victoria and AL
bert of 1855. She was Of singularly grace
full design and was, moreover, possessed of
excellent sea-going qualities. Indeed she
could make sixteen knots an hour with
ease. while. when necessary. she could i'm
prove on this In the upholstering and ar
ranging Of the state apartments on board
the late Prince Consort took the greatest
interest. The whole matter was given his
personal supervision, much of the furniture
being designed and chosen by himself AZ
ter forty-fve years continuous service
however. this fine vessel has been handed
over to the shipbreakers to be diismantled.
Considering her historic association-her
decks indeed. have been trodden by half
the monarchs in Europe within the past
quarter of century-it seems a pity that
arrangements could not even yet be made
to avert this
The only one of Queen Victoria'S royal
yachts to be retained for King Edwards
use is the Alberta. She is a packet boat Of
80 tons and is at present employed as a
tender to the new Victoria and Albert at
Portsmouth. Up till recently she acted as
sort of ferry between Gosport and Osborne
and was the vessel in which distinguished
visitors journeyed to the Isle of Wight
when the court was in residence there She
was fitted up with an almost Spartan-like
simplicity, in strong contrast to the lavish
ness prevailing in the other vessels used
Tor a similar purpose. Her future has not
yet been definitely settled: for while she is
not to be paid off, 1t has also been de-
termined that she shall not be again en-
ployed in her old capacity.