The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-30
ENGLISH YACHT CLUBS.
The Most Exclusive Is the Royal Yacht
Squadron At COwes.

There are forty-three yacht clubs in
Great Britain, most Of them established
at ports on the English coast.
Several important ones belong In Scot
land and Ireland, the oldest one Of them
all-the Royal Cork-having its head
quarters at Queenstown. This n was
founded in 1920.
The chief OF all the British clubs is the
Royal Yacht Squadron, founded in 1872.
with headquarters at Cowes. 1t is the
most exclusive institution in England,
no one, until quite recently, being ad-
mitted a member of it without the approval
Of King Edward.
When his Majesty was Prince of Wales
he oficiatsd as commodore, but on his
accession to the throne he r~elinquished
the position. The club, however, still
retains II character for exclusiveness, and
according to Bdily's Maya. inc, no candi-
date can hope to secure election unless
possessed Of considerable social influence.
The ballot is 80 severe hat the -pilling'
Of extremely we'll known sportsmen fire.
uuently takes place, much to the chagrin
Of their proposers. On one occasion a
certain royal parsonage is said to have
beer so annoyed at finding one OF his nom
inees blackballed that he promptly rendered
his own resignation.
Among those who nave belonged to the
club for at least thirty years are the Duke
Of Connaught, the Duke Of Fife and the
MARQUIS Of Ormonde. OF those who have
Joined more recently the best known are
perhaps the Earl of Dunraven and Marquis
of Zetland. The list Of yachts re registered
TO fv the squadron burgee includes such
universally famous ones as the Meteor,
beIon cling to the German Emperor; the
Sunbeam of Lord Brassey and the Valkyrie
of Lord Dunraven. On election all members
nav an entrance fee Of GlO5, while the annual
subscription is El6.
The Yacht club next in Importance il the
ROYAL Thames, established in 1928. The
membership (which ia limited TO I ,OOOl in
cludes the Emperor of Russia, the King
of the Belgians, the Prince Of Wales, Lord
Brassey and Sir Donald Currie.
The uniform Of the r. I. Y. c. is unique
In it's way. 1t consists OF a plain blue cloth
dress coat and white w~aistcoat, each with
special buttons, and either blue cloth or
white duck trousers, according TO the sea-
son. In undress a short blue jacket is worn
in place Of the tail coat.
The annual subscription is eight gulneas,
except in the case OF member owning
yachts of not less than nine tors, Thames
measurements. tut lntS5 ldJIST thC yearly
dues are reduced to six guineas.
Another old established yacht club is the
Royal Western Yacht Club Of England.
Membership is restricted to 500, and no one
can be electedif the ballot shows him to have
received one black ball against five White.
The clubhouse, which is at Plymouth,
contains a number Of valuable pictures
and souvenirs.
The Isle Of Wight being the chief yacht
ing centre in Great Britain, the Royal Vic
toria Yacht Club has its headquarters
appropriately enough at Ryde. 1t was
established at this port in ls44 for the en-
couragement Of yachting among gentlemen
owning property on the island.
BY It's cor stitution membership is still
confined to persons coming under this
heading. Admission to temporary mem
bership, however, may ne extended 10
yacht owners who belong to other recog-
nized clubs.
Although it was established at so COM
p%aratively recent a date as 1878, the Royal
Southampton Yacht Club is recognized as a
leader.
Membership is pen to both ladies and
gentlemen, the proportion Of the former
being large.