page_title: Partridge 1885
section_title: History of Partridge
hierarchical_section_title: Partridge 1885 / History of Partridge
caption_attribution_description: English: 1886 survey Partridge
context_page_description: Partridge is documented as being the world's oldest, still fully operational classic racing yacht.
context_section_description: "Partridge" was built in 1885 at the Camper and Nicholson boatyard in Gosport, Hampshire, England, 'the oldest leisure marine company in the world'. The company was originally a shipyard in Gosport, today Camper and Nicholson has become a yacht and marina management company.
  Partridge is recognised as a UK National Historic Ship and was designed by John Beavor-Webb and launched on 2 June by Miss Nora Lapthorn.  To put things into historical perspective, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor during the same month, on 17 June 1885.
  John Beavor-Webb began his career in England but worked in the US after the 1880s. In 1885, when Partridge was launched, his cutter Genesta competed in the America's Cup and he was working on the designs of a 90-ton cutter for a Lt. William Henn. Galatea (yacht) which also challenged for the America's Cup in 1886. There is every chance that at some stage the designs for these yachts will have been together on the designer's drawing board. Their elegant lines, size apart, are very similar.
  Nora Lapthorn was the daughter of Edwin Lapthorn who was in charge of the Ratsey and Lapthorn sail loft in Gosport at the time. Edwin Lapthorn's Mother's name was Mary Partridge. Partridge was typical of the many Victorian yachts that were popular at the time and would have been used primarily for cruising and occasional amateur yacht racing.
  She was built to Lloyds 100A1 and subsequently appeared in the Lloyds register up until 1923. Her original first entry certificate and survey report, including a midship section drawing, are to this day still in the Lloyds archives in London. Unfortunately, virtually all other records of her were destroyed during the Second World War during bombing raids; in particular Camper and Nicholson's and Ratsey and Lapthorn lost many plans. Beken of Cowes have a photograph of her sister ship, Polyanthus, rigged as a yawl and built a year earlier.
  Lloyd's Register has Partridge on its records until 1923 during which period, she had three name changes. These were: 1886 name changed to Rupee, 1889 name changed to Pollie
   and 1921 name changed to Tanagra. Her last entry in 1923 states that she was sold to a Belgian and converted to a houseboat. Hunt's Yachting magazine reports from a race held by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club on 17 July 1886: "in a steady south-westerly breeze the race produced capital competition". Yachts were to be steered by bona fide amateurs and only regular crew were allowed. First prize was £10, second £5 and third £3. The entries were: Minnow, 10 tons; Tiger, 11 tons; Mackerel, 18 tons and Partridge (now in fact named Rupee), 18 tons. All tonnages given are Thames tonnages. The start was at 1030 am and the course three times round via a mark off Brixham. Partridge was away first with Mackerel second and Tiger third. This order was maintained throughout and therefore Partridge won the £10 first prize.
  The Field, in which Dixon Kemp (British naval architect, founder of the Yacht Racing Association today known the Royal Yachting Association) and founder of The Lloyd's Register of Yachts) wrote a yachting column,  mentions Partridge as she sailed up and down the south coast of England to the various regattas and anchorages. Her launch was recorded: "Yacht launch at Gosport: On Tuesday 2nd June 1885 the new 18 ton cruising cutter Partridge, built to the order of Mr J.H. Baillie, was successfully launched from the yard of Messrs. Camper and Nicholson of Gosport. The yacht was designed by J.B. Webb and is a sister to Polyanthus, built last year by the same firm for R.H. Baillie. The christening ceremony was performed by Miss Nora Lapthorn". Then later an entry states: "Gosport, June 8th. Polyanthus cruising yawl, Mr R.H. Baillie, for Weymouth. Yachts fitting out: Partridge, cutter, Mr J.H. Baillie". And a few months later: "April 17th 1886: Gosport, the cutter Rupee, Mr C.P. Henderson, jun., will be put afloat". And 24 April: "The Rupee, cutter, was launched off Messrs. Camper and Nicholson’s upper slip on Thursday". Rupee then sailed to Torquay and was repor
caption: Partridge/ Rupee's 1886 Survey from Lloyd's Register
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