Early Yachting



Yachting; "the racing of Sight sailing boats" (O.E.D.) in its contemporary meaning, was probably first practised by the Essex fishermen who, to be first on the quay with their catch, raced homewards from the fishing grounds. No silver cup was their reward: to be first home was their livelihood.

King Charles II raced the Royal Yacht, in addition to his other accomplishments: but it was not until 1720 that the first yacht club was founded in Ireland - The Cork Harbour Water Club, now the Royal Cork Yacht Club. After the Yacht Club of Cowes (The Royal Yacht Squadron) had been founded three years before the Battle of Waterloo, clubs proliferated around the British Isles: by 1833, there were some thirty clubs between which were distributed over twelve hundred yachts. There is no record of Lymington being amongst these original clubs, though, by the end of Queen Victoria's reign, yachts were being based in the estuary. By 1914, yachts were moored in the river and Lymington Prams (later re-named, Scows) were being raced. The Prams cost £20 and were built by Dan Bran and the Berthon Boat Company.

The Lymington River Sailing Club was founded in the early days of 1914. There were eighteen members, the Captain of the Club being Captain H. H. Nicholson. The purpose of the Club was to race the Prams in weekly races between Ivlay 15th and August 15th. Before the Club's first Annual General Meeting was held, the world went mad. On August 4th, the Great War erupted.