1922 - 1972 The Royal Lymington Yacht Club Golden Anniversary
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The Great War: 1914-1918


The river in the 30s

The Shut-down:


The Lymington River Sailing Club closed down. Boom defences appeared in the Western Solent and Examination Vessels anchored off Yarmouth. Gun barrels sprouted from Fort Victoria and Hurst Castle. By the end of the year, Emden had closed the trade routes in the Indian Ocean and halted the troop convoys from Australia and New Zealand; von Spee had annihilated Cradock's squadron. Hopes of a swift victory faded. 1915 would not see the beginning again of sailing.

Berthon Boat Company:

The Berthon Boat Company was founded in Romsey in 1877 by the Rev. E. L. Berthon, a Peer of the Realm, a Member of Parliament, and an Officer in St. George's Volunteers; and by three solicitors, to build boats and "other floating machines". As well as punts, skiffs and other craft for the use of 19th Century sporting gentlemen, the yard also built the famous Berthon Collapsible Boats. These folding boats, built with a double skin and divided into six sections with an air space between the skins, were unsinkable and were widely used by the Navy as well as by pnvate yachtsmen throughout the world. In 1917, H. G. May bought the Berthon Boat Company and, the following year, the Lymington Shipyard, thus continuing in Lymington a long tradition of building wooden yachts.

After the Armistice:

"Peace is come and wars are over, Welcome you and welcome all." Alfred Edward Housman. There could be no greater healer for those who returned than the call of the Lymington estuary. Craft of all descriptions soon began to appear in the river. There was no organisation to channel the energies of the new boat owners, but Captain Harper was a zealous and busy Harbour Master. Paddling about the river in his duck punt, he would collect his 5/- annual harbour dues from the prams and a little more for the larger craft.