CHAPTER VIII
YACHTING UNDER THE FOUR GEORGES
The Bolton—Princess Augusta—First Sailing Match on the Thames—The cutter rig—The Swift and Nimble—The ketch and lugger rigs of France—Purchase of American schooners for the British Navy—The Chebucco boats—Thames rowing races—The Lord Mayor's aquatic procession to Westminster—The yacht Catherine—Cork Harbor Water Club—Its complete sailing orders.
IT is much to be regretted that Pepys and Evelyn left no successors in the art of recording every-day events of interest at the time of their occurrence, else we should know far more of yachting history in England during the eighteenth century than is now possible. In Charles II. we miss a kingly patron of yachting in Great Britain. And one does not appear again until more than a century has elapsed,—King William IV. At his own request, on July 4, 1833, he became the patron of "The Royal Yacht Squadron," and to it he gave its name. This name the renowned club still bears. However, despite the absence of royal favor, and though the records are scanty, there was, as we shall presently see, a good deal of yachting in Great Britain during the eighteenth century. For, once established, yachting is a sport so congenial to the English-speaking race, it is probable it will continue always. And while racing has become the prominent feature of yachting, to the true
161
