Page:Yachting wrinkles; a practical and historical handbook of valuable information for the racing and cruising yachtsman (IA yachtingwrinkles00keneiala).pdf/295

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

along with him a sufficient "sea kit" for all the emergencies of the voyage. Certain social functions at Newport, for instance, will render evening clothes necessary, if not indispensable, to any yachtsman desiring to participate in the social gayeties of the Cowes of America. A "claw-hammer" coat is my pet abomination, and personally I would never "hoodoo" a racing yacht with any such luxurious superfluity. So strong is my antipathy to this garment of civilization that my will contains a special clause forbidding my undertaker to attire me for the grave in a so-called dress suit, as is sometimes the custom in this country.

But I am no prejudiced churl, and will willingly give the benefit of my experience to those who would not "feel at home" after sundown unless clad in the regulation society garb. Now a dress suit to look well must be kept free from damp, otherwise it will speedily mildew. The cabin of a little racer is always exposed to the danger of moisture, either in the form of rain or of spray. Sometimes a veritable "green sea" in an unguarded moment finds its way below, and then woe to the nautical dandy who has intrusted his shore toggery to the untender mercies of a leather portmanteau or dress-suit case! No self-respecting girl will dance with a young man whose evening clothes have been made unsightly by sea water, no matter how scarce the dancing