Starts (V)
First. Second. Third. Prizes. 33 17 5 22 43 IO 12 I 23 23 8 6 14 40 4 5 9 5 جہ In the year 1900 the sport of yacht racing fell upon evil days, for, with many of our prominent yachtsmen fighting for their country in the Transvaal, big class racing practically ceased to exist. This was particularly unfortunate in view of the fact that two first-class racing vessels were on the stocks. One was the cutter "Distant Shore," designed by Watson for Mr. C. Day Rose, and the other the big yawl "Sybarita," also designed by Watson, for Mr. Whittaker Wright. But, "Distant Shore" was ready to take the water, Mr. Rose was bereft of his two sons, who lost their lives in the war, and the cutter was not launched. "Sybarita" was a handsome yawl of much the same size as "Meteor." Although some eighteen inches longer on the water-line, the new vessel had less beam than "Meteor," and rather less sail. ere The season was well advanced when "Sybarita " made her appearance, and, as there were no competitors for her in British waters, she went off to Kiel to try conclusions with "Meteor." In the first match the new yawl met with a mishap to her gear, and in the second was beaten by "Meteor" by two minutes. Then "Sybarita" found her form, and won four races off the reel with considerable ease. In light breezes the German Emperor's yawl was no match for the new Watson production, but the weather conditions did not afford a test of their relative merits in a hard wind. a After her return to England "Sybarita" had a couple of sails over, and a match with "Khama" which concluded the season so far as first-class racing was concerned. 66 The only new "forty" was the Fife-designed "Khama," built for Mr. Kenneth M. Clark, but ere she was launched the class had fizzled out, and, like Sybarita," she was left without an opponent. "Khama" was 5 in. longer, and had 3 in. more beam than "Senta," and a more lofty sail plan, but in appearance she suffered in comparison with her elder sister. "Khama's" racing was practically confined to the handicap class, and, competing against such smart vessels as Brynhild," "Maid Marian" (ex "Yarana"), Creole," "Caress," "Vendetta," &c., she only succeeded in winning two first prizes. 66 66 The following year Mr. Kenneth M. Clark bought the big cutter "Distant Shore" from Mr.
Rose, and renamed her "Kariad." She was a vessel of much the same size as "Britannia," to which she bore a strong family likeness, but had a good deal less beam. As in 1900, Mr. Clark found himself in the unsatisfactory position of owning a new yacht with practically nothing to sail against, and her season's racing consisted of a few matches on the Clyde with the America Cup boat "Shamrock II.," Sybarita," and Meteor," and an occasional trial with the 65footers "Tutty" and "Nevada" under Y.R.A. time allowance. 66 The event of the year was the historic match between "Kariad" and "Sybarita," sailed in a gale from Rothesay round Ailsa Craig and return. It was a private match for a stake of "SYBARITA. five hundred guineas, and the course was approximately 75 miles in length. When the two yachts hoisted colours on the morning of June 11th it was blowing a gale of wind from N. by W., and both had a pair of reefs in their mainsails. Without going into details of the race, it may be mentioned that the two yachts were driven for all they were worth, and covered the course at an average speed of over 12 knots per hour. "Kariad," as the smaller vessel, was in receipt of 8 mins. from the yawl, and was within her time when they rounded Ailsa Craig. From Kildonan Point to "BONA" LEADING "BRYNHILD" IN THE RACE FOR THE COWES TOWN CUP. the Craig the yachts encountered the full force of the Atlantic, and the hands working the sheets were waist-deep in water. Both craft, however, made splendid weather of it, and left the small flotilla of steam yachts that followed the race far astern. Although "Sybarita" led throughout, the cutter stuck to her gamely, and for fifty miles of the match had all the appearance of saving her time. Then Bevis, who was in charge of the yawl, decided to shake out a reef, and a hand was sent out along the boom with a knife to cut the lacing. The mainsail was then hove up with the purchases without bringing the yacht to the wind. 66 With but a single reef in her great mainsail, Sybarita" fled before the gale like a frighted stag, and, wiping off the allotted time allowance, ultimately crossed the line a gallant winner with 2 mins. 45 secs. in hand. Both vessels were sailed with great pluck and skill, and the match will go down to posterity as one of the finest hard-weather races in the annals of the sport. 66 In the course of the season "Kariad" won five first prizes in nine starts, and Sybarita" and "Shamrock I." credited their respective owners with two firsts apiece. "Meteor" started in four races, winning one first prize, and "Britannia" competed unsuccessfully for the King's Cup at Cowes.
Of the 65-footers that had raced the previous season, "Tutty" was the only one to make her reappearance. She found an opponent in "Nevada," a new vessel built for Mr. P. M.
Inglis from the design of C. F. Herreshoff, a relative of the famous American naval architect.
The new cutter was of quite different type to "Tutty," having a short water-line, very long overhangs, a bold freeboard, and generous sail area. She proved a very speedy craft in light weather, but, when there was any weight in the wind, was invariably beaten by the older yacht.
Although "Tutty" succeeded in retaining the championship of the class, the prizes were very evenly divided, the record at the end of the season being as follows:- Yacht.
Tutty Nevada