EARLY YACHTING IN THE COLONY
Brief reference has been made previously to the advent of yachting in the Colony (see 5-7-33), and we know that the first annual sailing event for yachts took place here as early as 1849, under the auspices of the Victoria Rowing Regatta Club. This was originally an out-and-out regatta club, which staged rowing races, largely among boats from the naval ships in port, with an occasional sailing race. Prior to the founding of a local club for organised regattas, these were held only spasmodically, when men-of-war were present in sufficient numbers to warrant it. A few boats were also entered by local merchants. This much we gather from old chronicles of the Forties, in which mention is also made of similar regattas (mainly with naval entrants) on the river at Canton.
The first meeting of the Canton Regatta Club was held on January 31 and February 1, 1845; the events being for single pairs sculls, four-oared gigs, and wherries, and all being rowing races. On February 4, 1845, this club held a sailing race, cutters being the principal participants. On February 14 that same year, a Royal Naval Regatta was held at Canton, being entirely rowing events.
From Canton these events appear to have shifted quite early to Hong-kong, the Victoria Rowing Regatta Club being formed, and an annual sailing race, as we have seen, being instituted in 1849. These regattas continued to be a popular form of relaxation through the Fifties and Sixties, with apparently no effort to form an entirely sailing club until 1869. This was the forerunner of our present Yacht Club.
It is not intended to discuss all the stages of that development, though it might be mentioned briefly again that the early Yacht Club was reorganised in 1889, when the Hongkong Corinthian Sailing Club was formed, and the licence to use the term "Royal" was received in 1893, when the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club came into existence; though the Corinthian Yacht Club (which continued a separate existence) was not wound up until 1921.
It appears that the first ocean yacht races had been instituted in the Colony in December, 1867; and the year 1875 saw a specially attractive race, to Macao and back (held on January 27). Early in December that year there was also a yachting event organised by the club for a trophy known as the American Cup, possibly connected with the fact that the club's popular commodore of that time was Mr. W. H. Forbes, of Russell and Company (which later became Shewan, Tomes and Co.), a scion of an American family closely associated with the earliest years of the firm.
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We are concerned here, however, with the establishment of a purely yachting club, and I cannot do better than quote the report which appeared in a local paper on July 24, 1869. It states:
A meeting of gentlemen interested in the project to form a Yacht Club met last evening at the Hongkong Club, Mr. Hawke taking the chair. The object of the meeting was explained to be to form an association for the purpose of finding funds for prizes in other races than the Regatta, and to generally promote yachting. This having been stated by the chairman, some discussion arose upon the question whether the new club would not interfere with the existing Victoria Regatta Club; but Mr. Hawke, who was on the committee of that club, explained that it need not in any way be the case. The simple object would be to promote the interests of yachting.
It was suggested by Mr. Beart that, inasmuch as prizes would be offered by the Regatta Club as hitherto, it was difficult to see what benefit the new club would derive. Mr. Hawke said simply that so far as boats, boat houses, &c., were concerned, they would have the use of their money and be to a not inconsiderable extent saved expense. Mr. Beart did not make his remarks in any spirit of opposition, but he feared they might not get enough
EARLY YACHTING IN THE COLONY
Brief reference has been made previously to the advent of yachting in the Colony (see 5-7-33), and we know that the first annual sailing event for yachts took place here as early as 1849, under the auspices of the Victoria Rowing Regatta Club. This was originally an out-and-out regatta club, whichstaged rowing races, largely among boats from the naval ships in port, with an occasional sailing race. Prior to the found- ing of a local club for organised regattas, these were held only spasmodically, when men-of-war were present in sufficient numbers to war- rant it. A few boats were also entered by local merchants. This much we gather from old chronicles of the Forties, in which mention is also made of similar regattas (mainly with naval entrants) on the river at Canton.
The first meeting of the Canton Regatta Club was held on January 31 and February 1, 1845; the events being for single pairs sculls, four-oared gigs, and wherries, and all being rowing races. On February 4, 1845, this club held a sailing race, cutters being the principal participants. On February 14 that same year, a Royal Naval Regatta was held at Canton, being entirely rowing events.
From Canton these events appear to have shifted quite early to Hong- kong, the Victoria Rowing Regatta Club being formed, and an annual sailing race, as we have seen, being instituted in 1849, These regattas continued to be a popular form of relaxation through the Fifties and Sixties, with apparently no effort to form an entirely sailing club until 1869. This was the forerunner of our present Tacht Club.
It is not intended to discuss all the stages of that development, though it might be mentioned briefly again that the early Yacht Club was reorganised
in 1889, when the Hongkong Corinthian Sailing Club was formed, and the licence to use the term "Royal" was received in 1893, when the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club' came into existence; though the Corinthian Tacht Club (which continued a separate existence) was not wound up until 1921.
It appears that the first ocean yacht races had been instituted in the Colony in December, 1867; and the year 1875 saw & specially attractive race, to Macao and back (held on January 27). Early in December that year there was also a yachting event organised by the club for a trophy known as the American Cup, possibly connected with the fact that the clubs popular commodore of that time was Mr.W.H.Forbes, of Russell and Company (which later became Shewan, Tomes and Co.) a scion of an American family closely associated with the earliest years of the firm.
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•
We are concerned here, however, with the establishment of a purely yachting club, and I cannot do better than quote the report which appeared in a local paper on July 24, 1869. It. states:
A meeting of gentlemen interested in the project to form a Yacht Club met last evening at the Hongkong Club, Mr. Hawke taking the chair. The object of the meetingwas explained to be to form an association for the purpose of finding funds for prices in other races than the Regatta, and to generally promote yachting. This having been stated by the chairman, some discussion arose upon the question whether the new club would not interfere with the existing Victoria Regatta Club; but Mr. Hawke, who was on the committee of that club, explained that is need not in any way be the case. The simple object would be to promote the interests of yachting.
It was suggested by Mr. Beart that, inasmuch as prizes would be offered by the Regatta Club as hitherto, it was difficult to see what benefit the new club would derive. Mr. Hawke said: simply that so far as boats, boạt houses, &c., were concerned, they would have the use of their money and be to etut - a no inconsiderable extent saved expanse. Mr. Beart did not make his remarks in any spirit of opposition, but he feared they might not get enough
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