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CHAPTER XIII. 



YACHTS AND YACHTING. 



By C. B. Lintilhac, Commodore S.Y.C. 



How glorioxisly her gallant course she goes. 



Her white wings flying 



She walks the waters like a thing of life.— Byrost. 



IT is not probable that the yacht will ever seriously compete with the houseboat in respect 

 of its adaptability for shooting trips in our smaller inland waters but at the same time 

 there is no doubt that the sailing craft is much more frequently used for sporting 

 purposes now than was formerly the case. Naturally, then, a short story of the yacht in the 

 waters of the Yangtze Valley will not be found to be without its interest. 



About twenty years ago there was a fine fleet of comfortable shallow drafts of 

 considerable size, notably the Clutha and Romola. 



The Clutha is a cutter of 44 tons, composite built with iron frames and teak 

 planking. She has not been in commission for some years, but there is no yacht in the river 

 to-day whose fittings can begin to approach those of the boat in question. 

 Her dimensions are : — 



Length between perpendiculars 48 feet 



Breadth extreme 16 „ 2 inches 



Draft 4 „ 



She is nearly 3 feet wider than any yacht at present on the river. In her time, for she 

 was built 26 years ago, she was an extremely fast vessel, and it would be interesting to see 

 her in company with some of our present day " fliers " outside Woosung in the tideways 

 and troublous waters of the Yangtze estuary. 



The Romola until quite recently was in commission. She is a remarkably 

 handsome vessel, and if her mainmast were even but moderately reduced would make a 

 capital seaboat. Though not so fast as the Clutha she would make a better seaboat as 

 she is deeper and not so hollow in the bow. Both these craft have centre boards and 

 heavy lead keels, the Romola*s keel weighing nearly seven tons. 

 Her dimensions are : — 



Length over all 54^ feet. 



Breadth 14 ft. 5 in- 



Draft about S ft. 



