YACHTING DURING THE PRESENT 275 



Brighton turned out the Kingfisher for Mr J. E. Crisp of 

 Beccles, a fast and powerful boat of ten tons. She was 

 longer, narrower, deeper-bodied and had more freeboard than 

 the other yachts of her day ; and considering the great turn 

 of speed she showed when once given the chance to race, the 

 pity is that she was so seldom allowed to face the starter. 



In 1886 two new twelve-ton yachts put in an appear- 

 ance Wo.nderer II., built by Mr Brighton for Mr J. Lee Barber, 



THE RETORT. 



and the Firebrand, built by Messrs Page & Chambers of 

 Lowestoft for Mr Fred Last. Both yachts had the new- 

 fashioned fiddle bows designed for ocean racing and carried an 

 enormous spread of canvas. v No expense was spared on either 

 boat, and competition for the local prizes was very keen ; but 

 the Wanderer soon proved her superiority not only in Broad- 

 land but also at race meetings held at sea under the auspices 

 of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club. 



In 1887 the Retort was launched from the yard of Messrs 

 Page & Chambers with a view to lowering the laurels of 



