Aprit 28, 1906.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 

679 


ROYAL NORFOLK 
The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Y. C. 
Tue Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Y. C. is the 
leading yacht club in East Anglia, with a mem- 
bership of some 400, has a club house at Lowes- 
toft, which is considered equal to that of any 
similar club in England. 
The club was started in 1859, but records show 
that yacht racing was much appreciated long be- 
fore that date, as is shown by a trophy marked 
“Oulton Water Frolic, 1834.” The term regatta 
did not come into use till some years later, and 
the occasion of races was described as a “Water 
Frolic.” The first meeting of the club occurred 
at the Maid’s Head Hotel, Norwich, at which 
some fifty gentlemen joined and elected Col. Wil- 
son Beccles commodore. 
At first the racing was confined to the rivers 
and broads. The Waveney, Yare and Bure find 
their way to the sea at Yarmouth. These rivers, 
though narrow, are deep from bank to bank, ex- 
cept in the lower reaches. For many miles no 
trees or high ground interfere with the wind, and 
the rise and fall of the tide is small with no 
strong currents. These conditions make these 
waters admirably suited to small boat sailing. 
The handling of boats in narrow waters requires 
nerve and judgment, and some of the finest ama- 
teur helmsmen are to be found here. The Royal 
Norfolk and Suffolk Y. C. has from its inception 
fostered the amateur element, and the employ- 
ment of professionals is strictly limited, and they 
are not allowed to steer on inland courses. 
The original rig adopted was a lateen foresail 
the foremast being stepped right in the eyes, and 
the main stepped about amidships, with a gaff 
and boom mainsail. About 1859 the big main- 
sail had been abandoned in favor of a mizzen, 
thus increasing the size of the foresail; the yards 
of boats 1oft. waterline, measuring nearly 70it. 
in length. These boats were inferior in speed to 
boats rigged with jib and mainsail, that had found 
_favor with the younger members. 
The first programme was for races at Cantley, 
Wroxham and Oulton, the first two being on the 
river and the latter on the broads; broads mean- 
ing the widening of the rivers of this flat country 
into ponds and lakes which extend in from the 
sea and are navigable for 20 or 30 miles. 
The races at first included two classes. The 
first for cutters, really sloops, with huge jibs, and 
the second for lateen-rigged boats, the prizes 
offered being a single prize in each class of eBaih 
but later these were divided into two prizes for 
each class. The encouragement of the lateen 
boats did not meet with success, and these were 
dropped in 1863. Some measurements of two 
famous boats, Enchantress and Miranda, may be 
of interest. They were both roft. long on the 
AND SUFFOLK Y, C.—THE CLUB HOUSE FROM PIER. 
waterline with 6ft, counters, breadth t1oft. and 
draft 4ft., foreyards 75ft. long. 
In 1860 the promoters of the club offered a 
challenge cup sailed for by yachts of any size or 
rig under the existing rules, and such boats as 
Red Rover, 14 tons; Belvidere, 10 tons; Wan- 
derer, 14 tons; Alabama, 14 tons, competed. 
The membership at this time was divided into 
two classes, full members and honorary; the 
former paid an entrance fee of one guinea, and 
the latter on the payment of the annual subscrip- 
tion of one guinea; but no one was eligible to 
honorary membership who owned a yacht. This 
was subsequently changed. 
A feature each year has been an ocean race 
from Lowestoft to Harwich. The first took place 
about 1867, and was an exciting incident of the 
season, as the boats were very much over-rigged 
to catch the high winds that came over the reeds 
Be | i. pe 
ob 3 AE NA fh BN 
ROYAL NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK Y. 
commodore. 

and trees bordering the upper reaches of the 
rivers and broads. 
A number of years ago the Prince of Wales 
became a patron of the club and used his influ- 
ence to secure for it an admiralty warrant. The 
burgee became—whatever vicissitudes it had 
passed through since 1859—the red ensign of Her 
Majesty’s fleet, having in the fly thereof the Prince 
of Wales’ plume surmounted by a crown. The 
club meetings were held at the Maid’s Head 
Hotel, at Norwich, for many years, but its 
growth after a time required quarters situated 
more nearly within reach of the racing waters, 
and in 1886 a small house was secured at Lowes- 
toft, near what is now called the Yacht Basin. 
This unpretentious bungalow, with but scanty 
accommodation, served its purpose for a number 
of years, when, in 1899, the project of a house 
better suited to the standing of the club was 
broached. It was not till three years later, how- 
ever, that the shanty was abandoned which has 
given place to the present somewhat imposing 
structure, 
The external appearance is striking, and, it is 
said, is an adaptation of ideas received by the 
architect while traveling in southeastern Europe. 
There is an air of solidity which well suits its 
position, exposed as it is to the full force of the 
North Sea winds. Inside, the house is very 
pleasing and comfortable, being plainly but well 
finished; the idea of comfort and good taste is 
well carried out. 
The formal opening took place in July, 1903, 
after some 150 members had lunched at the Royal 
Hotel, the house was formally opened by the 
The club has had a very successful 
one-design class of small boats known as the Nor- 
folk one-design class, and as many as 43 entries 
have been received for one race. 
The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Y. C. give a 
number of races each year for yachts of recog- 
nized yacht clubs, and is one of the many clubs 
on the east coast circuit that provide races for 
the big classes. 
Tue Book or Boats.—We have been pleased 
to receive from the Truscott Boat Mfg. Co. the 
above little book, which may be had for 50 cents. 
pense compilation of small boats showing the 
oe of evolution to the modern open launch of 
to-day. 
C.—THE STAGE AND BASIN. 
