EAST DONYLAND / ROWHEDGE
FOXHOUND & DEERHOUND
Skipper Lemon Cranfield & Colne crew. Also Tom Jay of Rowhedge - whose first commands came with Foxhound in 1888 and Deerhound in 1889.
Capt. C.G. NOTTAGE
THE YACHTING WORLD - 12 October 1894 - CAPTAIN C. G. NOTTAGE, R.T.Y.C.
"CAPTAIN NOTTAGE was born in the year 1853, and is the son of Alderman Nottage, who was the first Lord Mayor to die during his year of office for over a century. It was an open secret that had he lived he would have been created a baronet, and, in a mark of respect, his wife was made a knight’s widow. On his father’s death, the vacant aldermanic gown was offered to Captain Nottage by the ward. This honour he refused, though had he accepted it he would ere this have passed the civic chair, and would have been the youngest Lord Mayor on record. His fondness for yachting, coupled with a dislike of the onerous duties a conscientious Alderman has to perform, was the reason he declined, though his decision, as it turned out, was unfortunate, since a baronetcy was bestowed upon the chief magistrate in the year that the mayoralty would have fallen to him.
From a child, Captain Nottage always had a liking for the sea, and all his pocket money went into the purchase of boats. His great desire was to go into the Navy, but being an only son, his parents would not give their consent. Educated in Switzerland and Germany, he afterwards went to Cambridge, where he took an honour degree in law. After this he was called to the bar with a view to practising in the Admiralty Courts, but this intention was afterwards relinquished. He holds a commission in the Devon Artillery Militia (which was embodied in 1885), is on the Court of Lieutenancy of the City of London, is an F.R.G.S., and is on the board of one or two successful commercial undertakings. In the maritime direction he holds the Board of Trade certificate empowering him to navigate his own vessel, and is a member of the Council of the Y.R.A. The first race in which he sailed took place more than twenty years since, in Aveyron, of 15 tons, which was followed by many more in Dudu. For many seasons he cruised with the late Mr. Trego in Snowflake, Surge, Olympia and Nina, and made several voyages with Mr. S.R. Platt in the s.s. Norseman to Norway, Sweden and Russia. He also raced a great deal with the late Mr. Duncuft in Bonina, Terpsichore, and May. In addition to yachting tours, Captain Nottage has three times made the tour of the world, has spent considerable time in the South Sea Islands, and has walked through the interior of Japan.
It was not until the season of 1885 that he purchased a yacht. His first boat was the old Foxhound, of 32 tons, which had been lying on the mud in the Humber for years. Even in her palmy days, when owned by the Marquis of Ailsa, she had never been a great success. Foxhound sailed eleven times right off without winning a flag. An accident having happened to her sailing master, that marvellous racing skipper Lemon Cranfield took charge, and the tide turned, the boat taking prize after prize, in fact within a week she won over £400, but was disqualified for £200 for going on the wrong side of marks. The following season nine tons of lead were added to the keel, and the boat wonderfully improved. These were the days of the A, B, and C classes, and after the addition of the lead Foxhound had a string of successes. Her biggest haul was the Jubilee prize of £375, given by the Royal Victoria, twice round the island.
His next yacht, Deerhound, which was specially built for him, was the first of the modern 40’s, and as a sea-boat the sailor men swear by her. Three times she crossed the Bay, and was once given up for lost. Her owner designed the accommodation to suit his own comfort. Fitted in hard wood, with a large refrigerator built into her port side, she was quite unlike a racer below. She was, as so often happens, all behind at the finish, and was not launched at Southampton until the Thursday, and yet managed with unstretched sails, to get round to the Thames by the following Tuesday, and won her maiden race, beating the also newly-launched Valkyrie I, Yarana, Irex, etc. Deerhound was raced two seasons in England and two in the Riviera. Her first Riviera season’s success was repeated last year by Britannia, that is to say, both yachts won first prize in every race they sailed. In her second Riviera season she was twice beaten by Bluerock, but after the race a diver found that during her terrible passage out some of the copper had been torn and was projecting.
In England, during the following year, Deerhound had a new 40 to tackle in Creole. Though at the end of the season Deerhound flew the longest string of flags, her owner was satisfied that in an ordinary sailing breeze Creole was the better boat to windward, but with as much as they could carry or a reef down, Deerhound could turn the tables on her. No two finer races were ever sailed than the final contests between these two boats at Weymouth and Torquay, the latter in half a gale of wind, Deerhound only just leading Creole by a length or so at the finish. The present owner of Deerhound is the Marquis Ridolfi, a real good plucked one, with a very capable Italian crew. She has won the Marquis a lot of prizes, and is now called Oretta.
Deerhound’s owner attributes his success to always having picked men. Some of his old crew have, however, suffered sad misfortune this year, William Brown having met his death in the Valkyrie-Satanita collision. A great favourite, too, was poor Jim Simons, a good-looking, fair-bearded, blue-eyed sailor, who was mate first of Foxhound and then of Deerhound. That he was as good as they make them is proved by Capt. Carter having selected him as mate to the Britannia, returning to which yacht he recently met his death by the upsetting of the dinghy.
Foxhound and Deerhound have between then won for Captain Nottage 121 cups and prizes, amounting in value to £3,000. Foxhound accounted for 56, whilst Deerhound won the balance of 65, which included one Queen’s Cup. Since parting with her, Deerhound, like her very much elder sister, has completed her “century” of prizes, these two lucky “dogs” having won well over two hundred prizes between them.
Unfortunately, owing to ill-health, the owner of these “canine celebrities” has been compelled to abandon yachting, and has taken his name off all his clubs with the exception of the Imperial Squadron of Austria, the Royal Thames and Portsmouth Corinthian Yacht Clubs. Should he be restored to health, he has the plans out for an auxiliary light draft centreboard schooner of 130 tons, which is to be called Boarhound.”
FOXHOUND
FOXHOUND, 33 tons, yawl, skipper Lemon Cranfield – The 1886 season, as recorded in The Times.
ROYAL HARWICH YACHT CLUB REGATTA - Match on Monday 7 June 1886 – “This regatta came off yesterday in delightfully fine weather and a pleasant sailing breeze, and the sport was of a thoroughly interesting character.... In the C class match the Wendur went in fine form and won a well-sailed race, while the old Neptune was equal to giving the May her time with ease... MATCH, for yachts, of any rig exceeding 30 tons, belonging to the B and C classes. First prize, £40; second prize, £20. Course from Harwich Harbour round the Shipwash lightship, thence round the South buoy of the Shipwash sand, and back round the Cork lightship to Harwich. Yacht Racing Association rules and time allowances for a 35 mile course.
Yacht - Class - Rig - Tons - Owner; Wendur, C, Yawl, 125 (sails as 100), Mr. H.R. Laing; Erycina, C, Cutter, 90, Mr. A. Penn; Arethusa, C, Cutter, 54, Mr. Stuart Lane; Neptune, C, Cutter, 48, Mr. W.G.D. Goff; Annasona, C, Cutter, 40, Mr. W. Byrne-Jones; May, C, Cutter, 40, Mr. J. Duncuft [skippered by Capt. William Wadley Cranfield]; Foxhound, C, Yawl, 33, Mr. Nottage; Bonnie Doon, C, Cutter, 33, Mr. J. McNish.
They all set jackyard-topsails and reached in Indian file to the Bell buoy, and when they came by the wind to beat out to the Shipwash, the Neptune held weather gauge, May being second, then Wendur, Arethusa, Erycina, Annasona, Bonnie Doon, and Foxhound. Wendur, going in fine form to windward, threaded through into first place, and at the Shipwash led Neptune by eight minutes, May and Erycina going round together. In the run up to the Shipwash Wendur got further away, and making a steady gain to the finish saved her time easily on the Neptune, while the latter took the second prize with plenty of time to spare. The finish was as follows:- Wendur (winner) 4h. 28m. 59s; Neptune (second prize) 4h. 44m. 11s; Erycina 4h. 49m. 12s; May 4h. 50m. 4s; Arethusa 4h. 50m. 30s; Annasona 5h. 20m. 9s; Foxhound 5h. 48m. 10s; Bonnie Doon 5h. 50m. 24s.”
To-day the Channel match from Harwich to Southend will be sailed, and the entries are as follows:- Second match, Erycina, Annasona, Neptune, Wendur, May, Foxhound, Arethusa, Bonnie Doon.”
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB MATCHES on Saturday 12 June 1886 – Foxhound seventh of nine yachts during the race and not mentioned again.
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB – Channel Match on Monday 14 June 1886 – “The Foxhound made a finely-judged start”…. “Foxhound and Queen Mab sailed for a time as though bewitched.” Foxhound not mentioned again. “Lemon Cranfield did the boat good service, and she made a lot on Marjorie.” This sentence seems to imply that Lemon was skipper of Irex.
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Tuesday 15 June 1886 – Foxhound finished fourth behind Neptune, May (Capt. W.W. Cranfield) and Terpsichore.
ROYAL OSTEND YACHT CLUB on Monday 19 July 1886 – Foxhound took part in the racing but is not mentioned in the results.
ROYAL OSTEND YACHT CLUB – OSTEND REGATTA - on Wednesday 21 July 1886 – Foxhound taking part in races postponed from previous day due to the vessels having been caught in a gale and heavy thunderstorm while lying off Ostend. Very brief results given, Foxhound not mentioned.
ROYAL OSTEND YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Thursday 22 July 1886 – “This club sailed yesterday the matches which were postponed on Tuesday, owing to a heavy gale which sprung up on Monday night, by which, with the exception of two, the yachts were so much damaged as to render them unfit to compete in that day’s races.” Foxhound competed in the match for yachts not exceeding 40 tons but is not mentioned in the brief results.
ROYAL OSTEND YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Friday 23 July 1886 – 1.Mary 2.Terpsichore 3.Bonnie Doon 4.Foxhound.
ROYAL LONDON YACHT CLUB on Saturday 31 July 1886 – “Match for yachts exceeding 30 tons, but not exceeding 80 tons…First prize a chronometer, with £20 added by the club; if two yachts compete; second prize £25.” “Arethusa, however, soon took the lead, and Foxhound, cleverly sailed by Lemon Cranfield, went into second place, the timing at the finish being:- 1.Arethusa 4h 51m 11s; 2.Foxhound 5h 14m 30s; 3.Thalia 5h 17m 18s.” Also taking part were Fox, Terpsichore and Bonnie Doon.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA on Thursday 5 August 1886 – Isle of Wight; The Town Cup; “Yesterday’s racing was marred through a faulty start, and a trio of the most perfect men Britain possesses as skippers of yachts made the mistake. It was singular, as O’Neill, Duncan, and Cranfield are men the country can boast of; their names stand equal in honour to such as John Nicholls, Henry Parker (of the Arrow), and Robert Penny.” The error by Foxhound is not explained but the other two yachts went the wrong side of a mark buoy at the start. Foxhound is not mentioned again and the race was won by May, captained by William Wadley Cranfield.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA on Friday 6 August 1886 – “The regatta of the premier yacht club was brought to a very successful conclusion. There was a splendid entry, and it was a perfect sailing time.” “[Marjorie] never sailed a better race, but was not able to give the heavy impost of 68 minutes to the Foxhound, although she saved her time on the rest… while the Foxhound’s position was in a great measure due to Cranfield’s able handling. A fine bright morning, with steady whole-sail breeze, gave promise of fine sport, and a fleet of 11 vessels had racing flags flying. The signal was given to proceed east, and this gave a dead run from Cowes Roads to the No Man Fort. At the flash of the gun the vessels were all reaching to the eastward, but spinnaker booms were ready, and soon all sheets were run right out and running sail set. The Foxhound and Marjorie were first through the line. The flood was flying along fairly with them, and the ground was travelled over at high speed. The Foxhound ran on in pride of place for a time, but off Osborne Genesta and Sleuthhound went by to windward, and Marjorie and Irex next slipped by. It was an imposing sight as the fleet passed Ryde, every thread of sail being set, and the breeze held full and true……. Wonderfully fast the Foxhound sailed for a little boat, as she kept in the first flight……. The Sleuthhound, Wendur, Hyacinth, and Foxhound were sailing a ding-dong race, but were losing ground on the three leaders…….. Marjorie ran the stern lot a long distance, and had her time safe on all but the Foxhound. The absurdly long allowance of 68 minutes. 45 seconds the latter had to receive was too much for Marjorie, as the timing of the finish will show:- Marjorie 4h 35m 20s; Genesta 4h 42m 45s; Wendur 5h 8m 31s; Sleuthhound 5h 15m 24s; Hyacinth 5h 20m 45s; Annasona 5h 23m 40s; Foxhound 5h 26m 25s…… according to the time allowance the Foxhound was winner of the first prize by time, Marjorie of the second, and Hyacinth of the third.”
ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Tuesday 10 August 1886 – Foxhound had been entered for the races but was not present.
ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Thursday 12 August 1886 – Ryde – “The Foxhound was overpowered, and there was no doubt that the most able boats at sailing free were winners of the prizes on the day.” 1.Wendur 2.Neptune 3.May 4.Annasona 5.Hyacinth 6.Arethusa 7.Foxhound.
TORBAY ROYAL REGATTA on Wednesday 25 August 1886 – After the first timings of the race Foxhound was in third place…. "Irex and Marjorie held on the winding (starboard) tack for Berry Head, and all but Cranfield, in the Foxhound, followed.” Foxhound gradually slipped down the placings and finished in last place.
FOXHOUND – 1887 season, as recorded in The Times
NEW THAMES CHANNEL MATCH from Southend to Harwich on Saturday 28 May 1887 – Foxhound took part but was not placed among the top six finishers.
ROYAL HARWICH YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Monday 30 May 1887 – “In the second match the old Foxhound gave the Nadejda and Bonnie Doon an unmistakable beating”….” The Foxhound took the lead, and, sailing steadily away, was an easy winner.” 1.Foxhound 2.Nadejda 3.Bonnie Doon.
ROYAL HARWICH YACHT CLUB REGATTA Match from Harwich to Southend on Tuesday 31 May 1887 - “A sweepstake was sailed from Harwich to Southend, and the result was as follows:- Foxhound 1h 47m 45s; Sybil (winner by time), 1h 51m 49s; Mary 2h 6m 53s.”
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB Match on Wednesday 1 June 1887 – 1.Neptune 2.Foxhound 3.Wendur.
NEW THAMES YACHT CLUB Match on Thursday 2 June 1887 – “…while Cranfield was sailing the Foxhound in such a masterly way that she picked up and eventually weathered the Sleuthhound.” 1.Wendur (winner by time) 2.Neptune 3.Thistle 4.Foxhound 5.Irex – Sleuthhound not timed.
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB Match from the Nore to Dover on Saturday 4 June 1887 – 1.Sybil, by 8 seconds from Foxhound which beat Neptune with 2 seconds to spare.
ALEXANDRA YACHT CLUB Race for a “Jubilee Cup” on Wednesday 15 June 1887 – “The Foxhound was the pick of the starters and, admirably sailed, she won very easily.”…… “The Foxhound was sailed with good judgement.” 1.Foxhound (winner of the cup) 2.Nadejda.
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS YACHT CLUB on Tuesday 12 July 1887 – “The match for the Commodore’s Cup was won by the Foxhound from the Sybil.”
ROYAL PORTSMOUTH CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB on Saturday 16 July 1887 – The Foxhound was an easy winner over Mary in the principal event.
ROYAL LONDON YACHT CLUB on Saturday 30 July 1887 – Isle of Wight – Foxhound unplaced in a club race.
ROYAL LONDON YACHT CLUB on Monday 1 August 1887 – Isle of Wight – Match for C-Class yachts:- 1. Foxhound 2.Hyacinth 3.Mary 4.Nora.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA – Isle of Wight – on Thursday 4 August 1887 – The Town Cup:- 1.Irex 2.Genesta 3.Lorna 4.Foxhound. Sleuthhound, Constance and Arethusa also took part.
ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB on Tuesday 9 August 1887 – Match for Class B and C yachts – 1.Neptune 2.Sybil 3.Foxhound. Wraith and Foxglove not timed.
ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB on Wednesday 10 August 1887 – Isle of Wight – Match for Town Cup open to yachts of A, B, and C Classes:- 1.Vanduara 2.Neptune 3.Vol-au-Vent 4.Foxhound. Constance, Sybil, Foxglove and Daphne also competed.
ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB on Friday 12 August 1887 – “A race twice round the Isle of Wight, vessels to pass outside the Norman Fort and Bembridge Ledge Buoy.” Result not given as the match did not finish until the following day due to light breezes. According to C.G. Ellis in his book “Nottage” - about Charles Nottage and the Nottage Institute in Wivenhoe - Lemon and Foxhound took the Jubilee Prize of £300 for being the first yacht home of all the classes competing, and also the prize of £35 for being the first yacht home of its class (yachts above 20 tons and not exceeding 40 tons), all the yachts starting together. The Times:- “Foxhound made a splendid start, being within a hand’s breadth of the line as the gun fired...”
ROYAL ALBERT YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Monday 15 August 1887 – The Albert Cup – After a good start Foxhound ended the race in last place of seven starters.
ROYAL ALBERT YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Tuesday 16 August 1887 – Match for cutters and yawls – 1.Genesta (£50) 2.Sybil (£20) 3.Foxhound (£10)- then came Vanduara and Neptune.
WEYMOUTH REGATTA on Friday 19 August 1887 – “…the Foxhound’s spinnaker came back and the boom broke off at the rigging, and with the mishap she finished her share in the race.”
ROYAL DORSET YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Saturday 20 August 1887 – Her Majesty’s Cup – “A tedious race ended thus:- 1.Irex (winner of Queen’s Cup)”. Foxhound winner of the second prize for cutters (£25).
ROYAL TORBAY YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Tuesday 23 August 1887 – 1.Irex 2.Neptune 3.Genesta – then Foxhound and Hyacinth. Erycina, Vol-au-Vent and Constance gave up.
ROYAL DART YACHT CLUB on Friday 26 August 1887 – “In the second race Foxhound’s was a meritorious performance…” 1.Foxhound (£30) 2.Queen Mab (£15) 3.Melissa (£5).
ROYAL TORBAY YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Monday 29 August 1887 – 1. Foxglove 2. Foxhound 3. Sybil.
ROYAL TORBAY REGATTA on Tuesday 30 August 1887 – 1.Irex 2.Vol-au-Vent 3.Neptune – the placing of Foxhound is not recorded.
ROYAL PORTSMOUTH CORINTHIAN CHANNEL MATCH on Saturday 3 September 1887 – 1.Irex 2.Neptune 3.Hyacinth 4.Foxhound 5.Sybil 6.Merganser. “Foxhound was a well-sailed boat; she seldom misses getting a good start, and her owner showed as much aptitude to anticipate the flash of the starting gun as her professional skipper (Cranfield) always does.”
In the three seasons that Lemon was skipper Foxhound won a total of 56 cups and prizes for her owner.
THE YACHTSMAN - 8 June 1893 - “OUR SUPPLEMENT - Our supplement of this week is taken from West and Son’s admirable photograph of the start for the Albert Cup in 1887, at Southsea. The photographer has not only obtained first-class pictures of five popular boats, but has also caught one of the most exciting points in a yacht-race, and gives a very clear idea how carefully and with what judgment skippers are obliged to sail in order to avoid fouls and mishaps. The three large boats in the centre of the picture, Vol-au-Vent, Vanduara, and Genesta were then skippered by the three skippers who top the list to-day - W. Cranfield (Valkyrie), Gomes (Meteor), and C. Carter (sic) (Britannia) respectively. On the left-hand side of the picture is Fife’s well-known 40-rater, Neptune, who exhibited herself exceedingly well in ’87, carrying off several handsome prizes - amongst them a Queen’s Cup. Vol-au-Vent, the next to her, was the most popular boat of her day, when she was introduced as a cutter, and from ’75 to ’77 was second to none. As a yawl, she has sailed with cruisers, and, with a good hand at the helm, still comes up to the front. Just astern of her is Vanduara, a steel-built boat of Henderson’s, from Watson’s design, and to her right, with the full spinnaker, is Genesta, the unsuccessful candidate for the long-lost cup on the other side. She was composite built, by the same builders as Vanduara, and showed herself a fast boat in the Ocean race of ’87 round the British Isles, winning the £1,000 prize. Last of the five on Genesta’s port hand is another of Fife’s well-known 40-raters, Foxhound, also very fortunate in ’87, topping the list of prize winners of that year.”
Photo accompanying the above article -
THE ESSEX STANDARD – Saturday 24 September 1887 - “EAST DONYLAND – WEDDING – On Monday, September 19th, Lemontine, the eldest daughter of Lemon Cranfield, captain of the yacht Foxhound (formerly captain of the Neva, Formosa, Miranda, &c., and spoken of by the Field as the first yacht-racing captain on the coast) was married at East Donyland Church by the Rector, Rev. H.E. Lufkin, to Mr. Alexander Bruce, of Liverpool, a nephew of the late Mr. Samuel Willett, of Rowhedge. There was an immense display of bunting to do honour to the occasion.”
THE TIMES – Wednesday 23 May 1888 - “THE COMING YACHT RACING SEASON - The Foxhound, 32 rating, which was the pride of the season in 1887, has been fitted out, and Captain Nottage will race her over the same courses she did so well on last year. L. Cranfield will sail her again, and no doubt the old boat will get a fair share of prizes.”
Capt. Tom Jay of Rowhedge was the skipper of Foxhound for the 1888 season.
FOXHOUND – 1888 season results, as recorded in The Times
ROYAL HARWICH YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Monday 28 May 1888….. “The Foxhound, which was handicapped in a singularly favourable way, was not “pulled”, at any rate, with a view of favours to come. She simply lost her antagonists, and perhaps will not the next time she sails when imposts are allotted be considered equal to Sybil.”
“MATCH for cruising yachts – Prizes £30 and £20. Course – round the North-east buoy of the Bawdsey, the Sunk and the Cork lightships, and back to Harwich. Time allowance for a 35 miles course….. Foxhound soon opened out a long lead and beat her opponents all round the course. 1. Foxhound 2. Gudrun 3. Bonnie Doon 4. Sybil.”
THE CHANNEL MATCH FROM HARWICH TO SOUTHEND – In a handicap race for cruisers, from Harwich to Southend, on Wednesday 30 May 1888, Foxhound competed but was not in the first two places.
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB MATCHES on Saturday 2 June 1888 - Foxhound not in the first three places of the handicap race, open to all yachts of any rig or rating.
ROYAL LONDON YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Tuesday 5 June 1888 - In the match for cruising yachts of not less than 20 rating, Foxhound was not among the first two places.
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS YACHT CLUB on Friday 13 July 1888 - “Foxhound beat Sybil in her class and won the prize.” No further information given.
PORT OF PLYMOUTH ROYAL REGATTA on Thursday 26 July 1888 - “Glorious summer weather and a splendid sailing breeze from the south-west favoured the Port of Plymouth Regatta. There was some stirring sport in the yacht matches….. The Foxhound had an easy win from the Bonnie Doon…. Foxhound (winner), Cutter, 32 rating, owner Capt. C.G. Nottage 4h. 19m. 34s; Bonnie Doon, Cutter, 30 rating, owner Mr. J. McNish 4h. 35m. 30s.”
ROYAL PLYMOUTH CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Friday 27 July 1888 - “Very rough weather prevailed at Plymouth…… Captain Nottage brought the Foxhound out stripped for the start, but the Bonnie Doon would not show and the match fell through.”
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA on Thursday 9 August 1888 - “TOWN PRIZE of £100, presented by the inhabitants of the town of Cowes” – Entries: Sleuthhound, Foxglove, Moina, Hyacinth, Petronilla, Irex, Constance, Mohawk, Erycina, Foxhound. “Foxhound won the prize.”
ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB on Tuesday 14 August 1888 - “Glorious weather was experienced on the Solent; but the breezes were exceptionally partial and baffling, and entirely marred the match for Her Majesty’s prize competed for at the Royal Victoria Regatta.” Neptune was the winner, Foxhound 5th place, Yarana (William Wadley Cranfield) 6th place.
ROYAL TORBAY REGATTA on Monday 27 August 1888…. “The Foxhound gave the Sybil a square beating.” “MATCH for yachts of 20 and not exceeding 39 Y.R.A. rating. First prize £20, second prize £10…… With more wind on the last turn the Foxhound fairly raced away from her rivals…. The times of arrival were:- Foxhound (winner) 4h. 7m. 52s; Sybil 4h. 15m. 27s.”
ROYAL DART YACHT CLUB REGATTA on Friday 31 August 1888 - “The weather was beautifully fine at Dartmouth, with calms and light baffling breezes until the afternoon, and consequently the racing was rather tedious and uneventful…. “MATCH, open to all yachts not exceeding 39 tons rating. First prize £30; second £15.” Neptune was the winner and Foxhound second.
DEERHOUND
THE YACHTING WORLD - 7 December 1894 - “OUR SKIPPERS’ GALLERY - CAPTAIN THOMAS JAY. A native of Rowhedge, in Essex, he is a type of the outspoken British seaman, and is undoubtedly one of the best racing skippers of the present day. After a long training in cruising and racing yachts, he gained the coveted position of skipper in 1888, his first charge being Foxhound, 40-tonner, the owner being Captain Nottage. 1889 saw him skipper of Deerhound, under the same owner, which post he held for three successive seasons....”
1888 - Deerhound, owned by Capt. Nottage and skippered by Tom Jay of Rowhedge, won a Queen’s Cup. Deerhound won first prize in every race she entered during the Riviera season, a feat only equalled by Britannia the following year.
Capt. Tom Jay
THE MORNING POST - 25 December 1894 - “DEATHS - NOTTAGE.- On the 24th inst. at the Palace Hotel, Kensington, after a long and painful illness, Captain Charles Nottage, only son of Lady Nottage and the late Alderman Nottage, of Collingham Road, South Kensington.”
HAMPSHIRE ADVERTISER - 2 January 1895 - “DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN YACHTSMAN - The death of Captain Charles George Nottage, who had figured very prominently in the yacht world during the last fifteen years, is announced, at the age of 42 years. He had suffered for the last four years from a very painful disease of the heart, and, with a full knowledge that any moment might be his last, he regarded his fate with great fortitude, and, one might even say, with cheerful resignation. He was only 38 when, four years ago, he was informed of his critical condition, and the news did not disturb his serenity of mind. With abundant wealth, a remarkably clear understanding, a good temper, considerable literary attainments, and a fine sense of humour, he was a most charming companion, and his friends will deeply mourn his loss. He was a member of the Council of the Y.R.A., and took more interest in that body than the outside world is generally aware. He first came prominently before the yacht racing world by the very complete manner in which he raced the cutter Foxhound, 35 tons. Subsequently he built the Deerhound, at Southampton, and established the 40 rating class. This yacht, as everyone knows, he raced most successfully at home and in the Mediterranean, but during the last four seasons he was compelled to relinquish racing, although occasionally he was to be found as a passenger on board a friend’s yacht in a match.- From The Field.”
GLASGOW HERALD - 12 January 1895 - “A meeting of the council of the Yacht Racing Association was held yesterday at the Royal London Yacht Club, Savile Row.... The Chairman moved that a letter of condolence be written to Lady Nottage on the death of her son, Captain C.G. Nottage, member of the council. All present seconded the motion.
A letter was read from the solicitors of the executors of the late Captain C.G. Nottage’s will, announcing that he had bequeathed £2,000 to the Yacht Racing Association. The bequest is accompanied by an instruction that the money is to be invested in American securities producing 4 percent interest, but not more than one-fourth in any one security. The interest is annually to be devoted to the purchase of a cup to be termed the “Nottage Cup”.....” etc, see below.
[The Earl of Dunraven was elected to the position on the council left vacant by the death of Capt. Nottage]
HAMPSHIRE ADVERTISER - 16 February 1895 - “IMPORTANT TO YACHTSMEN - Yachtsmen generally will read with interest the provisions of the will of the late Captain Charles George Nottage, of 35 Collingham Road, South Kensington, the only son of the late Alderman Nottage, who died worth £37,824. 7s. 5d. The testator, after making a number of bequests to various relatives, friends, and servants, bequeaths £2,000 to the Yacht Racing Association of Great Britain for the purpose of purchasing annually a cup to be awarded to “the most successful yacht of the season over 19 rating.” The council of the Association may, however, if they think fit, order the cup to be specially raced for at any time. The testator also bequeaths £1,500 to the National Lifeboat Institution to provide, maintain, and keep at some southern port a lifeboat; to the Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen’s Institution the sum of £3,000; and a similar sum to the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society. He also bequeaths to four trustees, specially named, a sum of £13,000 for the purpose of establishing an institution, to be called “The Nottage Institute,” at such place as the trustees shall think fit for the purpose of instructing yachtsmen and other sailors in the science of navigation. The residue of the testator’s property is bequeathed to Lady Nottage for life, with remainder as she shall appoint.”
THE YACHTING WORLD - 22 February 1895 - “It is not generally known that Captain Nottage did not die from heart disease, as is usually supposed. The cause of his delicate health, and his death, was a split lung. It is presumed that this rupture was caused by gymnastics or dumb-bells.”
NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST - 24 May 1895 - “In the Chancery Division yesterday, Mr. Justice Kekewich decided that a bequest of £2,000 to the Yacht Racing Association of Great Britain for the establishment of a prize to be given annually in perpetuity to the most successful yacht of the season of over 19 rating, under the title of the “Nottage Cup,” was not a valid gift.”
THE STANDARD (London) - 13 July 1895 - “THE LAW COURTS - COURT OF APPEAL. Before Lords Justices Lindley, Lopes, and Rigby. THE NOTTAGE CUP - RE NOTTAGE; JONES v. PALMER.- This was an appeal by the Yacht Racing Association of Great Britain from an order of Mr. Justice Kekewich, on May 23, holding that a bequest by Mr. Nottage of a sum of money for the purpose of providing a cup annually for yacht racing was invalid.
The testator bequeathed a sum of 2,000l. to the Yacht Racing Association of Great Britain, to be invested in the names of Trustees, and the Trustees were, out of the income of the fund, to purchase annually a cup, which was to be called the Nottage Cup, to be given to the most successful yacht of the season of over 19 rating. In the event of the Yacht Racing Association being dissolved or ceasing to exist, the Trustees to be appointed by the Council or Committee of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, who were to hold the fund upon similar trusts. Mr. Justice Kekewich had held that the gift was invalid on the grounds that it created a perpetuity and was not a charitable trust. In support of the appeal, it was argued that the bequest came under the head of charitable gifts for public and national purposes, for it was for a purpose beneficial to the community by promoting the building of yachts, educating seamen, and providing employment for a large portion of the seafaring population.- Mr. Warrington, Q.C., and Mr. Kenyon Parker appeared for the Association.- Counsel for the respondents were not called upon.- Their Lordships held that a mere legacy to provide a prize for sport could not be a charitable bequest, and consequently the view taken by Mr. Justice Kekewich was right.- the appeal was accordingly dismissed.”
HAMPSHIRE ADVERTISER - 4 December 1895 - “YACHTING - The late Captain Nottage willed a sum of £2,000 in perpetuity to the Yacht Racing Association to establish a sum for a Nottage Cup, to be sailed for under special conditions by British yachts. The courts held that such a sum could not be willed in perpetuity, as the object of the Yacht Racing Association does not come under the head of a charity. Lady Nottage has now, in memory of her son, and to carry out his intention, given a cup to be sailed for; and the first match for it is fixed to take place at Cowes not later than August 15, under the auspices of the Royal London Yacht Club. The cup will be open to one yacht only of each class exceeding 19 rating (or its equivalent under the new rating). The qualification for entry will be the highest proportion of first prizes to starts, provided the yacht has started not less than fifteen times in British waters during the season, private matches and sails over not to count.”
THE (ESSEX) NEWSMAN - 21 March 1896 - “Captain G.C. Nottage, of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, who died some time ago, by his will bequeathed £3,000 for the establishment of a training school for yachtsmen “at Wivenhoe, or somewhere on the banks of the Colne,” and a further sum of £10,000 on the death of his mother, to be devoted to the same purpose. Up to a few days ago nothing had been done to give practical effect to the scheme, but the trustees have now visited the Colne, and a committee has been formed consisting of three members from each of the yachting stations concerned, with the Deputy-Mayor of Colchester, Mr. Claude E. Egerton-Green, as chairman. There is little doubt that such as institution will receive the cordial support of the numerous yachtsmen who lay up their craft at Wivenhoe and other places on the Colne during the winter. Men turned out from such a college should be able to enhance the already splendid reputation which the yachtsmen of the Colne enjoy.
In his will Captain Nottage gives the fullest discretion to the trustees as to the appointment of a committee of management. Strange as it may seem, it is provided that no clergyman of any denomination shall be eligible to serve, that the institution should be carried on upon strictly secular lines, and that there are to be no books or periodicals of a religious character in the library. The college will be open not merely to men from the Colne, but to sailors from all parts of East Anglia. A sub-committee has been formed to look about for suitable premises.”
YACHTING WORLD - 8 January 1897 - "WIVENHOE. The Nottage Institute opened on Tuesday last."
