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IREX

Skippered at various times by Capt. George Pudney of Wivenhoe & by Rowhedge Capts. Charles Simons and Jesse Cranfield with local crewmen

Irex photographed by Stebbins.jpg
Irex Registry.jpg
Irex 01.jpg

Vessel: IREX        

Dates: 1/1/1896 to 30/6/1896

Official number: 90403        

List type: D & 07

Ownership: S TAYLOR CHADWICK, HAULFRE, BEAUMARIS

Registered: Portsmouth

Tonnage: 88 gross, 74 net

Master: GEORGE ROBERT PUDNEY, HIGH STREET, WIVENHOE, ESSEX

Archives: Portsmouth History Centre

Crew names:

Forename    Surname     Age/DOB    Birthplace   Capacity      Previous vessel

GEORGE ROBERT PUDNEY 1856 WIVENHOE, ESSEX, MASTER, SAME SHIP

JOHN HENRY BARR 1854 WIVENHOE, ESSEX, MATE, MARGARIT, 1896

GEORGE JENNER 1854 LOWESTOFT, BOATSWAIN, BERLIN, 1896

PHILIP CHISWICK 1861  WIVENHOE, ESSEX, AB, ALICIA, 1896

WALTER GREAVES 1872 BOLTON, AB, N C BULL, 1896

HENRY WARREN [7491] 1871  ROWHEDGE, AB, ELMA, 1896

GEORGE HARRIS 1874  TOLLESBURY, AB , BERTHA, 1896

STEPHEN PEARCE 1863 TOLLESBURY, AB, ULVA, 1895

JAMES COLE 1846 ROWHEDGE, STEWARD, SAME SHIP, 1895

ARTHUR DURRANT 1877 WIVENHOE, 2ND STEWARD, DORIS, 1895

GEORGE THROWER 1856 BRIGHTLINGSEA, CHIEF COOK, EVA, 1896

ARTHUR BARNARD [7532] 1877 ROWHEDGE, OS, BRILLIANT, 1895

 

 

Vessel: IREX

Dates: 10/5/1897 to 30/6/1897

Official number: 90403 

List type: D & 07

Ownership S TAYLOR CHADWICK ESQ, HAULFE, BEAUMARIS    

Registered: PORTSMOUTH

Tonnage: 88 gross, 74 net

Master: GEORGE R PUDNEY, HIGH STREET, WIVENHOE    

Archives: Portsmouth History Centre

Crew names:

Forename    Surname     Age/DOB    Birthplace   Capacity      Previous vessel

GEORGE ROBERT PUDNEY 1856 WIVENHOE, ESSEX, MASTER, SAME SHIP

JOHN HENRY BARR 1858 WIVENHOE, ESSEX, MATE, MARGARET, FISHING BOAT

BARTHOLOMEW  CRICKMORE 1849 EAST DONYLAND, ESSEX, 2ND MATE, ALTERTROPE, LONDON

ARTHUR SYRETT [1530] 1864 COLCHESTER, AB, LOCKWOOD CASTLE, LONDON

CLIFFORD BRIDGES 1870 WIVENHOE, AB, CASTLE AVENDALE, LONDON

DANIEL CARTER  1858  WIVENHOE, AB, BRITANNIA, COWES

ALLEN S. PEARCE 1863 TOLLESBURY, AB , RETFORD HALL, LONDON

HARRY BUTCHER 1874 BRIGHTLINGSEA, AB, RUAPEHU, LONDON

JAMES COLE 1846 EAST DONYLAND, STEWARD, RUAPEHU, LONDON

ROBERT CRANFIELD 1880 EAST DONYLAND, 2ND STEWARD, NEVA, FISHING BOAT

HENRY BIRD 1842 WIVENHOE, COOK, VOL-U-VENT

ALFRED MARTIN 1879  EAST DONYLAND, OS, FISHING

 

 

Vessel: IREX

Dates: 1/1/1898 to 30/6/1898

Official number: 90403 

List type: D & 07

Ownership: SAMUEL TAYLOR CHADWICK, HAULFIE, BEAUMARIS

Registered: PORTSMOUTH

Tonnage: 74 net

Master: GEORGE ROBERT PUDNEY, HIGH STREET, WIVENHOE  

Archives: Portsmouth History Centre

Crew names

Forename             Surname Age/DOB Birthplace     Capacity    Previous vessel

GEORGE ROBERT PUDNEY 1856 WIVENHOE, ESSEX , MASTER, SAME SHIP

 

 

The following newspaper articles show the progress of the IREX during July & August 1902 under Capt. Charles Simons of Rowhedge.


THE TIMES, London, England, Friday, 18 July 1902: THE ROYAL TEMPLE YACHT CLUB- "In the fourth days' racing at the Royal Temple Yacht Club, held off Deal yesterday, the chief event was the race for yachts exceeding 50 tons. The first prize, Coronation Trophy, of the value of £100 presented by the inhabitants of Deal & Walmer, was raced for by CICELY, GLORY, BRYNHILD, NAMARA, IREX, CREOLE & GWYNETH. CREOLE won the first prize, NAMARA the second, and BRYNHILD the third."


THE TIMES, London, England, Monday, 21 July 1902: ROYAL CINQUE PORTS YACHT CLUB- In a match for yachts exceeding 50 Thames tons, over a course from Dover to Boulogne & back, a distance of 50 miles, the IREX, a cutter of 88 tons was placed fifth. Her handicap was 29 minutes 10 seconds. The winner, CICELY, completed the course in 7 hours 48 minutes & 7 seconds with the IREX recording 8 hours 13 minutes & 45 seconds.

 

THE TIMES, London, England, Thursday, 24 July 1902: INTERNATIONAL REGATTA AT OSTEND- "Three matches were sailed off Ostend yesterday in the International Yachting Regatta in a fair breeze. In the match for yachts exceeding 50 tons- First prize £45, second prize £14- there was an entry of 11." Also: IREX is mentioned as being an absentee.


THE TIMES, London, England, Saturday, 26 July 1902: THE INTERNATIONAL REGATTA AT OSTEND- "The principal event of the International Yachting Regatta at Ostend was sailed yesterday over a 40 miles course in the North Sea. This was the handicap for yachts exceeding 50 tons, with the Town Cup & £100 as first prize. The match was started at 11 o'clock, & 11 yachts entered, of which eight were British, the remainder German. They were NAMARA, CREOLE, TUTTY, COLUMBINE, BRYNHILD, CICELY, CLARA, IREX, BONA, NAVAHOE & COMET. A fair south-westerly breeze resulted in a highly interesting match." Winner; NAVAHOE, second; BONA. Other placings not mentioned.

 

THE TIMES, London, England, Monday, 28 July 1902: "The German Emperor's Cup, presented for competition at the forthcoming regatta of the Royal Yacht Squadron, is a massive work. The body is of polished silver with three handles placed triangular fashion. The following inscription is engraved upon it:- "Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta, 1902. The gift of H.M. the German Emperor." The Kaiser's second prize in the same race is a vase of Berlin china, treated with soft colours, & bearing richly executed medallions. The third prize, is a hand-painted tea set, each of the articles bearing appropriate scenes."

​

THE TIMES, London, England, Thursday, 31 July 1902: "The German Emperor has removed the restriction confining the race for his cup at the Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta next week to yachts built in Europe. It will now be open to vessels built anywhere & owned by a member of any recognized yacht club. The other rules laid down by the Squadron Committee have been approved by his Majesty.

 

THE TIMES, London, England, Monday, 4 August 1902: "...A capital entry has been received for the Emperor's Cup, which is open to all boats of over 40 tons which have not started in class races during this or last season. The conditions of the race, which have been slightly altered from the original programme, are that no paid hands are to be carried beyond the ordinary crew, with the exception of a pilot. Jackyards are not allowed, & the sailing committee will handicap the competitors. The Emperor's Cup will go to the first vessel finishing within her time, the second prize to the next vessel by time of another rig, and the third prize to the vessel next to the winner within her time, irrespective of rig. A really splendid entry has been received for this race including; LEANDER, yawl, 98tons; CETONIA, schooner, 203; GLORY, yawl, 205; CICELY, schooner, 260; BRYNHILD, yawl, 153; LYDIA, yawl, 55; FIONA, yawl, 151; CLARA, schooner, 185; PALMOSA, cutter, 49; IREX, cutter, 88; NAMARA, yawl, 102; CREOLE, cutter, 54; BONA, yawl, 123; FIONA, cutter, 86.

- On Thursday the Royal Yacht Squadron have three events included in their programme. The chief match is a handicap for the Town Cup (a piece of plate presented by the inhabitants of the town of Cowes), which is open to all yachts of 60 linear rating or upwards belonging to any recognized yacht club, the entries are:- METEOR III, The German Emperor, schooner; NAVAHOE, yawl, Consul G. Watjen; IREX, cutter, Mr H. Margetti."

 

THE TIMES, London, England, Tuesday, 5 August 1902: COWES WEEK- A handicap race for cruisers exceeding 50 tons Thames measurement. First prize £40, second £15, third £5. Entries include IREX who is allowed 23 minutes, 20 seconds.

"The starting gun was fired at 10.30. TUTTY was first away to windward, then came NAVAHOE, BRYNHILD, & CREOLE in the order named. IREX, COLUMBINE, & LEANDER brought up the rear. It was a beat down to the Solent bank buoy & a run back up the Western Channel with spinnakers to starboard. Passing through Cowes Roads on the Eastward journey BONA was leading TUTTY by five minutes with BRYNHILD & NAMARA well up. The two latter, sailing more over to the Hampshire coast, took in their spinnakers early, but TUTTY keeping close to the island caught a freer wind & was able to carry her big ring sail for a much larger distance than the others. CREOLE was four minutes astern of the NAMARA, & then came IREX & COLUMBINE in close attendance, with LEANDER a long way behind. They sailed in this order to the Ryde Middle & beat back to the starting line, where the times for the first round were;- BONA 1hour, 12 mins, 13secs. TUTTY 1.18.5. BRYNHILD 1.20.18. NAMARA 1.44.5. CREOLE 1.27.18. IREX 1.37.10. COLUMBINE 1.38.34. LEANDER gave up.

The breeze fell lighter in the second round, & BONA did not do so well. There was a grand struggle between CREOLE & NAMARA, the former winning the first prize by less than a minute. Finishing times:- BONA 3.38.23. TUTTY (third prize) 3.45.31. BRYNHILD 3.49.12. NAMARA (second prize) 3.51.35. CREOLE (first prize) 3.58.10. IREX 4.7.56. COLUMBINE 4.8.37."

​

NEW YORK TIMES - Thursday 7 August 1902. "EMPEROR'S METEOR III. WON. American-built Schooner First in Match Race at Cowes. Irex won Emperor's Cup. COWES, Isle of Wight, Aug. 6. The chief race to-day in the regatta of the Royal Yacht Squadron was for the Emperor's Cup, and was won by the Irex on time allowance. She finished fifth. The Cicely finished first and the Navahoe second, but after deducting time allowance the Irex was declared the winner, with the Cetonia second and the Fiona third."

​

THE TIMES, London, England, Thursday, 7 August 1902: COWES WEEK- "There was a complete change in the weather conditions yesterday. In place of the bright sunshine which prevailed on Tuesday, the sky was leaden-hued, and rain fell heavily throughout the day. Fortunately the wind held true from the South in moderate strength, giving the yachts a reach all round the course, which was consequently covered in exceptionally fast time....There was a record entry for the Emperor's Cup race, 17 yachts being named on the programme, of which 16 started, making a fine spectacle as, with considerable way on, they reached through the starting line in a cluster. The handicap, which can have been no easy task to make with so many boats of various rigs engaged, worked out admirably, seconds only dividing many of the competitors when the times were corrected. IREX was winner, CETONIA being second, and FIONA, cutter (not Lord Camden's vessel- yawl of the same name), third."

 

Full account of the race:

"RACE for the EMPEROR'S CUP, presented by H.I.M. the German Emperor, with second and third prizes, for all yachts of 40 tons, Thames measurement, and upwards, which have not started in class races during this or last season. No paid hands to be carried beyond the ordinary crew of the vessel, with the exception of a pilot: jackyardtopsails not allowed. The Emperor's prize to go to the first vessel arriving within her time, the second prize to go to the next vessel by time of another rig, and the third prize to go to the next vessel within her time irrespective of rig. Old Queen's Course, from the Squadron Castle to the Bullock Patch Buoy, thence round Lymington Spit Buoy and back to the starting-line: once round. 

Entries:
Leander, Rig; Yawl, 98 tons, Handicap; 35 mins, Owner Hon. R. Guinness

Cetonia, Schooner, 203, 39 mins, Lord Iveagh

Glory, Yawl, 205, 29 mins, Sir H. Seymour King

Cicely, Schooner, 260, 4 mins, Mr. Cecil Quentin

Brynhild, Yawl, 158, 17 mins 20 secs, Sir James Pender

Navahoe, Yawl, 232, Scratch, Mr. G.W.Watjen

Lygia, Yawl, 63, 55 mins, Mr. Alfred Scheitlin

Columbine, Yawl, 81, 51 mins, Mr. A.F. Flynn

Fiona, Yawl, 15,1 51 mins, Marquis of Camden

Leander, Yawl, 49, 1 hour 20 mins, Mr. W. D. Gainsford

Fiona, Cutter, 80, 56 mins, Mr. H.M. Rait

Clara, Schooner, 185, 22 mins 20 secs, Herr Max Guilleaume

Palmosa, Cutter, 49, 56 mins, Mr. J.A. Sanderson

Irex, Cutter, 88, 38 mins, Mr. H. Marguetti

Namara, Yawl, 102, 38 mins, Mr. W. Paget

Creole, Cutter, 54, 45 mins 3, secs, Colonel Bagot

Bona, Yawl, 123, 8 mins 30 secs, Mr. Peter Donaldson

 

Glory did not start. The starting gun was fired at 10.15, when they all reached down to the line in close company. The leading boats had timed the gun to a nicety. BONA and Lord Camden's FIONA going through immediately after the flash. NAMARA, close up, was third, to leeward of PALMOSA, which, in turn, was to leeward of CREOLE; CICELY was sixth: then in a group came LYGIA, the other FIONA, Mr. Guinness's LEANDER, NAVAHOE, BRYNHILD, and Mr. Gainsford's LEANDER, CLARA, IREX, on CETONIA'S weather, and COLUMBINE brought up the rear.

 As the vessels disappeared in the haze past Old Castle Point, BONA seemed to be holding her own well. CICELY, however, soon made up ground, and sailing past the Gillkicker Fort, Mr. Quentin's schooner was leading the fleet. The yachts were timed at this point:-

CICELY 10H.43m.30s; NAVAHOE 10.44.12; BONA 10.45.37; CLARA 10.46.25; BRYNHILD 10.47.7; NAMARA 10.47.55; IREX 10.48.15; CREOLE 10.49.58; LEANDER 10.50.12; COLUMBINE 10.50.47; PALMOSA 10.50.49; LYGIA 10.51.7; CETONIA 10.51.43; FIONA 10.52.12; LEANDER (49 tons) 10.56.0.

The Bullock Patch Buoy was obscured by a thick haze, and it was impossible to time the boats round the mark. When they again came in sight, off Cowes going west-ward, it was seen that CICELY had drawn out a little more from NAVAHOE, IREX had changed places with NAMARA, and CETONIA, from 13th, had sailed into seventh place. CLARA carried away her foretopmast and was obliged to give up. This was very unfortunate, as she had been sailing splendidly, and when the accident happened was well within her time. A very similar fate befell the lesser LEANDER (Mr. Gainsford's). Passing the Squadron Castle, with a strong tide helping to send them along at a rare pace, the vessels were timed:-

CICELY 12H.43m.5s; NAVAHOE 12.50.10; BONA 1.0.31; BRYNHILD 1.1.51; IREX 1.4.51; NAMARA 1.10.55; CETONIA 1.12.6; LEANDER (98 tons) 1.12.30; COLUMBINE 1.22.3; CREOLE 1.23.30; FIONA (cutter) 1.23.55; LYGIA 1.24.55; PALMOSA 1.20.3; FIONA (yawl) 1.49.30.
They were soon down to the Lymington mark, and reaching back with the wind on the starboard beam, the vessels finished a quickly-sailed race at the following times:-

CICELY 2H.15m.27s; NAVAHOE 2.16.47; BONA 2.32.37; BRYNHILD 2.34.4; IREX (WINNER) 2.39.36; CETONIA (second prize) 2.42.27; LEANDER 2.45.53; NAMARA 2.51.42; FIONA (cutter) (third prize) 3.0.3; COLUMBINE 3.1.35; CREOLE 3.4.29; LYGIA 3.6.42; PALMOSA 3.10.53.

 

ESSEX COUNTY STANDARD – Saturday 11 April 1903 - "EAST DONYLAND – YACHTING - …Captain Charles Simons left here on Monday morning with a crew of twelve to join the racing yacht Irex, which will fit out at Shoreham. The good wishes of the parish follow them.”

 

ESSEX COUNTY STANDARD – Saturday 18 April 1903 - "EAST DONYLAND – IREX CREW AT FOOTBALL – On Easter Monday the crew of the yacht Irex played a football match at Shoreham, Sussex, with the Shoreham Ramblers, and won by 3 goals to nil. The Irex’s XI was:- A.J. Jay, goal; Scarff and Knights, backs; Cook, Pearman, and Gould, halves; Barnard, Dyer, Cuddington, Saunders, and Garratt, forwards.”

 

ESSEX COUNTY STANDARD – Saturday 30 May 1903 - "EAST DONYLAND – YACHTING….The racing yacht Irex, Capt. Charles Simons, who fitted out at Shoreham, and whose crew have had a few days leave, left the Colne on Wednesday last, for her racing contests.”

IREX - The Yachtsman 1904.jpg
Capt. Charles Henry SIMONS 1852-1924.jpg
German Emperor's Cup - Illustrated Londo
IREX card.jpg
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