EAST DONYLAND​ / ROWHEDGE

1894

Yachting World - 22 March 1894 - Composite auxiliary steam yacht Xarifa (John Samuel White’s yard) ready for launching - middle of next month.

Yachting World - 26 Apr 1894 - “Xarifa launched last week”... owned by Mr. Franklyn M. Singer, 560 tons, auxiliary brigantine-rigged yacht, “one of the largest and finest steam yachts of modern times.” at Cowes Saturday morning. Probably be commissioned in early June.

Saturday 28 April 1894 - “LAUNCH OF THE XARIFA.- A splendid new yacht for Mr. Singer was launched from Mr. John Samuel White’s yard at East Cowes soon after eleven o’clock on Saturday morning. The event created much public interest, and the yard and adjacent quays and wharves were full of spectators. Mrs. Singer gracefully christened the vessel Xarifa, and the launch was a great success. The yacht, which is to be superbly furnished, is a handsome model and is the largest yet built at Cowes. She is 193 feet long (over all), 26ft. 6in. wide, 17ft. deep, and her tonnage being 552. She is composite built, and will have auxiliary steam power. To celebrate the launch Mr. Singer gave every man in the yard 5s., which they chose in preference to having a launch supper.”

19 May 1894 - “COWES.- Lallow is constructing a set of boats for Mr. Singer’s new yacht Xarifa.”

Monday 25 June 1894 - “TERRIBLE FALL FROM ALOFT - A YACHTSMAN KILLED. On Saturday morning a fatal accident happened on board the Xarifa, the new yacht built for Mr. Singer, which is lying off the yard of Mr. J.S. White, the builder, at Cowes. An able seaman named Harry Smart, aged 30 years, one of the yacht’s crew, was in rigging varnishing, when he slipped and fell to the deck, a distance of 43 feet. Captain Mundell, the captain of the yacht, immediately ran to him, and medical aid was procured with all speed. Drs. Damant and John Hoffmeister and another medical practitioner attended, and found that the poor fellow’s right thigh and both arms were fractured. He had also sustained terrible injuries to the head, and was in a comatose condition. He was conveyed to his home in Pelham-road, where he died about an hour after the fall. An inquest was held at the Granville Inn this morning, when the Jury returned a verdict of accidental death.”

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THE YACHTSMAN – 28 June 1894.- “An exceedingly sad accident happened on board Mr. F. M. Singer’s steam yacht Xarifa on Saturday morning. A young man by the name of Smart was working near the truss of the foreyard, when he fell to the deck, a distance of more than 50 feet, and was terribly shattered, his arms, legs, and ribs being completely broken up. From the first it was seen that there was no possible hope for him, and after lingering in dreadful agony for nearly an hour and a half, he breathed his last. Harry Smart was one of the finest specimens of the British sailor that ever trod the deck of a ship, and the captain and all on board the ship deeply deplore his sad end. The Xarifa was lying off Mr. John Samuel White’s Falcon Yard, and is rapidly approaching completion.”

Wednesday 11 July 1894 - “COWES - YACHTING-. The Xarifa, s.s., goes out of harbour this morning, and after a short cruise will return to be fitted with the electric light.”

Saturday 14 July 1894 - “COWES.- YACHTING. Mr. Singer’s new auxiliary steam yacht Xarifa, 566 tons, went out for the trial of her machinery on Wednesday. The contract speed was 11¼ knots, but she developed 11¾ knots, the engines worked with remarkable smoothness, and the trial was altogether of a most satisfactory character. On Tuesday the vessel goes to Torquay to take Mr. Singer on board, and then proceeds to Cherbourg.”

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THE YACHTSMAN – 19 July 1894 – “ COWES.- A fine, noble-looking ship is Mr. Franklyn M. Singer’s new auxiliary brigantine just designed and built by Mr. John Samuel White, of the Falcon Yard and Medina Dock. Her dimensions are: Length overall, 193 ft.; breadth, extreme, 26 ft. 6 in.; tonnage, builder’s measurement, 556. She has a clipper stem and square stern, with a graceful sheer fore and aft. The accommodation consists of main and deck saloons, owner’s and six other state-rooms, baths, w.c.’s, officers’ quarters, and forecastle. The state-rooms are exquisitely furnished in rare polished hardwoods, the furniture, upholstery, and hangings being exceedingly choice. Electric bells are fitted throughout in a most elaborate manner. The engines are of the compound surface-condensing type, with cylinders 16 in. and 38 in. by 30 in. stroke, working at 150 lb. steam pressure. Steam is supplied by a boiler 14 ft. 3 in. diameter by 9 ft. 6 in. long, having three corrugated furnaces. These proportions were adopted to secure the economical advantages of the triple-expansion engine, and to avoid the condensation and loss of effect usually experienced in triple engines when running at low speed. At the same time the machinery occupies less space, and is less expensive to maintain. The anticipated economy was fully realised on trial, the coal consumption being remarkably small.

The conditions to be fulfilled on the trial referred to were a speed of 11¼ knots as a mean of six runs on the measured mile, and afterwards a speed of 10¼ knots to be maintained for six hours continuously. The actual mean speed realised on the mile was 11.736 knots in the teeth of a strong head wind, boiler pressure being 150 lb., vacuum 27½, revolutions 112, I.H.P. 650. After this the engines were eased down to 98 revolutions, giving a mean speed of 10.6 knots; and this rate was maintained with ease during the six hours the trial continued. Built of teak and steel, the Xarifa is a splendid yacht, and worthy of the designer and builder who has turned her out.

The Xarifa having completed her equipment, left the port on Wednesday for Torquay.”

THE YACHTING WORLD - 3 August 1894 - “TRIAL TRIP OF XARIFA. On the 11th July this fine steam yacht had her official trial trip, everything working very satisfactorily, exceeding the owner’s and the builder’s expectations. Xarifa was built for Mr. Franklin M. Singer, by Mr. John Samuel White. She has been built to the highest class at Lloyd’s, and is of the following dimensions:- Length over all, 193ft.; breadth extreme, 26ft. 6in.; tonnage, 556 builder’s measurement. The yacht is brigantine-rigged. The accommodation consists of main saloon, owner’s room, six state rooms, and officers’ quarters, baths, w.c.’s, &c.

The cabins are fitted in polished hardwoods with upholstery to match. Engines are of the compound surface condensing type, with cylinders 16in. and 38in. diameter by 30in. stroke, working at 150lbs. steam pressure. Steam is supplied by one boiler, 14ft. 3in. diam. by 9ft. 6in. long, having three corrugated furnaces. These proportions were adopted in order to secure the economical  advantages of the triple expansion engine, and to avoid the condensation and loss of effect usually experienced in triple engines when running at low speed. At the same time the engines occupy less space and are less expensive to maintain. The anticipated economy was fully realised on the trial, the coal consumption being remarkably small. The actual mean speed realised was 11.736 knots against a strong head wind, boiler pressure being 150lbs, vacuum 27½, revolutions 112, indicated h.p. 650. Both vessel and engines were designed by Mr. John Samuel White.”