Page:The history of yachting.djvu/499

 Rh. From its situation, in the old days of sailing ships, it became a port of call, "Cowes and a market" being a familiar expression in bills of lading and charter parties.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century Cowes became a resort for yachtsmen, and in 1809 Sir William Curtis, owner of the cutter yacht Rebecca Maria, 76 tons, and one of the original members of The Yacht Club, asked permission to join the squadron of his Majesty's fleet, to which Mr. Percival, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, replied that as a friend he did not like to refuse Sir William's request, but in his official capacity he could not write to the Admiralty upon this subject unless Sir William would agree to put his yacht under their orders. This condition was at once accepted.

For some years prior to the establishment of The Yacht Club, yachtsmen were in the habit of dining together at Cowes, and amusing themselves in various ways. It is recorded that in July, 1800, a rowing-match took place from the gunboat in Cowes roads round the white buoy on the Brambles and back, for a purse of 30 guineas, the Fountain against the Vine, won by the latter. On the following day they rowed again, the Fountain being manned by four tailors and the Vine by four shoemakers. The Vine again proved successful. A running-match also took place from Castle Hill to Egypt Gate, between a lame shoemaker and a lame tailor, each carrying a crutch. The match was won by the tailor.