Page:The history of yachting.djvu/65

 Rh had seven yachts in his fleet. When Admiral Ruyter fought the fleet of the Duke of Albemarle and Prince Rupert on June 14, 1666, he had eight yachts attached to his fleet. An illustration of this famous battle, herewith, discloses two of the yachts just to windward of the flag-ship. When Ruyter defeated the combined fleets of England and France off Schevening, August 11, 1673, he had a squadron of fourteen yachts attached to his fleet. During this battle the memorable sea-duel took place between Admiral Tromp, in the Golden Lion, and Admiral Sir Edward Spragge, in the Royal Prince, when Spragge, backing his maintopsail, waited for Tromp to come up. After fighting for three hours, the Royal Prince was so disabled that Spragge took to his boat and went on board the St. George. Here he rehoisted his flag. At the same time Tromp changed his flag to the Comet, and renewed the fight with fury. The St. George lost her mainmast, and was so disabled that Spragge determined to change his flag,—this time to the Royal Charles. His boat, however, was sunk by a shot, and he was drowned alongside his ship. So ended this fierce encounter between the two famous admirals.

The State and Admiralty yachts varied in size. The work already quoted gives the particulars of one: 66 feet in length; 19 feet breadth; stern-post, 11 feet in length; 2 feet 3 inches rake; stem, 12 feet high, and 10 feet rake; keel, 54 feet in length, 12 inches wide, and 10 inches thick. The planking varied from 4 ½ to 3 inches in thickness, and