Plate XXIII.THE "GRETA," OF 1876.Larger image
Plate XXIII.
THE "GRETA," OF 1876.
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THE "GRETA," OF 1895.Larger image
THE "GRETA," OF 1895.
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These were exciting times in Clyde yachting. It was then that Lord Dunraven and Sir Thomas Lipton madetheir gallant but unsuccessful efforts to recover the America cup with Clyde-built boats, while the performances of theBritannia, owned by the then Prince of Wales, now His Majesty the King, and of theMeteor, belonging to the German Emperor, gave a distinction to the sport which it had never enjoyed before.
The Mudhook Yacht Club was formed in 1873 by a few skilled yacht designers and yachtsmen, and included Robert Sinclair Scott, Colin William Scott, and James Reid. The membership was limited to forty, and the aim of the founders was to "encourage amateur yacht sailing." There were many inspirations connected with the founding of the club; there is a tradition that when a "Mudhooker" was being initiated, he was usually confronted with a coil of rope, a small marlinspike, a chart and dividers, a forecastle bucket and other implements; and, before the hand of fellowship was extended to him, he was exercised, with more or less of solemnity, as to their uses. From the foundation of the Club until his death in 1905, Robert Sinclair Scott was Admiral of the Club. For twenty-nine years from the same period his brother, Colin William Scott, acted as Honorary Secretary, and his great services were recognised on the club attaining its majority in 1894, by the presentation by the members of a set of old candelabra and fruit dishes. The present Honorary Secretary is R. L. Scott, son of John Scott, C.B.
Although, as we have said, the Scotts never owned racing yachts, they have built for themselves and for others a long succession of beautiful steam yachts, as recorded in the Table on page 69. In all, seven yachts have been built in succession for the Scotts themselves. Each was named theGreta, after a small stream which runs through the Halkshill Estate, excepting the last, which was called theGrianaig, the Gaelic for Greenock.
The lastGretais exactly double the length of the first,while the yacht tonnage is practically eightfold. The successive steps are marked. TheGretaof 1876 was 76 ft. long, and of 53 tons, and she was at once purchased by a Kilmarnock lady, Miss Finnie. The vessel built for John Scott, C.B., in the following year was slightly larger, and she also was coveted and secured. In 1878 a still larger ship was built, and for many years this craft continued in the possession of its original owner, but in 1892 was displaced by a vessel of greater size, of 135 ft. 6 in. in length, and of 230 tons yacht displacement. Other vessels followed at periods of three years, and theGretaof 1898 was 154 ft. long, and of 393 tons.
Many other notable vessels were constructed in the same period for other owners; and while it is not possible to refer to all of them, mention may be made of theTuscarora, built in 1897, for William Clark, Esq., of Paisley. This vessel, which is illustrated on Plate XXIV., is 170 ft. long, and of 775 tons. She had a bridge and promenade deck 104 ft. long; and there were ten state-rooms and large saloons for the owner and his guests. Built for oversea cruising, she had a very complete installation of refrigerating machinery. The triple-expansion engines with which she was fitted developed 1030 horse-power when running at 150 revolutions, equal to a piston speed of 675 ft. per minute. Steam was supplied by a single-ended boiler.
A much larger vessel—indeed, the largest of the type constructed by the firm—was theMargarita, constructed for A. J. Drexel, Esq., of Philadelphia, to the designs of the late Mr. G. L. Watson, who did so much for the advance of the science of naval architecture as applied to sailing and steam yachts. This vessel is of 272 ft. in length, with a displacement of 2522 tons. For the owner and his guests there are thirteen large state-rooms, and the general saloons include dining, drawing, and smokingrooms, a boudoir, and a children's nursery. The yacht is equipped with all the accessories of the modern liner, including refrigerating appliances. It is propelled at a speed of over 17 knots by twin-screws, operated by two independent sets of triple-expansion, four-cylinder engines, balanced to obviate vibration.