THE
ROYAL YACHTS
Richard Johnstone-Bryden chronicles the monarchy’s connection with sailing in this new series. Part One:
THE FATHER of YACHTING
A 40 CLASSIC BOAT FEBRUARY 2012
s rulers of a maritime nation, our monarchs have never had the sea far from their thoughts. Historically, their gilded barges and sailing ships were integral elements of the spectacle of monarchy, but also provided an effective and prestigious means of travelling either to Europe or around their kingdom. By the 16th century, the concept of sailing purely for fun was beginning to dawn. A very established local legend on the Isle of Wight has it that Queen Elizabeth I led the way with the pinnace Rat O’ Wight, diminutive in size and built on the island’s River Medina. Questions remain about this aspect of her history, but it is known that Rat O’ Wight was one of six vessels sent by the Island’s Governor, Sir George Carey, to join the English Fleet before it opposed the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth’s successor James I commissioned the Royal
family’s next pleasure vessel in January 1604 for his eldest son, Henry, Prince of Wales, so that he could learn how to sail on the River Thames. To fulfil the King’s
wishes, the Lord High Admiral, the Earl of Nottingham, wrote to the shipwright, Phineas Pett, and told him to begin work on a scaled-down version of HMS Ark Royal. Describing her construction in Chatham Dockyard, Phineas Pett recalled in his autobiography, “This little ship was in length by the keel 25ft, and 12ft in breadth, garnished with painting and carving both within board and without. I laid her keel the 19th day of January, wrought upon her as well by day as all night by torch and candle lights under a great awning made with sails for that purpose. The 6th day of March after, I launched the ship, being upon a Tuesday, with a noise (band) of trumpets, drums and such like ceremonies.” Three days later, she sailed down the Medway bound for the Thames, manned by choice men under the command of Phineas Pett, who was formally appointed to the Court of King James as the ship’s keeper and captain. On arrival at the Tower of London, she was dressed overall prior to Prince Henry’s inspection of his new craft on 14 March. Once the dignitaries had left, the
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