Above: launched in 1897, Burton’s first purpose-built racing design, Penitent, drawn by Arthur Payne, marked his entry into the competitive 52-footer division. The rivalry between Penitent (foreground) and the Fife-design Senga (to windward) soon overshadowed the rest of the fleet. Left: the ‘Conference’ which established the original International Rule in 1906. All of Europe’s greatest yachting experts had gathered to agree a formula that would allow different yachts to compete on equal terms, and no matter where that competition took place. A plethora of new Metre classes were then announced: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 19 and 23 Metres were all being promoted. Interesting that 114 years after the Conference we are back struggling to find one universally accepted rule for exactly the same purpose
relaunched from Robbe & Berking in Flens- burg after a full reconstruction: a brilliant rebirth followed by equally successful racing against the current fleet of Classic Twelves). Burton was elected to be one of Britain’s
two representatives at the 1906 Confer- ence with the veteran Froude, to sit along- side such world-famous experts as Nor- way’s Johan Anker, Denmark’s Alfred Benzon and distinguished representatives from many other countries. His job was to bring younger ideas to the melting pot, chosen to be the voice of the ‘practical racing man, who will see to it that they are in no way sacrificed… his keynote is unconventional enthusiasm’.
46 SEAHORSE The Yachtsman magazine declared that
Froude and Burton were ‘a happy combi- nation of theory and practice, science and business’. The Conference aim was pro- found: to set up an ‘International Rule’ that would enable participating nations to com- pete in each other’s waters within a com- pletely fair system. Between world wars Burton was to become the driving force of this new body called the International Yacht Racing Union. Now, in its first few years, he championed the new rule with mind, body and a very open cheque book. Alfred Mylne was delighted when
William returned to him in 1909 to replace Britomart (which had been racing with the
‘Fifteens’ as an ‘old boat’, as permitted under the rule), with the ‘proper’ 15 Metre Ostara. Burton battled in her against another seasoned racer, ‘Fiddler’ Payne, in his Fife-designed Vanity. Each man had a different style but they
were well-matched and their contests were marvellous to watch, with much swapping of the lead, inspired tacks and often only seconds between them at the end. Unfortu- nately Ostara’s glittering racing career ended sadly when she was later caught up in the Russian Revolution. On land, as on the water, Burton was a
man of action, driving committees rather than sitting in for the prestige. He was an
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