Misplaced Pages

#303696

41-589: M/V Kwasind is a passenger ferry built in 1912 for the Royal Canadian Yacht Club , in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. She is 71 feet (22 m) long. She was built by the Polson Iron Works and cost CA$ 13,000 . Her name was taken from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 's poem about Hiawatha , as the yacht club's previous ferry is Hiawatha . Kwasind has served as a ferry for the yacht club since 1912. She

82-498: A break for both the First and Second World Wars, until the advent of the new maple leaf flag of Canada in 1965. As the club's yachts grew increasingly sophisticated, members' tastes in designs diverged. Early examples hewed closely to the extreme British plank-on-edge style that relied on ballast, not hull-form, for stability. As the century wore on, Canadian designers such as Alexander Cuthbert and A. Cary Smith began to incorporate more of

123-436: A decades-long hiatus, cored composites are now used in most aircraft. Club members retained a close relationship with the company until the sale of its name to US interests. In the late 1970s, a group of members engaged designer Mark Ellis and builder George Hinterhoeller to make six 30-foot (9.1 metres) cruising yachts that could comfortably be sailed by one person. The Nonsuch series (named for Henry Hudson 's vessel) had

164-800: A growing client base of wealthy Clyde industrialists. Notable examples include the Coats family of Paisley and the Allan Brothers of the famous Scots-Canadian shipping line. Watson's successes on the proving ground of the Clyde soon attracted larger commissions from more high-profile clients such as the Vanderbilt family , Earl of Dunraven , Sir Thomas Lipton , the Rothschild family , Charles Lindsay Orr-Ewing , Whitaker Wright and Wilhelm II, German Emperor . Commissioning amongst others, four America's Cup challengers and

205-505: A large cash prize and a splendid trophy by Tiffany & Co. The RCYC yacht Canada , designed by William Fife and sailed under Æmilius Jarvis , defeated Vencedor and won the cash and cup. The Canada owners' syndicate then donated the cup to the club for perpetual cross-border competition, and the Canada's Cup has since then been "the Great Lakes' most prestigious trophy" and an emblem of

246-471: A new approach. The first club boat to the new International Rule was the 6-Metre Merenneito . The new Rule so impressed members that three 8-Metres were built to challenge for the Canada's Cup: Vision ( Camper & Nicholsons ); Quest (William Fife); and Norseman ( William Roué ). A fourth Eight, Invader II was built but was no more successful. Star boats joined the fleet in 1935. At about that time,

287-632: Is an extensive chef’s garden cared for by about 25 volunteers as well as an extensive rose garden which dates back to the early 1940s The island clubhouse is linked to the city by a launch service operated by two notable launches, both over a century old and built for the club. The Hiawatha built in 1895 and the Kwasind built in 1912 which sail from a dock on the Ship Channel of the Toronto Harbour where it meets Cherry Street. With its merger with

328-541: The Thistle for the Scottish syndicate headed by Sir James Bell, two yachts named Valkyrie for Lord Dunraven, and Shamrock II for Sir Thomas Lipton. Watson's yachts were met with a range of successes and competed in typically controversial Cup contests but never managed to win the trophy. Thistle was sold to Kaiser Willem of Germany ; Valkyrie II was sunk in a collision with the cutter Satanita (Joseph M. Soper, 1893) on

369-617: The America's Cup in 1876, and while the Countess of Dufferin was unsuccessful on the water, her owner was more successful at the negotiating table, and weaned the New York Yacht Club from its habit of requiring the challenger to race against its entire fleet. In 1878, the club's yachts were granted the privilege of wearing the Blue Ensign , defaced with a crown in the fly. This endured, with

410-495: The Province of Canada , "Toronto" gave way to "Canadian" in the club's name. The first clubhouse was established in a building owned by Sir Casimir Gzowski , near the present site of Union Station . After a short tenancy, the club moved to a one-storey building erected on a scow moored just east of Simcoe Street. This served from 1853 until 1858, when it was replaced by the steamer Provincial . The Provincial provided shelter until

451-549: The 14-footer fleet, precursor to the International 14 , formed. The club was quiet through the war years 1939 to 1945, but rebounded with peace (and generous fee rebates to those who had served). Expanding membership required expansion of the leasehold over the whole of South Island. In 1954, Venture II reclaimed the Canada's Cup, ending 51 years at the Rochester Yacht Club. The same year, Hurricane Hazel badly damaged

SECTION 10

#1732856150304

492-536: The 1829 Rainhill Trials . As a young boy in the late 1850s Watson often spent holidays at Inverkip on the Firth of Clyde , where through his friendship the local skipper William Mackie he developed his passion for yachts and resolved to make naval architecture his living. At the age of 16 Watson became an apprentice draughtsman at the shipyard of Robert Napier and Sons in Glasgow. During his training at Napier's yard Watson

533-403: The Canada's Cup was a springboard for a new partnership of designers and builders under the name C&C Yachts . C&C, at one time the largest yacht builder in the world, used balsa core in all of its many models, validating cored-laminate technology that is now used in most yachts, racing or cruising. Yachting use of cored laminates arguably led to aviation's re-discovery of the concept; after

574-695: The Carlton Club in 1974, the club gained a winter home in the city (and the addition of racquet sports to its attractions). Ten years later in 1984, the new city clubhouse, opened at 141 St. George St. in the Annex. It is an all-year facility, and provides dining and social spaces, squash and badminton courts, fitness and other facilities. RCYC possesses one of the finest collections of yacht models in North America, in spite of clubhouse fires in 1896, 1904 and 1918 that consumed many valuable examples. The model of Minota

615-566: The City Club bar provide the most comprehensive available guide to the class's development over a 100-year span. George Lennox Watson George Lennox Watson (30 October 1851 – 12 November 1904) was a Scottish naval architect . Born in Glasgow , son of Thomas Lennox Watson, a doctor at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary , and grandson of Sir Timothy Burstall, engineer and entrant at

656-400: The Clyde. Both the large cutters, Valkyrie III & Shamrock II were broken up following their defeats. In the early years of his adult life Watson was devoted to his company as well as close friends and family. He had little time for courting and it was not until his later years that Watson courted and married Ms Lovibond of Putney, London. Their wedding was described as "a gathering of

697-511: The First World War's end, first with the purchase of four P-Boats in 1919, which were then sold to members, then the acquisition of a number of one-design 25-footers known as the C-Boats. These one-design sloops, designed by TBF Benson, fostered close club and inter-club racing, raising everyone's skill and pleasure. The Universal Rule's leaning toward large and costly boats, though, called out for

738-586: The North American 14 fleet. Sailing wing-sail catamarans designed by former C&C Yachts designer Steve Killing, club member Fred Eaton won the International C-Class Catamaran Championship , sailed at RCYC in 2007 and at New York Yacht Club , Newport, Rhode Island, USA in 2010. Early development included foiling vessels that were unsuccessful against immersed hulls in light Lake Ontario airs. Eaton's team's development progress and

779-526: The Toronto waterfront; yachts were then moved from moorings in the harbour to docks in the lagoons between the islands. The second objective of the club is to "promote yacht architecture, building and sailing…" In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, the club's greatest contribution was through the continuing development of the Fourteen class by TBF Benson, Charlie Bourke, and Fred Buller , making a significant contribution to

820-438: The beamy looks of a traditional U.S. East Coast cat-boat, the underbody of a modern cruising yacht, much sail and the accommodations of a much larger yacht. Eventually, nearly a thousand were built, from 22 to 36 feet (6.8 to 10.9 metres). During the first half of the 1980s, the club's International 14 fleet championed the development of a series of designs by member Jay Cross . Powerful and readily planed, Cross designs dominated

861-511: The character of the Esplanade … originally … flanked by handsome residences and the bright blue waters of the Bay." To reach the new location, the club purchased the clipper-bowed steam launch Esperanza and secured landing rights at the foot of Yonge Street , which it held until 1953 (evolution of the waterfront led to further moves — to York Street until 1979, then to Parliament Street until 2011, when

SECTION 20

#1732856150304

902-646: The club are: At an informal meeting in 1850, eight local citizens laid the foundation for the Toronto Boat Club. The club was formally established in 1852. In 1853, the club revised its name to the Toronto Yacht Club. On the advice of its patron, Lord Elgin, the club changed its name to the Canadian Yacht Club later in 1853. That same year, the club petitioned the Crown for a Royal warrant. The petition

943-535: The club occupies three islands in the chain that forms the south side of Toronto harbour. The island clubhouse with its porticoed verandahs, Toronto's largest wooden building, houses a ballroom, dining rooms and other social spaces. Other buildings house the sailing management offices, the junior club, lockers and workspace for the club's mechanics, riggers, woodworkers and marine yard workers. Island activities include sailing lessons for juniors and adults, sailing in club-owned boats, tennis, swimming and lawn bowling. There

984-483: The club's commitment to yacht racing. The 1881 clubhouse burned in 1904. A new building by Henry Sproatt was completed in 1906 but burned in 1918. The remains served until completion of the present building to a slightly modified version of Sproatt's design in 1922. By 1900, yacht design had progressed to the point that a new measurement rule was required. A lakes-specific rule and scantlings were published, but never built to. Eventually, Æmilius Jarvis in 1910 built

1025-537: The direct participation or observation by AC team members in the 2010 event significantly influenced the decision to sail the 2013 America's Cup in wing-sail catamarans. In the summer of 2015, the club hosted sailing events for the 2015 Pan American Games . Forty-eight RCYC members have qualified for the Olympics; one-third of Canadian Olympic qualifiers have come from the club. Members have gained medals for Canada in four events and for Norway in one event. In summer,

1066-554: The end of 1868, when it escaped its mooring, drifted away with the winter ice and was blown up as a hazard to navigation. In 1869, the club built a clubhouse adjacent to the Parliament Buildings on Front Street. In 1881, a clubhouse by architect Frank Darling of Darling & Curry was completed on the Toronto Islands at the site of the present clubhouse, since "the increasing number of railway tracks had completely changed

1107-450: The features of American yachts, such as form-based stability and centreboards. Members were also looking back to Britain for well-rounded designs from such notables as George Lennox Watson and William Fife . In 1896, Lincoln Park Yacht Club of Chicago challenged the RCYC to a series of match races. Interest was such that several cities vied for the contest – Toledo, Ohio won with the offer of

1148-451: The following are particularly noteworthy. Watson's most famous design was commissioned and raced by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales . Built in 1893, she and had a long and successful career passing to his son King George V . HMY Britannia remains the most successful racing yacht of all time, with a racing career spanning 43 years. Watson's involvement in the America's Cup was long running and manifested itself in four cup challengers;

1189-705: The largest sailing schooner of its time, Rainbow . Amongst his work in yacht designs Watson designed extensively for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) with his boats becoming renowned for their seaworthiness and durable qualities. In 1887 Watson became chief consulting Naval Architect to the RNLI, a position which G.L. Watson & Co. Directors would fulfil through to the late 1960s. Watson designed 432 yachts, lifeboats and other vessels during his 32-year career, an output which averages one new build launched every 3.5 weeks. Of those he designed

1230-440: The most fashionable people in society". Only 18 months after their wedding, and shortly after the birth of his daughter, Ellen Marjorie (Madge). Watson succumbed to "Coronary Asthma" and died on 12 November 1904, aged 53. As sole partner at the time of his death, Watson entrusted the company to the hands of his Chief Draughstman James Rennie Barnett , who went on to design the firm's largest and most famous luxury steam yachts for

1271-668: The need arose, of men familiar with boats. In the days when the Royal Navy fought under sail and yachting was a new idea, "in the building and racing of fast pleasure craft, the Navy… received the benefit of experience and experiment… not possible… under service conditions". When the First World War came in 1914, the services were short of lead for weapons, and many members patriotically dismantled their boats and gave their keels to be melted. Canada disappeared at this time. As elsewhere, there

MV Kwasind - Misplaced Pages Continue

1312-542: The present International 14. Buller, who was head of aeronautical design at de Havilland Canada deserves special mention, having realized that the tell-tales used to analyze airflow over aircraft could be used to advantage on sails. Buller is credited with originating and popularizing their use, initially in the 14 class, but the idea spread rapidly. In 1967, Perry Connolly , a club member asked another member, George Cuthbertson , and his partner, George Cassian , to design "the meanest, hungriest 40-footer afloat." Fibreglass

1353-435: The present launch station was established on Cherry Street). The 1881 building burned in 1904; at that time, buildings, predominantly built of wood, were heated by coal stoves and lit by lanterns and gas lighting, thus fires were frequent and the building standard was founded on an expected average life of 20 years. While club buildings were rising up and burning down, the members were engaged in racing. The club challenged for

1394-450: The social elite. Barnett also furthered Watson's lifeboat work successfully developing the world's first self-righting lifeboat. Subsequently, the firm passed through the hands of three further managing directors, before a brief hiatus in the early 1990s. The firm is now based in Liverpool and is engaged in the design, restoration and replica builds of large yachts. The company still holds

1435-552: The very successful Swamba , an R-class by George Owen that was the first vessel built to the new Universal Rule on Lake Ontario. She was followed by Patricia , a P-Boat also designed to the new Rule by Owen. Like most yacht clubs in Britain and the Empire, the club was conceived as an auxiliary to the Royal Navy (hence the naval titles and uniforms), a source of political support and if

1476-521: Was a rush to enlist; at the peak, over 450 members were in the services. 59 of the club's members died in service. In commemoration, the club in 1926 installed a large granite, marble and bronze memorial, designed by Charles J. Gibson in the form of a ship's capstan on a low podium on the front lawn, to honour those who had not returned. (The names of the 23 who did not return from the Second World War were added in 1952.) The club rebuilt its fleet at

1517-463: Was at the early stages of using theories of hydrodynamics as influences in yacht design. After practising at J&A Inglis, Shipbuilders, in 1873 (at the age of 22) Watson set out to found the world's first yacht design office dedicated to small craft. His first design, Peg Woffington featured an unorthodox reverse bow which undoubtedly drew attention to the young designer. Successes followed with yachts such as Vril and Verve which were built for

1558-403: Was converted from a steam engine to a diesel engine in the 1940s. On July 29, 2000, both Kwasind , and the yacht club's older ferry, Hiawatha , were sunk by vandals. The Kwasind was refloated, and was back in working order the day of the sinking, while Hiawatha required further repair. Royal Canadian Yacht Club The Club Patron is Anne, Princess Royal . The objects of

1599-679: Was deliberately preserved with the marks of the 1918 fire. The collection now includes over 170 models, about half displayed in the City Clubhouse Model Room with the remainder elsewhere in the City Clubhouse or in the Island Clubhouse. The Island's Flagship Room displays some three dozen models of past Commodores' yachts while the Eight-Metre Room shows a dozen of the type. Fifteen Fourteen-footer and International 14 models in

1640-592: Was displacing wood as the material of choice by that time, but hulls and decks were solid glass, thus heavy. The new boat, Red Jacket , was designed and built with a hull and deck cored with balsa, a first in North America; light weight combined with a fin keel and all-movable rudder made her faster and handier than her contemporaries. In her first year on the lake, the new boat took 11 of 13 events entered. In her second year, she took top spot at Florida's Southern Ocean Racing Circuit. The prestige of this and other high-visibility conquests, such as Manitou ' s defence of

1681-580: Was granted by Queen Victoria , and the club became known as the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Although there is conflicting evidence about the reason behind the change in name from Toronto Yacht Club to Canadian Yacht Club, the most credible explanation is that the club wished to signify its regional rather than merely local significance. Since the City of Toronto was then located in the Canada West area of

MV Kwasind - Misplaced Pages Continue

#303696