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| Crews |
The Royal Yacht Squadron receives many enquiries from people whose ancestors served aboard RYS yachts in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They may have old family tales, old photographs or uniform buttons, merchant seaman's papers, a census entry giving a yacht name or stating 'Yacht Service', an ancestor's obituary detailing a career at sea. However, the club did not employ yacht crew itself and does not hold crew records. It is hoped that this leaflet will provide some general background.
Many RYS yachts of the past were very large and might carry 50 crew. Steam yachts and large racing yachts like the J-class or the King's Britannia, usually employed most of their crew on a seasonal basis; core crew members e.g. Master, Mate, Boatswain and Chief Engineer, might stay with a vessel for years. Many RYS yachts cruised afar - Lord Brassey's Sunbeam went round the world in 1876 – 77. Seamen often shipped aboard merchant vessels during the winter months or returned to fishing; such men often held merchant seamen's tickets and may be traceable through those records.
Particularly in the early years of the club crew discipline was strict, along naval lines. Lord Yarborough, the club's first Commodore, paid his men an extra shilling a week to sign a paper volunteering to be flogged if the need arose. In 1847 RYS yachts employed some 1500 seamen, thus maintaining a trained body of men who could be available to the Navy during wartime; so crew members may also have served in the royal navy. Club records contain a 'Black Book', 1829 – 66, of discharged seamen who should not be re-employed aboard RYS yachts.
Although individual yacht owners employed the crew, the club took an interest in their appearance and conditions so items about wages and uniforms appear in Minute Books e.g. May 11 1861: crew wages fixed at 1 guinea per week and no more than 3/= per week good conduct money. Not all Members abided by such decisions. The RYS Secretary reviewed, and advised on, merchant seamen's wages and conditions.
Old photographs show crew members wearing jerseys with Royal Yacht Squadron emblazoned on them. Crew uniforms had brass buttons with three anchors and the letters RYS; Captains' cap badges bore the three anchors. In the early 20th century uniforms that looked too much like naval uniforms, especially those with excessive gold braid, were discouraged. Members also discussed cost of uniforms, suggesting one outfitter be appointed to supply them - but yacht captains received commission!
Many members of this, and other clubs, operated similar yacht rules. The following 1874 Rules of the yawl Orlando, of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, were based on those of the RYS Garland and other yachts: a sailing master attested that these rules had been in use on board all 'his' yachts 1845 – 1872.
The ORLANDO Rules for Seamen
1. The Sailing Master will have charge of the Yacht either in sea or in harbour. He will at no time leave the Vessel but in command of the Mate, or of a competent person next in authority.
2. Insolence, or insubordination to the Officer in charge, will subject the offender to immediate dismissal; and the Officer in charge is expected strictly to enforce this regulation, it being his duty, acting by the Owner's authority, on no account to overlook any conduct prejudicial to the proper discipline of the Yacht, for which he is held responsible.
3. The Boat's Crew are at all times expected to be orderly in their conduct, and to obey all directions of the Coxwain [sic], who is answerable for the management of the Boat. Boats are on no account to be absent longer than the duty on which they are sent requires; should any man be absent, the Boat is not to be detained. No Boat is ever to be left without a Keeper; a Boat Keeper neglecting this instruction will be discharged without further notice, and the Coxswain neglecting to report misconduct will be liable to the same penalty.
4. Great vigilance and attention is expected from the Man at the Helm and the Look-out Men; the lives of all, and much property is at stake; and the first neglect of these most important duties will subject the offender to immediate discharge.
5. Any man absenting himself from the Yacht, or from any duty on which he is employed, or who does not return at the period when his leave expires, will forfeit his pay during the time of his absence. Common justice to the whole crew requires the strictest attention to this order, as otherwise, it will be impossible to secure to them that liberty which, consistently with the duties of the Yacht, will at all times be granted. Should it be necessary to hire a man to supply the place of an absentee without leave, or of a man over-staying his time of leave, the man hired will be paid from the pay of the defaulter, and not shipped at the Owner's expense.
6. Every Man is expected to be clean and decently dressed. The Man at the Helm on no account to appear dirty or slovenly. The Clothing of the Yacht is to be worn or not, at the Sailing Master's discretion.
7. Should any article belonging to the Yacht be carelessly or wilfully lost or damaged, the negligent person will have to make it good. Every article of clothing, bedding, or mess utensils, supplied for the use of the Crew, must be kept clean, and returned in good condition, fair wear and tear allowed for, before the arrears of pay will be settled, on the discharge of the Crew, or of any portion of the Crew.
8. Smoking strictly prohibited below, or abaft the mast; and also spitting upon the deck, and other uncleanly practices.
9. Hammocks to be lashed and stowed at 7 Bells (morning) at sea, and 6 a.m. in harbour, and to be hung up in the evening not before 7 Bells, viz., 7.30 p.m. at sea or in harbour.
10. These Regulations being drawn up to prevent subsequent misunderstanding, are to be read to every one about to be entered on the Yacht's books, and each man engaged will sign his name to them. After this clear understanding as to the Rules of the Vessel no man will be retained who refuses to obey them. Nothing is required of the men but cheerful compliance with necessary obedience, and active attention to the duties of the Yacht; the first object being to insure discipline, neatness and good order; and the next, to make the situation of the men as cheerful, healthy and comfortable as possible.
It may be possible to trace careers of such seamen through merchant seamen's service records at the Public Record Office (1835–57 and 1913–20); Southampton Archives Services holds some seamen's records 1913–41. Yachts were not always subject to all the provisions of Merchant Shipping Acts but you may locate a crew list or agreement (1835–1913). These records are split between Public Record Office, National Maritime Museum, local UK record offices and the University of St John's, Newfoundland (see PRO information on its website http://www.pro.gov.uk ). Many of the later crew lists for vessels registered at Cowes are held by Portsmouth City Record Service. See also RYS Information Leaflet No 1 offering further advice and information
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