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6-metres

The [RCYC] Club Regatta was held on 15 July. 1911.

By arrangement with Capt. R. T. Dixon of Southampton, the club held a series of three races for the 6-metre class, from 4-6 September, 1911.

Competitors were Cynthia (T.C. Glen-Coats), Snowdrop (Capt. R. T. Dixon), Ouananiche (G.O. May), Cingalee (A. Maudslay) and Enjar (E.G. Martin).

[Note: See 1925: Y.R.A. Ocean Racing Committee, re Dixon, Maudslay and Martin]

Snowdrop, when gunter-rigged, in 1911 (see Capt. R.T. Dixon) (photo by Kirk of Cowes, see Dear p.56)

1921 6-metre British American Cup

Two of the British 6-metre team racing in the Solent in 1921 (ahead of US55)

(Crop of photo by Kirk of Cowes, see Dear, p.104)

Date Capt. R.T. Dixon's Log on Lady Maud

1921 Thames, Cowes, Western Regattas (sailed Margaret) Crew: Ted Rose

1922

Date Capt. R.T. Dixon's Log on Lady Maud News or other reports re 6-metre class

1922 Clyde, Solent & America with Reg (new in 1922). Crew: Ted Rose. Tom Williams [whilst in America only?]

1 May, 1922 2 May 6 May 8 May 9 May 11 May 12 May 13 May 14 May 15 May 16 May 19 May 20 May 22 May (Mon) 23 May Tues 24 May 26 May (Fri)	Launched off 2pm. Anchored off Hythe. Hythe towards Weymouth 1-6pm. Weymouth towards Falmouth Anchored Falmouth 1.30pm. Berthed off Durgan 7.30pm. Passage Helford towards Newlyn & Ireland (Waterford) 9 am off Hook Point. 11am nchored off Broomhill Point. Anchored off Passage. Provisioned. v strong tide on flood Moored with 25 fathoms on kedge, with 2 weights- at 15 fathom shackle and 18 fathoms - on bower. Waterford to Dublin. Glorious day, topsail & balloon fore. 10.15 Kish Light. 1.45pm Anchored Kingston Harbour. Passage Dublin to Belfast. 12.23 off Howth Lighthouse 10am Anchored Whitehouse Road, 20 f chain & 2 weights 5pm Anchored off Rotheray 7.30 pm Drifted up to Hunters Quay & towed to Sandbank 1pm wind WNW fresh, went o Gourock to fetch Neil's dinghy, 6.30pm Anchored Holy Loch. Went for a short sail in Reg. [Sir Ralph Gore] Quite satisfactory. Went for sail in Reg in morning. Rain in afternoon. 11am to Hunters Quay for letters & Dunoon to take accumulators ashore for charging then on to Kyles of Bute. 4.45pm anchored E. of Bute 4.5 fathoms. 1pm. Anchored Holy Loch. Strong wind. Ashore in afternoon & dined at Royal Clyde Y.C.
27 May 1922 (Sunday)	Wind fresh to strong W-NW. Sailed in Reg to Gurrock & raced in 6m class. Carried 1 reef. Caryl & Coila ditto. Polly whole sail - Paiseley's and Glencoat's boats also started. Were late at start & missed 1st gun, so had to start by guesswork - got over line. 1st Round: Coila, Caryl, Polly, Reg 2nd: Caryl, Coila, Polly, Reg Reg seemed to do better in light wind. Possibly required whole sail to drive her to windwrd through sea. Got back to Holy Loch 4 pm very wet and cold.
3 June 1922 (Saturday)	Raced in Reg in Clyde Corinthian race. Made bad start, last. Wind very strng in squalls & the usual shifts of wind. Reg going pretty well but had no luck, finished 6th. Polly 1st.
5 June 1922 (Monday)	Sandbanks: Dull & Mod. W. wind. " Sailed in Reg to Fairlie and went over Fife's yard, back in turbine steamer"
9 June 1922	8.30pm Reg arrived from Fairlie
10 June1922 (Saturday) 11 June 1922 (Sunday)	11 am. Windy SSW: Raced Reg, good start, leading at Kilkreagon, took S. shore with Coila & Suzette. Next took N. shore. Doing very well till 3/4 way to Hunters Quay. Boats on north side nearly 3/4 mile on our lee beam when wind shifted to NW putting us to leeward of them. Fairly beat Coila & Suzette turning & reaching. Finished 4th. Caryl 1st; Flya 2nd; Ayesha 3rd; Reg 4th. Very nearly caught Ayesha [Comdr. F. Ratsey RN] in reaching. 3pm. Put under way in Lady Maud. Fresh squally wind. 5.30 anchored Rothesay Rothesay to Loch Ranza, spinnaker, anchored 5pm. [see Capt. Dixon's observations."White gable-end in line with black scar on hill. Castle in line with hill behind. Pier"]

1923

Date Capt. R.T. Dixon's Log on Lady Maud News or other reports re 6-metre class

[Following 22 July -14 August at Cowes ]

Sat. Aug18 1923	Torquay. Strong squally wind NW. Sailed in Bay, 2 rolls, returned to harbour 1pm. Went to Dartmouth by train in afternoon. Found 6m boats would arrive during night & to be unloaded in morning. 6pm. Wind dropping fast & Bar rising, got under way, whole sail to Dartmouth. 8.30. Anchored in Dartmouth
Sunday Aug 19	Unloading 6m boats in morning. Sailed to Torquay in afternoon. In Torquay Mon., Tues., & Wed., messing.
Wed Aug 23 24, 25, 26	Got under way in afternoon for Dartmouth. Wind fresh WSW. Trysail & motor. head wind from Berry Head & considerable sea - not enough wind for trysail. Raced Capelle Thursday, Friday & Sat.
Sun 27 Aug 1923	8. Light wind SW - got under way whole mainsail & motor. Off Start, very little race but long swell, wind freshening. Off Bolt head good breeze WSW considerable sea, could just fetch Mewstone comfortably. Strong whole sail breeze to Plymouth Cattwater at 2.30. Moved to Millbay Docks Monday & Tuesday.
Wed 29 Aug 30, 31	Fresh, later strong SSE with rain. Anchor came home and we got foul of 6 metre boats astern, damaging rail & Maid Marion's stern. Got rope and kedge wire on to buoy ahead and hauled clear! Thursday - Mill Bay Dock. Friday - Cattwater Saturday - laid boat alongside quay & scrubbed her
Sunday 2 Sept - 6 Sept 1923	Sailed to Fowey At Fowey Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday - sailed to Falmouth	FP Sept. 7, 1923: Yachting Channel Race, Plymouth and Falmouth to Fowey, Monday. [no wind] [Plymouth to Fowey included Lady Maud cutter, Capt. R.T. Dixon.] Fowey to Falmouth Yesterday's Channel Race from Fowey to Falmouth provided some fine sailing. Half a dozen 6-metre yachts took part, with not a minute between the first three. Capelle 3h 11m 21s Thistle 3h.11m12s Reg 3h 11m 40s Fresia Maid Marion Ayesha
Friday 7 Sept - Friday 14 Sept 1923	No entries in Lady Maud's logbook until Saturday 15 September [Racing all week with 6 Metres?] Started 9.50 wind light NW, fine morning Arrived Fowey 3. FP Sept. 14, 1923: Visit of the Six Metre Yachts Residents and visitors are grateful to the RCYC for having arranged a visit by the 6-metre yachts. The owners of these little craft were so pleased with the harbour… ”They are known in the yachting world as “Bantams” Friday 7 Sept.] Race arranged by the owners for the benefit of skippers and crew. Wind Moderate N. Westerly. Reg had the first two rounds but was overhauled by Maid Marion in the third and beat Reg by 27 seconds, who similarly beat Capelle. Results: 1st. Maid Marion; 2nd. Reg ; 3rd Capelle followed by Thistle and Freesia. (sic) [I believe Capt. R.T. Dixon may have sailed all week, on Reg, or simply have been available as crew in Falmouth all week.] Crew names wanted!	FP Sept. 7, 1923 In view of the magnificent finish of the Channel Race from Fowey to Falmouth in connection with the 6-metre class, increased interest will be taken in the annual Regatta of the RCYC, which starts tomorrow at 12.45. There will be a great contest. The starting line will be off the club premises at Green Bank. A special Race for the 6-metre class has been arranged for today, starting at 11 a.m., yachts to be sailed by their skippers for prizes presented by the owners. Further races for this class will take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Saturday [8 Sept]: Seven 6-metres started, Fresia was unlucky, under the land, from which she never caught up. Results: 1st Reg, Sir Ralph Gore, Bart. 4h 32m 28s 2nd., Maid Marion, Mr. J. L. Lewis 4h 44m 4s 3rd.,Capelle, Sir W.P. Burton, K.B.E. 4h 45m 28s Fresia, Mr. Algernon Maudslay, C.B.E. Thistle, Lady Baird Betty, Messrs. G.E. Hadderstein & Mr. J.C. Newman Ayesha, Com. F. Ratsey, R.N. Monday: Reg 4th. Tuesday: Reg 4th. Wednesday: Reg 3rd “Lady Baird, as the owner of the prize, a silver model of a six-metre, did not race Thistle.” A sweepstake by the owners: 1st Ayesha, 2nd., Reg.
Mon 17 Sept	Fresh wind in the morning. Anchor had dropped a bit, put up sail & went up Cattewater, picking up Sunbeam's mooring
Tues 25 Sept	To Portsmouth to see Nicholson re Moncuni 's mast. Sept. 26: Back to Hythe to lay up.

FP May 16, 1924: Yachting at Falmouth - Getting Ready for the Approaching Season

Local yards where yachts are fitting out are rather busy at present.

At Messrs. R. S. Burt & Son's yard - Yachts re-conditioned and fitting out include the 6-metre cutter AYESHA (Com. Ratsey)

FP Friday May 15, 1925. Yachting - The Season's Prospects

There are great hopes of the six-metre class paying a return visit, probably in the early part of September. Falmouthians have most pleasant recollections of the visit of the famous little yachts two years ago, when we had a week's splendid racing.

Flushing Sailing Club held a meeting last week. [7 May, 1925]

Mr. Rees had secured the promise of the six metre's racing on one or two occasions when under the [Flushing] club's Flag.

The Chairman thought it was very gratifying, adding "they were now a recognised Club."

The Yachting Monthly No. 233, September 1925 (pp.359-360)

The Season in the Solent with the Six-Metre Class

The racing season has done much to prove the soundness of the Rule under which the Sixes are built, for in the Solent most of the boats are three, if not four years old, and with few exceptions they have all won prizes. Reg, for instance, built in 1922, has had a splendid season's racing and cannot be said to have enjoyed much of her own weather, while the performances of Victoria have been the source of endless discussion. The latter, however, is more or less an extreme* type and has been favoiure by some very light days when she is most probably the fastest boat built under the present Rule. [*Victoria: Small hull, very large sail area]

1934

Date Capt. R.T. Dixon's Log on Sea Quest News or other reports re 6-metre class