Yachting Monthly sensation
Albert Strange, who designed Sheila, had a very good friend with Herbert H Reiach, the founding editor of the Yachting Monthly. Two full article were published in Yachting & Boating Monthly, which later became Yachting Monthly, in January 1907 and February 1907. My copies of Yachting Monthly 1907 are not in a good state and missing some pages.
The Sheila is a keel canoe-yawl of 25ft. overall, 19 ft. 6 in. waterline, 6ft. 9 in. beam, 3ft. 5in. draught, and 330 sq. ft. sail area, built for me in 1905 from designs by Mr. Albert Strange.
The first season was spent in cruising about the Isle of Man and on the Irish Coast, but this year I carried out a much more extended and interesting cruise, accompanied during the voyage to lona by a younger brother and later by two friends, who each undertook the duties of crew for a fortnight. The weather during the whole time was unfortunately very unsettled, but it was extremely comforting to know that, through days and nights of rain such as can only be experienced in a bad season on the West Coast of Scotland, the cabin remained as dry as a bone.
Arriving at Port St. Mary, Isle of Man, where the boat had been laid up for the winter, we found the fitting-out almost complete and were able to go on board without delay.
MONDAY, JULY 23.-This morning being fine, with a good fresh breeze from the S.W., we got under way for a preliminary trip round the Calf of Man in order to thoroughly test the gear before starting for Ireland.
Passing through the Calf Sound on a favourable tide a landing was effected with some difficulty on the West Coast of the island, and a stiff climb was rewarded by an extensive view of the coast beyond Port Erin, with the Mourne Mountains in Ireland faintly visible in the west. In sailing from Port St. Mary through the Calf Sound no great difficulty will be found if a good chart is used and the tides, which are very strong, carefully taken into account. Local inquiries will be helpful and will make matters quite simple.
By the time we were again at our anchorage in Port St. Mary the wind had gone to W.N.W., and was blowing very strong, and it increased in force as night came on. By morning all hope of starting for Ireland seemed to have gone, as the wind had now developed into a gale. Towards midday, however, it showed unmistakable signs of breaking, and by one o’clock matters had improved so much that it was decided to get through the Calf Sound to Port Erin, and if possible to hold on for Ardglass, Co. Down.
TUESDAY, JULY 24.-We left Port St. Mary for Port Erin at 1 p.m. A strong breeze was still blowing from W.N.W. when sail was made for the Calf Sound, and, the tide being favourable, in less than an hour we had left the Isle of Man well astern. When clear of the Calf the wind moderated and veered to due west. A good sailing breeze was now blowing, so a course was set N.W. 1/4 W. for St. John’s Point Lighthouse, three miles south of Ardglass. Heavy seas were encountered for the first 16 miles, but the wind was softening, and every mile was putting us into smoother water. Away beyond St. John’s Point and across Dundrum Bay the Mourne Mountains stood out in bold relief against the warm evening sky. A few fishing-boats coming out from the land indicated the whereabouts of the entrance to Ardglass, and, shortly after, a light breeze carried us into the harbour, where we dropped anchor at 8 p.m. in our last year’s berth, after a most enjoyable run from Port St. Mary of 34 miles. A large cutter was also anchored behind the breakwater.
The sailing directions in the ” Irish Coast Pilot” give warning with regard to the débris of the old pier. This, it may be mentioned, is now removed.
Humber Yawl Club Yearbook
With a slightly toned down version.
