"'Sunbeam' R.Y.S. Christmas Day 1886" (and a few other yachts) by R. T. Pritchett (1828-1907)

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"Sunbeam" R.Y.S. Christmas Day 1886

Robert Taylor Pritchett (1828–1907)

1886

Frontispiece to Brassey

[Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]

A keen yachtsman himself, Pritchett was well known for his skill in drawing boats and ships of all kinds. They range from this one, in which he sailed round the world with the Brasseys, to the native boats he saw on their voyages, including Chinese war junks, and the simplest rowing boats. He drew them too under a variety of circumstances: in full sail, beaten by the storm, with sails reduced to tatters, even in fiery engagements. [Commentary continues below.]

Image download, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee.

Pritchett himself wrote Chapter V ("Sliding Keels and Centreboards") for the thorough and informative two-volume book Yachting published by Longman, Green, in 1894. The illustrations that he contributed are knowledgeable, precise, and often dynamic. A few examples are given below:

Left: 'Egeria.' 153 tons. J. Mulholland, Esq. (Lord Dunleath), 1865 (Ch. VI). Right: "The squall in Loch Scavaig, Skye" (Ch. VIII).

Left: "'The Drogue', off the Kullen Head" (end of Ch. X). Right: "Freda" (Ch. XII).

Bibliography

Brassey, Lady Annie. The Last Voyage, to India and Australia, in the "Sunbeam". Illustrated by R. T. Pritchett. London: Longman, 1889. Internet Archive. From a copy in the New York Public Library. Web. 7 September 2023.

Sullivan, Sir Edward, et al. Yachting. Ed. Duke of Beaufort, 2 Vols. Vol. I. London: Longmans, Green, 1894. Project Gutenberg. Web. 17 September 2023.

Created 17 September 2023