A BEAUTIFUL YACHT
Perhaps one of the most beautiful and sumptuous yachts afloat was last week, lying in Fremantle Roads viz., the Saide,
belonging to Mr. C. G. Millar, of the Royal Yacht Squadron. A detailed description of her should be of interest, both to the yachtsman, of whom there are many in Perth and Fremantle, and also to the general reader, as unstinted outlay and a
most artistic taste and fancy have been expanded upon her. Viewed as you approach her, her long, rakish hull, painted a snowy white with gold riband accentuating her beautiful lines and graceful curves, she at once strikes the yachtsman's eye as a flier. Saucily she sits, bowing her greetings to tiny riplet or ocean swell, almost a thing of life, certainly a thing of beauty, her stem surmounted by a finely carved figure head of " the white ladye " Sadie, her tapering spars towering aloft. Altogether she impresses one as being what sailors would term a (unreadable).
But my invitation was not to view her from afar or without, but to inspect her alow and aloft from stem to stern. So, mounting the neat gangway ladder, I stepped on to her snow white decks, the narrow planks of which taper at the ends, like a lady's finger, to the curves of the ship's sides. You are at once struck with extent of deck room and space, with the exceedingly neat fittings, the general sense of lightness and brightness, and withal the immense strength, and you feel at a glance that you are on the deck of an able ocean cruiser. I learned that the Sadie was built to the order of the Duke of Norfolk, under special survey, to Lloyd's highest class, by Ramage and Ferguson, of Leith (the builders of many famous yachts). She is a composite vessel of 400 tons gross measurement, 155 feet over all, 24ft. 7in.beam, 13ft. 6in. depth of hold, drawing 15 feet aft. She is an auxiliary steamer, brigantine rigged, the engines being of 242 indicated horse power. The frames are of iron, and the planking of elm and teak, fastened with copper bolts, and sheathed with pure copper, it was a condition with her first owner that she should be built extra strong, and have five water-tight compartments She also carries 20 tons of lead on her outside keel, and about 70 tons of lead and kentlage under this, which, with the weight of her engines, boilers, water tanks, stores and coal make her remarkably steady though none the less very buoyant.
The Duke of Norfolk used her for only two or three cruises, when she was sold by him to our well-known and respected fellow-colonist Mr. C. G. Millar, in 1888 ; arriving at Albany, her first port of call in Australian waters, in 1889, having steamed and sailed out from England via the Suez Canal. But, although the vessel had been specially built for the premier Duke and Earl Marshal of England,she did not satisfy the exigeant tastes of such a keen yachtsman as Mr, Millar, who has had strong nautical proclivities from his youth.
On her arrival at the port of Melbourne, the Saide was at once laid up for alterations and improvements, which were of such an extent that but little remains of the original vessel save her hull. It is, therefore, interesting to know that all the beauties to be seen aboard are the work of colonial artificers and artists, and I can say without any hesitation that the work could not be better or more beautiful of its kind. When she belonged to the Duke she was called The Star of the Sea. By Mr. Millar she was re-named the Saide. Her rig was altered from that of a fore and aft schooner to a brigantine, showing an immense spread of canvas. When being remodeled and refitted in Melbourne she was supplied with new decks, companions, skylights,houses, rails, steering gear, binnacles, in fact every thing was renewed and re-modeled, above and below. Her cabins are a positive dream of luxury and comfort, albeit in the most exquisite taste.
But, first let me endeavour to describe her aboveboard. The decks, whose gleaming whiteness I have before referred to, are of specially selected American yellow pine, jointed with marine glue. The covering board, bulwarks, companions and skylights are of teak, the rails of American white elm. At the taffrail my attention was directed to a Bridson's patent buffer, an ingenious invention which has the effect of taking the shock off the main boom tackle when jibing, the mainsail alone having 1000 yards of canvas. The wheel is known as Jarman's Patent Steering Gear and works like the fly wheel of a watch. The ornamentations above, as well as below, are of a most artistic and appropriate character. Even the little bell struck by the quartermaster and announcing the half hours, and hours, which fly all too fast on this beautiful boat, is mounted beneath a fine bronze casting representing the tentacles of the octopus, the eight feet corresponding with the eight bells. The after binnacle stand, again, is supported by bronze dolphins, and these sportive and decorative fish also form the arms of the deck seats. The companion ways, six in all, include those leading to the after saloon, the stewards' pantry, the engine room, smoking room, officers' quarters and forecastle. Forward of the forecastle scuttle is a neat steam winch, for heaving up the anchors or hoisting sail. The anchors are Trotman's patent, galvanized, and they are attached by galvanized chain cables. The roof of the smoking room on deck ls surrounded by a bronze iron rail, and this roof forms the bridge used for the navigation of the yacht in narrow waters. On the bridge is one of Sir William Thompson's patent compasses, and a semaphore to the engine room, also a steam syren. When under sail I was informed that the funnel telescopes in a few minutes, likewise the propeller feathers. The latter is of phosphor bronze and is one of Bevis' patents. The Saide carries four boats, dhingey, gig, lifeboat and a steam launch, and all these are models in their own particular way. They are carried on davits, and can be swung on board when at sea. The steam launch is fitted with Surface condensing quadruple engines, and steams nine miles an hour On a consumption of 10 pounds of coal. The Saide is a miniature man of war in her way, as there are on deck five, brass cannon, four cannonades and a "long, Tom," also rocket gun and line. In addition there is a Maxim gun which will fire 600 shots a minute, and besides there are stands of arms in the owner's quarters and the captain's room, including Winchester, Martini-Henri and Snider rifles and revolvers - an outfit required when cruising in Eastern waters, where pirates abound! The Sails are all of first class finest yacht canvas, and the running rigging of spiral four strand yacht cordage, which, when new, is more like silk than manilla.
Going below, by way of the after companion, we come to the saloon, stewards' quarters, and then the dining saloon, an
elegant and cosy compartment, about 10 by 20, beautifully panelled and decorated with carvings of walnut, Hungarian ash, and satinwood, in carved panels, pilasters and capitals. The sofas, chairs and furniture are upholstered in rich plush, of a colour between a bronze and seal. The ceilings are panelled and hand-painted in subjects which are a clever combination of the classical and conventional better known as the Louie Quinze style, whilst the skylight is in rich figured stained glass, representing marine and other flora and fauna. Beautiful swing lamps, with large and delicately coloured shades and side lamps light up the apartment at eve with a soft and lambent gleam,'' and behind the panellings and carvings are book cases full of choice literature, and cellarettes. Next we come to the guests' cabins, the passage leading to which is pannelled with polished oak. The panels are of satin-wood and Hungarian ash, two beautiful woods, which are utilised in the ship with the best possible effect. They are upholstered in plush of the same colour as that utilised in the dining-saloon ; and adjoining
them are two bath rooms, with hot and cold water. Next comes the steward's pantry and store, amply furnished and equipped, and then the engine-room and boiler space, enclosed between iron bulkheads. An alleyway leads from the after rooms, between the engine room and coal bunkers, and by this means the owner can reach his quarters. Mr. Millar styles this his " bad weather passage," other wise his quarters are approached from the deck through the smoking saloon. And here
we have almost all that skill, taste and ample expenditure can accomplish. There are three rooms, of which the boudoir is panelled in carved oak of the Italian Renaissance period. It needs careful and intelligent inspection to realise the great beauty of these carvings. The sybaritic sofas and settees are upholstered in seal brown plush. There is a piano in carved oak case ; and the table, chairs, book-cases and lockers for nautical instruments are all en suite. The ceilings are hand-painted in soft and mellow tones, with the skylight glasses to match and down to the velvet pile carpet, into which one's feet softly sink, everything blends and harmonises into one beautiful whole, until what is reality appears to be a beautiful vision of luxury and magnificence hand in hand with the most consummate taste and elegance. The bedroom is a large apartment, it is impossible and ridiculous to refer to it -as " a cabin,"panelled in walnut, Hungarian ash and maple root, and fitted with every conceivable convenience and comfort; and adjoining it is a cosy dressing room which can be utilised as another berth. Altogether it would be difficult to imagine more chaste and elegant apartments.
Returning to the deck once more we find ourselves in the smoking room, which is of solid leak, the furniture upholstered in navy blue morocco, the ceiling being of a Moorish design, and bearing Arabic inscriptions of greeting and welcome, which well become a room dedicated to the use of the chibouk, narghileb, hookah or common pipe, and the fragrant cheroot. Next to the owner's quarters, and divided therefrom by an iron bulk-head are the captain's, officers', and chief engineer's cabins and mess room, all most comfortably furnished, whilst forward of this again is space for the crew, who are well housed and generally well off. The captain's room is quite a little scientific and mathematical studio, what with its chronometers and sextants, charts innumerable, and works on navigation, all neatly and safely deposited.
The Sadie, full handed, carries a crew of 23. On board a yacht the owner is the legal master, and his role is absolute, but ordinarily yachts carry one who is termed the sailing master. In this capacity Mr. Millar has an old and valued employee in Captain Colin Macdonald, formerly in charge of a thousand ton ship for the firm of C. & E Millar. But, as Mr. Millar puts it, he sold the ship to secure the man - Captain Macdonald - who has had charge of the Saide ever since she has been in her present hands, and who has marked out many pleasant " keel furrows " and sailed many long cruises in her. Amongst these was a voyage from Melbourne, through the South Seas to Japan, China and the Philippine Islands. On the return trip the Saide encountered a terrific typhoon in Japanese waters, coming through the ordeal in splendid style, and proving herself a splendid sea boat. She sails often as much as 13 knots 24 hours through, and has logged 14. She Steams 9 1/2 knots on a consumption of four tons of coal, and can carry coal for 1500 miles steaming, condensing her own fresh water ; in fact, as this description must show, she is amply provided with every appliance which will conduce to comfort, enjoyment and safety. Her officers and crew should be a very happy family on board such a beautiful boat and in the service of such a good and generous owner.
The chief engineer is Mr. J. Smith ; the chief officer, Mr. J. Ferguson, and Mr. B. Dearden is the purser. The yacht also carries a carpenter and other specially skilled hands. Most of the officers have been in her for years, and their inclination to remain upon her can be best understood by those who have inspected her and who can appreciate the pleasant relations which exist between owner, officers and men. It should be also mentioned that the Saide flies the white ensign of Her Majesty's fleet,
the same as a man-of-war, a privilege only enjoyed by yachts of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and the Sadie is the only vessel privileged, to do this south of the line.
In regard to the future movements of the yacht Mr. Millar, I understand, will shortly dispatch her to Europe, via the Cape of Good Hope and will join her at Naples later on, and in the spring he will proceed upon a cruise in the Mediterranean, spending the summer months in the Baltic, and again going south in the winter. |
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