Yachts, including the famous Y8, in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
Collection
Identifier
Tr02-024
Notes
University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: Tr02-024. On the sails, from left to right: Y8, Y4, G4. Background information about the sail numbers can be found in ‘Eastern Waters Eastern Winds, A History of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’ by Gillian Chambers (1993): “Around the same time [1910], the CYC [Corinthian Yacht Club] also introduced a new class of yachts called the Heywood Heyes or 'Y' Class ... The CYC's very successful Gael and Heywood Heyes Classes were merged into the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and in 1922 it was decided to build more of them. Ah King was asked to build them using Y8 as a model. However, when the new yachts were tried out, they were found to be much faster than the old ones. When questioned about this, Ah King is reported to have said, "What faster, master? Makee new boats, must makee more fast!" Apparently he had imperceptibly altered the lines to give a better performance and, as a result, some of the older 'Y' boats had to be relegated to the 'G' Class because they could not hold their own against the new models.”