Whisker shrouds, belaying pins and tricing lines were among the terms tripping off the tongues of a crew of solicitors (and one Gazette hack) getting to grips with the craft of traditional sailing over the weekend. In a departure from its normal programme, the Law Society Yacht Club (LSYC) arranged a charter of Golden Vanity, a century-old gaff-rigged cutter, from Southampton. 

Golden Vanity was designed as a Brixham trawler and built in 1908 for the artist Arthur Briscoe. Her handling poses several challenges for sailors schooled in modern plastic boats. She has an overall length of 38 feet, including a massive retractable bowsprit and weighs something like 29 tons. A more immediate challenge is setting and handling the five separate sails without the use of winches. Oh, and because her engine was a later fit, the propeller is slightly offset, making for some… interesting steering. 

Fortunately skipper Ross and first mate David of First Class Sailing were there to ensure a panic-free couple of days in generally light winds around the sights of the Solent. The trip was organised by club rear-commodore Andrew Hobson, who brought along the LSYC’s golden shark burgee to fly proudly from the starboard cross-trees. 

The burgee will be seen again at next month’s club cruise in the Inner Hebrides and at the annual ‘grudge match’ against the bar in June. The Law Society Yacht Club welcomes members of all sailing abilities.

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