A modern yacht

A yacht was originally defined as a light, fast sailing vessel used to convey important persons. Specifically, when Charles II had been invited by Parliament to return as regent to Britain, he reasoned that the people of Britain wanted the best spectacular that he could manage. For the voyage across the channel from protestant Holland he chose a sleek, fine-looking Dutch jachtschip, or "pursuit ship", which served the purpose admirably. Restoration day was a great success. Charles kept the jacht, or yacht, which was the first of its kind, and with it established the sport of yachting, one of his many firsts. The royal family has had an official yacht ever since, but apart from this use of it, Charles loved boating and advanced it considerably, to Britain's great advantage, as is shown by the evacuation from Dunkirk in early World War II. The yacht had many imitators. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1232x1840, 1438 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1232x1840, 1438 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... The name Charles II is used to refer to numerous persons in history: Kings Charles the Fat (also known as Charles II of France and Charles III of the Holy Roman Empire) Charles II of England Charles II of Naples Charles II of Navarre Charles II of Romania Charles II... Insert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text here:This article is about the legislative institution. ... Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands. ... Oak Apple Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom on 29th May. ... Evacuation at Dunkirk, June 1940. ... Combatants Allies: • Soviet Union, • UK & Commonwealth, • USA, • France/Free France, • China, • Poland, • ...and others Axis: • Germany, • Japan, • Italy, • ...and others Casualties Military dead: 18 million Civilian dead: 33 million Full list Military dead: 7 million Civilian dead: 4 million Full list World War II, also known as the Second World...

In later parlance, the definition came to cover a wider range of vessels, propelled by sail, power or both and used for pleasure cruising and/or yacht racing. Often, non-sailing yachts are also referred to as motor yachts, to differentiate them from yachts designed for use with sail power. A sail is any type of surface intended to generate thrust by being placed in a wind —in essence a vertically-oriented wing. ... Inshore yacht racing on Sydney Harbour, Australia Yacht racing is the sport of competitive sailing. ...

A yacht, a man-o'war and other shipping, by Johannes Christiaan Schotel

Modern use of yacht

In modern use, the term yacht applies to two rather different classes of vessels, sailing yachts and power yachts. Traditionally yachts were differentiated from working ships mainly by purpose--yachts were swift and comforable conveyances of the wealthy and powerful. It was not until the ascendency of the steamboat and other types of powerboat that sailing vessels as a class became seen as luxury items. Modern use of the term yacht applies to nearly all sailing vessels, other than sailing dinghys, that are used for yacht racing or for pleasure cruising. It has been suggested that paddle steamers be merged into this article or section. ... Categories: Stub | Boat types ... Dinghy of the schooner Adventuress A dinghy is a small utility boat attached to a larger boat. ... Inshore yacht racing on Sydney Harbour, Australia Yacht racing is the sport of competitive sailing. ...

Motor yachts, on the other hand, still retain more of the original sense of power and luxury. Much larger and generally far more expensive than the average sailing yacht, the motor yacht contains sufficient living space for at least several days at sea. Overall length generally starts at over 30 feet (9 m) and goes up to well over a hundred feet (30 m). Megayachts such as the one owned by Larry Ellison, can reach over 450 feet (135m), the size of a small cruise ship. Lawrence Joseph Ellison (born August 17, 1944) is the co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation, a major database software firm. ... MV Pride of Aloha docked in Port of Nāwiliwili, Kaua‘i in the Hawaiian Islands A cruise ship, or less commonly cruise liner or luxury liner, is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the amenities of the ship are considered an essential part...

Sailing yachts

A sailing yacht can vary in overall length (LOA in yachting parlance) from about 6 m (20 feet) to well over 30 m (98 ft) or more. However, most privately owned yachts fall on the range of about 7 m to 14 m (about 23-46 ft); the cost of building and keeping a yacht rises quickly as length increases. A loa is a powerful spirit or deity in the voodoo religion. ...

Monohull yachts are typically fitted with a fixed or adjustable keel below the waterline to counterbalance the overturning force of wind on the vessel's sails. By contrast, multihull yachts (a catamaran is an example of this type of vessel) use two or more hulls widely separated from each other to provide a stable base that resists overturning. A Monohull is a type of boat having only one hull. ... A fer is a large beam around which the hull of a ship is built. ... A sail is any type of surface intended to generate thrust by being placed in a wind —in essence a vertically-oriented wing. ... A multihull is a sailing ship with more than one hull. ... A traditional Tamil catamaran on a Chennai beach. ... A hull is the body or frame of a ship or boat. ...

Until the 1950s almost all yachts were made of wooden boards, or in a larger yacht, steel but nowadays there is a much wider range of materials. Most common is fibreglass, but steel, aluminium and much less often because of insurance difficulties, ferrocement are used as well. Wood is still used (traditional board based methods as well as modern technologies based on plywood, veneers and epoxy-glues etc.) but wood is mostly used when building an individual boat by a hobbyist or wooden boat purist. A tree trunk as found at the Veluwe, The Netherlands Wood derives from woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs. ... A board may be a: piece of lumber (or other rigid material made of wood), milled or sawn flat surfboard, skateboard, or snowboard (often made of fibreglass) commission or committee, such as an executive board of directors or a (sometimes rather supervisory) board of governors bulletin board system or other... The old steel cable of a colliery winding tower Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon being the primary alloying material. ... There is a disputed proposal to merge this article with glass-reinforced plastic. ... General Name, Symbol, Number aluminium, Al, 13 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 13, 3, p Appearance silvery Atomic mass 26. ... Ferrocement is both a method and material used in building or sculpture with cement, sand, water and wire or mesh material - often called thin shell. ... Plywood was the first type of engineered wood to be invented. ... Veneer, in woodworking, refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 millimetres (1/8 inch). ... Epoxy or polyepoxide is a thermosetting epoxide polymer that cures when mixed with a catalyzing agent or hardener. Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A. The first commercial attempts to prepare resins from epichlorohydrin occurred in 1927 in the United States. ...

Modern yachts have efficient sail-plans that allow them to sail into the wind. This capability is the result of a sail plan and hull design (typically a sloop rig) that utilizes Bernoulli's principle to generate lift. A sail-plan is a formal set of drawings, usually prepared by a marine architect. ... A sloop-rigged J-24 sailboat In sailing, a sloop is a vessel with a single mast on which is hoisted a fore-and-aft rigged mainsail and a single jib, plus extras such as a spinnaker. ... Bernoullis principle states that in fluid flow, an increase in velocity occurs simultaneously with decrease in pressure. ... Lift consists of the sum of all the fluid dynamic forces on a body perpendicular to the direction of the external flow approaching that body. ...

Classification of sailing yachts

Sailing yachts fall into three basic categories: 'Weekender', 'Cruiser' and 'Racer'.

Weekender yachts

Weekender yachts are small, sub-9.5 metre (30 feet) vessels. They often have twin-keels or lifting keels. This allows them to operate in shallow waters, and if needed 'dry out' – become beached as the tide falls, the hull shape (or twin-keel layout) allows the boat to sit upright when there is no water. Such boats are designed to undertake short journeys, rarely lasting more than 2 to 3 days (hence their name). Of course, in coastal areas long trips may be undertaken in a series of short hops. Weekenders usually only have a simple cabin, often consisting of a single 'saloon', with bedspace for 2-3 people, and clever use of ergonomics to allow both galley (kitchen) space, seating and space for navigation equipment. There is limited space for large stores of water/food. Weekenders tend to be slower vessels due to their small sail area, and due to their small size they can be overwhelmed by heavy seas. Most are single-mast 'Bermudan sloop' rigged vessels, with a single fore-sail (of the 'jib' or 'genoa') type and a single Mainsail. Some are gaff rigged. The smallest of this type--generally called pocket yachts or pocket cruisers can be trailed on special trailers behind vehicles to transport them by road. A genoa (pronounced like the city, or as jenny) is a type of large jib-sail used on bermuda rigged craft, commonly the single-masted sloop and twin-masted yawl, less frequently on a ketch. ... Gaff rig is a sailing rig in which the mainsail is a four-cornered fore-and-aft rigged sail controlled at its head by a spar called the gaff. ... A Pocket cruiser, Microcruiser or Pocket yacht is a small sailboat with a cabin, whose length is at or under 20 feet (6 m), with some examples as short as 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3. ...

Cruiser yachts

Cruisers are by the far the most common in private usage, making up most of the 7 m to 14 m (23 to 46 ft) range. These vessels can be quite complex in design, as designers try to find a balance between docile handling qualities, interior space, good light-wing performance and on-board comfort. The huge range of such craft, from dozens of builders worldwide make it hard to determine a specific description. However, most favour a teardrop-planform hull, with a wide, flat bottom and deep single-fin keel to give good stability. Most are single-mast 'Bermudan sloop' rigged vessels, with a single fore-sail (of the 'jib' or 'Genoa') type and a single mainsail. Spinnaker sails, with huge areas, are often supplied for lightwind use. These types are often chosen as family vessels, especially those in the 8 to 12 metre (32 to 40 ft) range. Such a vessel will usually have many rooms below deck. Typically there will be 3 double-berth cabins, a single large saloon (galley, seating and navigation area) and a 'head' (toilet/showeroom). The interior will be finished in wood panelling, with plenty of storage space. Cruisers are quite capable of taking on long-range passages of many thousands of miles, so have large freshwater tanks. Such boats have a cruising speed of around 10 km/h. This basic design is typical of the standard types produced by the major yacht-builders. Most large luxury yachts (15m+, 50 feet+) are also cruisers, but their design varies greatly as they usually are 'one off' designs to the specific needs of the buyer. A typcial jib on a small yacht A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremost mast of a sailing boat. ... A genoa (pronounced like the city, or as jenny) is a type of large jib-sail used on bermuda rigged craft, commonly the single-masted sloop and twin-masted yawl, less frequently on a ketch. ... A mainsail is the most important sail raised from the main (or only) mast of a sailing vessel. ... A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing downwind (with the wind behind the boat). ...

Racing yachts

Racing yachts tend to have long (around 20 m, (66 ft)) but very narrow hulls. This allows them to support a tall mast with a great sail area, whilst keeping the drag of a wide hull to a minimum. Speeds of up to 40 mph can be obtained in good conditions. Dedicated racing yachts sacrifice crew comfort for speed, having basic accommodation to reduce weight. Depending on the type of race, such a yacht may be crewed by as many as 15 people. At the other extreme there are 'single handed' races, where one person alone must control the yacht. Yacht races may be over a simple course of only a few miles, or epic trans-global contests such as the BT Global Challenge. Ocean racing yachts have very good sea-handling qualities, as they must be able to maintain good speeds in all but the heaviest conditions. However, the limits of their hull design mean that once conditions increase in severity above a certain level the long, narrow hull can become unstable and the tall rigging can break. This is why many races that fall into bad weather can suffer from many yachts capsizing or becoming de-masted.

Propulsion

The motive force being the wind, sailing is more economical and environmentally friendly than any other means of propulsion. Motor yachts depend upon mechanical means for propulsion, typically an internal combustion engine that burns fossil fuels. These are more expensive to operate than sailing vessels due to fuel costs and the large engines typically used. A more economical hybrid type of vessel is a motor sailing yacht that can use either sail or motor propulsion (or both) as conditions dictate. It has been suggested that Car engine be merged into this article or section. ... Coal rail cars in Ashtabula, Ohio Fossil fuels, also known as mineral fuels, are hydrocarbon-containing natural resources such as coal, oil and natural gas. ...

Nearly all 'pure' sailing yachts are also equipped with a low-power internal-combustion engine for use in conditions of calm and for when entering or leaving difficult anchorages. Vessels less than 25ft in length generally carry a petrol outboard-motor of between 10 and 40 horsepower (7 and 30 kW). Larger vessels have in-board diesel engines, of between 20 and 100 horsepower (15 and 75 kW) depending on size. In the common 7 m to 14 m (23 to 46 ft) class, engines of 20 to 40 horsepower are the most common.

Single-masted sailing yacht passing a luxury private yacht and a schooner

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x671, 120 KB) Summary Photograph of the marina at Antibes, France at dusk, showing a wide variety of different craft - from a tiny water taxi to small sailing craft to a massive, private luxury yacht. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x671, 120 KB) Summary Photograph of the marina at Antibes, France at dusk, showing a wide variety of different craft - from a tiny water taxi to small sailing craft to a massive, private luxury yacht. ...

Modern sailing yachts

In recent years, small/medium-sized private yachts have evolved from fairly simple vessels with basic accommodation to sophisticated and luxurious boats. This is largely due to reduced hull-building costs brought about by the introduction of fibre-glass hulls, and increased automation and 'production line' techniques to yacht building, especially in Europe. In recent years the amount of electric equipment used on yachts has increased greatly. Even 20 years ago, it was not common for a 7 m (25 ft) yacht to have electric lighting. Now all but the smallest, most basic yachts have electric lighting, radio and navigation aids such as GPS(Global Positioning System). Yachts around 10 m (33 ft) bring in comforts such as hot water, pressurised water systems, refrigerators etc. Aids such as radar, echo-sounding and autopilot are common. This means that the auxiliary engine now also performs the vital function of powering an alternator to provide electrical power and to recharge the yacht's on-board batteries. For yachts engaged on long-range cruising wind- and solar-powered generators can perform the same function. On the biggest, 30m+ (100 ft) luxury yachts, every modern convenience, from air conditioning to television systems is found. Sailing yachts of this size are often highly automated, with computer-controlled electric winches controlling the sails. Such complexity requires dedicated power-generation systems. M*A*S*H , see Corporal Walter (Radar) OReilly. ... An alternator is an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to alternating current electrical energy. ...

History

The use of the yacht as a pleasure boat began with Charles II of Britain, as is mentioned in the introduction to this article. The origin of pleasure-boating, including royal pleasure-boating, is lost in prehistory. Many ancient monarchs are said by the sources to have had pleasure boats, some quite spectacular. Before Charles II the Jachtschip was a pursuit ship used by the Dutch to overtake pirates. Charles' preference for a vessel of this type for his return combined with his later patronage of pleasure-boating gave the sport the specific cast that we call "yachting." The name Charles II is used to refer to numerous persons in history: Kings Charles the Fat (also known as Charles II of France and Charles III of the Holy Roman Empire) Charles II of England Charles II of Naples Charles II of Navarre Charles II of Romania Charles II...

Yachting for pleasure was formerly the province of the wealthy due to expense and the manpower required (because the boats were big), but today has become the pastime of many worldwide. King Charles II of England is mentioned as enjoying the sport in the diaries of Samuel Pepys. In Britain, the sport of yachting became widely popular in the late Victorian (1837-1901) period. Queen Victoria and her family maintained a fleet of sail- and steam-yachts at her residence on the Isle of Wight. The town of Cowes on the island is still seen by many as the world home of yachting, hosting the famous Cowes Week sailing festival in the summer. Like most other yachting festivals, this consists mainly of organised yacht racing by both dedicated racing yachts and a series of 'class' events catering for the wide variety of non-dedicated yachts. Yachting is a noncommercial boating activity. ... Charles II or The Merry Monarch (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (retrospectively de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Popular yachting spots:

• Auckland, New Zealand
• Fremantle, Western Australia
• Cowes, Isle of Wight
• Hamble, Hampshire, England
• Tollesbury, Essex, England
• The French Riviera
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
• San Francisco Bay, California
• Newport Beach, California
• Newport, Rhode Island
• West Coast of Scotland
• Hong Kong

Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... Location of Fremantle, Western Australia Fremantle (32°03′15″S, 115°44′53″E) is a city located within the Perth metropolitan area on Australias western coast, at the mouth of the Swan River, 19 kilometres southwest of Perths Central Business District. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... Cowes High Street Location within the British Isles Cowes Esplanade and Cowes Castle (home of the Royal Yacht Squadron) Cowes from sea Cowes is a seaport town on the Isle of Wight, an island due south of the major southern English port of Southampton. ... The Isle of Wight is an English island, south of Southampton off the southern English coast. ... River Hamble in Hampshire, England. ... Hampshire is a county on the south coast of England. ... Tollesbury is a village in England, located on the Essex coast at the mouth of the River Blackwater. ... This article is about the county of Essex in England. ... The Promenade des Anglais in Nice on the French Riviera at night. ... Fort Lauderdale, known as the Venice of America, is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170 451 km² 260 km 800 km 17. ... San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and the Golden Gate The San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining of approximately forty percent of California, flowing in Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 3rd 410,000 km² 402. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: http://ci. ... A side street in Newport, Rhode Island, showing the historic buildings near the waterfront Newport is a city located in Newport County, Rhode Island, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Providence. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

References

• Origin of the yacht

• Fraser, Antonia,"Royal Charles". A number of editions exist.
• Partridge, Eric, "Origins, A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English", Greenwich House, 1983, ISBN 0-517-414252

See also

Look up yacht in Wiktionary, the free dictionary

• catamaran
• Luxury yacht
• dinghy sailing
• List of motor yachts by length
• marina
• sailing ship
• yacht racing
• yachting