J . W . 0 . Hanks . Commodore 1869-72 .
The Commodore ' s Cup , presented by J . Hanks and won by James Graham with
A11Jtralian , 19 Man : h 1870 .
One proposal was that the burgee be blue with a gold coronet , und another that the burgee be blue with a red cross , and that the coronet in the ensign be red . The latter was adopted and the Admiralty informed accordingly :
Sydney
October 1869 To the Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty , May it please your Lordships I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of July2lst ( initial lcnerMM ) and in reply thereto ro infonn you that the burgee proposed to be used by the Prince Alfred Yacht Club is a blue ground with a broad red cross . In accordance with your previous request I enclose list of yachts and tonnage belonging ro the Squadron .
I have the honour to be etc . etc . ( Sgd ) W . Reading Hon . Sec .
There was no mention of a ducal coronet on the burgee which probably explains the ducal coronet on the ensigl ' l and a royal crown on the burgee .
During the first year of the club ' s life , and jUSt as the Royal Yacht Squadron had done in 1817 for the Prince Regent when he joined the Squadron . a book of club ru . lcs was bound and forwarded to the club ' s first Patron , the Duke of Edinburgh .
Also during this first year it was thought proper that the club adopt a uniform and that ' the uniform of the club be a blue coat ( sack , double-breasted ). and vest , white trousers a . nd straw yachting hat with blue ribbon '.
Tue l ' inlt Annu1d Repon in 1863 revealed tllat the young club was in a very good position with 18 yachts and nearly 100 members on its lists . The finances of the club were very healthy with a small credit balance . and agoodstockofbooksand stationery was on hand .
It wa .~ emphasised that the club had been fooned . not in a spirit of rivalry with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron , but as another club catering for smaller yachts than were eligible 10 go on the register of the Squadron .
The only regret in this first year of the club ' s existence as the Prince Alfred Yacht Club wru . that Richunl Humen was unable 10 offer himself for reelection as Commodore . due to business reasons . J . W . G . Hanks wns elected to the post which he held unlil he resigned in October 1872 .
1lJe Annual Rcpon stressed tlla1 mem ~ were required to pay more than lip service co the club and actively show their suppon by assisting in club functions , both social and nautical , in every way possible .
By August 1869 yachts on the club register wuc rated according to tonnage , which was calculated in the following manner : Length from outside the stemhead to outside stempost , multiplied by the extreme beam . nnd half the beam , all divided by 94 :
( L x Bx 1 / 2 8 ) 94
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