Yachts

I need to get down off my hobby horse of British and make a note about sailing. It is often quoted that Charles II was the father of British Yachting but his yachts had many uses. Generally under 45 ft they could slip in and out of small harbours, like the Lysanders of WW2 and were used in much the same way to drop off and pick up agents. They were also ideal for smuggling high value items, as tea was in those days and the yacht captains made good use of that, some becoming quite wealthy on the proceeds. Charles has several yachts and occasionally raced against his brother, later James II on which the courtiers could place bets.

As sailing vessels, they were fore and aft rigged, and therefore more weatherly, and able to sail closer to the wind than any square rigger. This made them agile and ideal for clandestine ventures of any kind, a great asset for any of the Stuarts, who were always reluctant to let even their right hand know what it was doing.

Being based on Dutch design, they were of shallow draught and ideaal for picnic cruises, a great advantage for the Merry Monarch and his many mistresses.

Thinking it over, here lie stories and not just novels but short stories that could follow the fortunes of the king.

Why I’m concerned about historical accuracy, I’m not sure, Shakespeare’s Macbeth ignores it. Instead of being a tyrant Macbeth ruled for nineteen years and Scotland was peaceful enough under him to allow him to absent himself for a visit to the Pope and return to find himself still king – a remarkable achievement at any time in Scotland.