The organisation destined to become the Royal Yacht Squadron began modestly in 1815, but expanded rapidly into the world’s premier yacht club after receiving the royal patronage of two successive monarchs, George IV (beginning in 1817, when he was Prince Regent and heir apparent) and his brother William IV.

After ten years of substantial growth, the scale of activity coupled with the significant increase in membership, necessitated the appointment of a commodore and Charles Anderson-Pelham, 1st Earl of Yarborough, was selected as the first in the distinguished line which continues to this day. Yarborough, one of the founding members of the Royal Yacht Club back in 1815 [it did not assume its title as the Royal Yacht Squadron until 1833] owned several yachts, the last of which was his handsome brigantine Kestrel. Built in 1839 and originally rigged as a 202-ton yawl (although some records are confusing), she was converted to a brigantine in 1845 and was a popular sight at Cowes largely due to the public’s affection for her owner.. Lord Yarborough, whose personal competitive racing days were over following a serious accident at sea during a heavy gale in 1835 whilst aboard his celebrated Falcon, only used Kestrel for cruising and, in July 1846, the Earl took her south to warmer waters where, during a stop-over at Vigo, in Spain, and without any warning, Lord Yarborough died aged 65.

The Menai, 175-tons, was another fine brigantine designed for cruising rather than racing and was built for Mr. E. N. Harvey in 1838. Her new owner – for reasons unknown – only kept her for a year before selling her to Lord Francis Egerton, later 1st Earl of Ellesmere, who owned her until 1843 after which she disappears from record.