Late 19th C. Water Party Etiquette

A gilded age presentation piece for the “1893 Yachting Season” in an advertisement by Gorham Silversmiths. Yachting, boating and canoeing racing and parties were popular ways of entertaining and recreational sporting in the latter part of the 19th century.  

There are many ways of arranging a water-party, at yachting stations and at all riverside places. At yachting stations, for instance, a sailing yacht is hired to convey a party of from eighteen to twenty-five to some point of interest on the coast, in which case luncheon and tea are provided at an hotel in the vicinity of the place where the party have landed, and the expenses are equally divided.

Not infrequently, on the return journey, the yacht is becalmed, and does not reach its destination until between two and three the following morning. If it happens to be a fine moonlight night, this prolongation of a water-party is an additional source of enjoyment; but if there is no moon as well as no wind, and the calm betokens a storm, it is the reverse of pleasant. But these little contretemps, when they do occur, rather lend a zest to the day's pleasure, and are something to talk about afterwards. 

Water-parties are often given by owners of yachts. These are invitation parties, and luncheon, tea, and sometimes dinner, are served on board, and the party land and stroll about, but return to the yacht to be entertained. Water-parties in general include as many gentlemen as ladies, whether they are invitation or contribution parties, although sometimes a majority of ladies is unavoidable. 

Ryde is a favourite station for water-parties, as the island itself, as well, as the opposite coast offer innumerable points of interest for picnicking, and many are able to combine the pleasures of the yacht with those of the steam launch in one and the same water-party; thus a party sails from Ryde to Yarmouth, I. of W., and then proceeds in a steam-launch to Alum Bay. 

Steam-launch parties are immensely popular, both on the river and on the coast, and parties are given by the owners of steam-launches, or a steam launch can be hired by the day. Some picnic on board, and others on shore, as they feel disposed. When, however, a steam launch is hired for the day, a good look- out should be kept upon the engineer, or he will insist on landing at the most undesirable spots. 

Canoe-parties on coast and river side are also popular with both ladies and gentlemen, and here again the steam launch is brought into requisition to convey the party home, as an hour and a-half to two hours is an average time to paddle a canoe; after that time the party land either on the rocks or on the shore, and light a fire and boil the kettle for tea. If the tea-drinking and the after-tea ramble are unduly prolonged there is a chance, if on the coast, of the steam launch running out of coal, and of the party having to return home in their own canoes considerably later than was expected, and not a little fatigued.— From “Manners and Rules of Good Society,” By a Member of the Aristocracy, 1873 

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