Cambria yacht in 1870
Sailing in a yacht started to become popular in the second half of the 19th century. Many well-to-do families owned one, which was used for holidays around the coast and voyages to the Mediterranean or further afield. Yachts were also used extensively for racing – a sport in which participants challenged each other in a range of sailing competitions. However, although yachts were owned by our wealthier ancestors, they were usually crewed by seafarers with more humble origins. There are a whole range of resources for family historians to research a yacht, its crew, or its owner.