The nephew of Colonel Barklie McCalmont (RYS Member 1900-29), Harry McCalmont was, like his uncle, the heir to a substantial City fortune and both owned important yachts. Harry (1861-1902) was an army officer, racehorse breeder, yachtsman and Member of Parliament for Newmarket 1895-1902.
Colonel Barklie had the 160 ton gaff rigged ketch, Madeline and then another Madeline, a 100 ton steam yacht.
Harry commissioned the 1,600 ton Giralda, which was subsequently acquired by Spain as a Royal Yacht for King Alfonso XIII, and later the Tarantula, a 120 ton 150 feet long triple shaft 9 screw yacht, resembling a pre-First World War torpedo boat. This was one of the first yachts ever built to have steam turbines and she was capable of 25 knots, later serving in the First World War with the Canadian Navy.