The figure of this period in which the old traditions of the Squadron seem to centre is Mr. George W. P. Bentinck, who came to the club with the Zephyr in 1834, owned the Corsair for a single year in 1839, and was represented from 1840 till his death in 1882 by a succession of sea-going yachts all named Dream: the cutter of 100 tons in 1840, the yawl of 184 tons from 1861 to 1866, and the topsail schooner of 238 tons from 1868 onwards.
Mr. Bentinck was the very type and model of the old school of yachtsmen who eschewed racing, loved the sea for its own sake, and lived chiefly on their vessels.
He had the greatest contempt for people who did not live on board their vessels, employed captains or sailing masters, and who confined their yachting to the safe waters of the Solent. He had no notion of a Cowes captain who always wanted to be ashore with his wife, so commanded his own ships with the strictest discipline, but with the thorough respect of his crew. He was always delighted to take friends on a sea voyage, but could never be induced to give any particulars as to where bound or the probable length of the cruise, and very much resented an enquiry on either point. People accordingly who accompanied him always settled their affairs for a reasonable period, not knowing when they would return. Long voyages and the difficulties of bad weather were Mr. Bentinck’s delight, and his favourite stories were of a trip, which consumed forty-two days, between Cowes and Gibraltar, or of some outrageous storm in the Baltic, where Dream had shipped twenty tons of green water.
Though taking no part in the organisation of the club, he was wont to express his opinions on the management in very plain terms. As a confirmed bachelor, he resented the prominence given to feminine society in the later days, and was accustomed to speak of the leading spirits of the new order as “captains of foot”.
Mr. Bentinck was well known in wider circles, and his opposition to the prevailing spirit of progress was the delight of session after session in the House of Commons. His absolute honesty of purpose and the impartiality of his attacks disarmed his fulminations of their sting.